Originally posted 2/6/24
Matt 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-Mark 16:8, Luke 24:1-Luke 24:10, John 20:1
I have often heard it said that the women at Jesus’ tomb were the first women pastors because they reported Jesus’ resurrection. By all intents and purposes, these women were Old Testament women still bound by the old covenants. The church did not yet exist. Did they teach the Scriptures? Did they preach? This is what I see.
The women arrived at the tomb early in the morning with spices. They went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with oil in preparation for burial. However, they discovered that Jesus was not in the tomb. They must have been so shocked to find the tomb empty. In Matthew 28, we read that an angel tells the women that Jesus has risen. The angel told them to quickly go tell the disciples that Jesus had risen. The women went and reported what they had seen. There doesn’t seem to be anything other than reporting what they saw. An eyewitness report cannot be equated with preaching. I think it is interesting to remember that a woman’s testimony was not admissible in any Jewish court. Her word was not considered reliable. However, the disciples, as well as Jesus, trusted these women. They willingly spread the good news that Christ had risen.
Where were the disciples? Jesus said that the disciples would abandon him. In Mark 14:50 CSB we read: “Then they all deserted him and ran away.” The women stayed but the disciples did not.
What can we learn from these women? They faithfully served the Lord. They were given a task and they carried it out. Isn’t that a great reminder for us? The Lord puts many things in our paths and asks us to complete them. Do we obey the Lord or do we turn and run? Has God put something in your path that you are avoiding?
#faith, #Bible, #Scriptures, #Christian Women, #Discipleship, #womenintheBible
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