When Jesus rose from the grave, He could have chosen anyone to be the first to hear the good news that He had risen and to spread the news that He was alive. Some might have chosen a high-ranking political figure or someone else with a high position in society to announce to the world that He was alive. Jesus did something different. He did not choose someone with worldly power or status to announce that He was no longer dead to. Instead, this message was announced to a group of women who had come to Jesus’ tomb to anoint His body.
Luke writes about the remarkable moment when the news that Jesus was alive was first announced in Luke chapter 24. Early in the morning, a group of women went to Jesus’ tomb (verse 1). Among this crew were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women (verse 10). When they got to the tomb, they saw that the stone sealing it had been rolled away and that Jesus’ body was no longer there. While observing the scene before them, two angels appeared to them and asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!” (verses 4-5). Jesus was alive, just as He predicted during His earthly ministry. This is the news that changed the course of history, and it was announced to a humble group of women. Women, by the way, were not highly valued by society during Jesus’ day. As a result, they would not have been expected to be the first to hear and spread the good news that Jesus is alive. Yet they were exactly the people Jesus chose and wanted to tell the world that He had risen from the grave. I have heard it said that if someone had made up this story that Jesus was alive, they would no likely have chosen women as the first central messengers for this good news. These unexpected messengers point to the reality that the story of Jesus’ resurrection was not made up; He really did rise from the dead.
How did the women in Luke 24 respond to the good news that Jesus is alive? They shared it, unable to keep this news to themselves. When they comprehended what the angels said and realized that Jesus was alive, they “rushed back from the tomb to tell His eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened” (verse 9). Of course, they were compelled to spread the message of the angel that Jesus was alive! This is the only way to respond!
The good news that the women at Jesus’ tomb received that day is good news for us today, too. Jesus is alive. He conquered the grave and sin. Like the women, our responsibility is also to share the hope of Christ with everyone around us. The world is in need of the hope that only He offers through His resurrection from the grave. Will we commit to sharing that hope all around us?
Who are the people you have been praying for who are far from Christ? Take a few moments right now to pray for them. Pray that they would come to encounter the hope of Christ that they are in desperate need of. Pray for opportunities to share your faith with them, and be prepared to act when these opportunities arise.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
On the Road to Emmaus
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
