Women were the first witnesses and preachers of the resurrection
Apr 22, 2003
SIR— The resurrection of Jesus from the dead, which this year was be observed on April 20, is central to the Christian faith, without which there would neither be the gospel to proclaim nor the community of believers called Christians.
SIR— The resurrection of Jesus from the dead, which this year was be observed on April 20, is central to the Christian faith, without which there would neither be the gospel to proclaim nor the community of believers called Christians. The earliest evidence we have about resurrection is that of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15. Written about AD 56 , and therefore about 27 years after the resurrection. I wish to concentrate on Matthew’s (28:10) account on the resurrection.
Matthew mentions several things that happened on the first day of the week in and around the tomb of Jesus.
. Two women Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb.
. There was a great earthquake
. An angel descended from heaven and removed the stone.
The guards posted at the tomb were shaken with fear and became unconscious.
Jesus himself met the two women and sent them with a message. Matthew was courageous to mention women as the first witnesses of such a momentous fact as the resurrection. In a society in which women were second-class citizens, their prominence in Matthew’s account of the resurrection is striking. On the other hand, these women’s devotion to Jesus, sometimes contributing money towards his up-keep, was rewarded. They were the first people to witness the mystery of the empty tomb.
The angel had come to show the women that Jesus had already risen, and to that end he removed the stone and showed them inside the empty chamber where he lay. The women’s reaction, afraid yet filled with joy, is a very natural response to the terrifying divine presence. The angel sent the two Marys to go and tell the disciples the good news. “He has been raised form the dead.†Women were the first preachers of the resurrection! Matthew makes a clear contrast between the guards and the two women. Jesus goes against the culture by revealing himself to the women and telling them to bear his message to the other disciples: that Jesus is risen from the dead.
Rev Can George Noel Enyagu
Soroti
Matthew mentions several things that happened on the first day of the week in and around the tomb of Jesus.
. Two women Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb.
. There was a great earthquake
. An angel descended from heaven and removed the stone.
The guards posted at the tomb were shaken with fear and became unconscious.
Jesus himself met the two women and sent them with a message. Matthew was courageous to mention women as the first witnesses of such a momentous fact as the resurrection. In a society in which women were second-class citizens, their prominence in Matthew’s account of the resurrection is striking. On the other hand, these women’s devotion to Jesus, sometimes contributing money towards his up-keep, was rewarded. They were the first people to witness the mystery of the empty tomb.
The angel had come to show the women that Jesus had already risen, and to that end he removed the stone and showed them inside the empty chamber where he lay. The women’s reaction, afraid yet filled with joy, is a very natural response to the terrifying divine presence. The angel sent the two Marys to go and tell the disciples the good news. “He has been raised form the dead.†Women were the first preachers of the resurrection! Matthew makes a clear contrast between the guards and the two women. Jesus goes against the culture by revealing himself to the women and telling them to bear his message to the other disciples: that Jesus is risen from the dead.
Rev Can George Noel Enyagu
Soroti