Women and the Empty Tomb
There's something incredibly sweet about who is first given the knowledge that Jesus is alive.
That He is a tomb-surviver.
That He slayed death.
There is something lovely and telling that God wanted a faithful group of women, who came carefully and tenderly to wrap up a broken body, to be first to know. To be first to understand that the one they put so much faith in could still be trusted. Now more than ever.
They came ready to wrap up death. But instead God unwrapped life.
To some average women.
“But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened......
”
It's healing. Seeing these women and sisters and mothers running to tell some incredibly, shocking news.
It's beautiful. Seeing women–equal to property in that day–given the privilege to be the very first preachers of the gospel.
It's redeeming. Seeing women carry this news to others. After Mary carried The Good News in her belly. After Eve carried death and separation with her out of Eden.
God carefully unwrapped such a beautiful redemption story. As carefully as the women came to wrap up Jesus' broken body, He came carefully still. Tending to hearts and binding up our brokenness.
This is not to be missed: Jesus is the Hero of Our Story. And truly, there is no hero without a sacrifice. He was crucified. But then He defeated death. He is full of power. He is unmatched in might.
And still God gives great attention to the characters in need of the hero. Which is so gracious of Him– aren’t we always looking for ourself in the narrative? He not only took the punishment for our sins, but he took the positions of the lowly and gave them honor. He blesses women, and sends them as delegates. He honors Thomas, and restores the doubters. He loves Peter, and restores the deniers.
What a DAY.
Breaking through death with the power of life.
Forgiving the sins of all who repent.
Restoring the souls of all who will come.
Upending social structures because He is above it all.
Ushering in the real Kingdom. Where He is the King. And we are His sons and daughters.
Amen.
He is risen!
He is risen, indeed.