Women as Ministers & Witnesses: He Is Risen! - The DV Walking Wounded:

During the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, women played some serious MVP roles. They were there at the most crucial moments, like when Jesus both died and rose from the dead. Now, why is that so important? Let’s investigate!

First off, when Jesus was crucified, it was the women who were there, standing strong, while most of the Disciples were hiding or freaking out. Check out Matthew 27:55-56: “Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.” They wept and stood fast for our Lord.

Now, let’s fast forward to the resurrection. Who were the first ones to see Jesus risen? You guessed it – the women again! In Matthew 28:1-10, it says that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb and boom! Jesus lives! He tells them to go tell the disciples the good news. Jesus could’ve appeared to anyone first, but he chose the women. That’s some serious trust and respect right there!

But wait, there’s more! In Luke 24:1-10, it mentions that when the women told the disciples about Jesus being alive, the Disciples were skeptical at first. Typical, right? Not believing “hysterical” women? But Peter had to go see for himself, and lo and behold, Jesus was indeed risen, just as the women said.

So, why is this all a big deal? Well, back in those days, women weren’t always given the time of day when it came to important things such as religious matters. But Jesus flipping the script and entrusting these women with such pivotal roles sends a powerful message. It shows that in the eyes of God, gender doesn’t matter – that everyone has a part to play.

Plus, it’s a reminder that women have always been integral to the story of faith. Their witness and their voices matter just as much as anyone else’s. So, props to the women who were there for Jesus, holding it down and spreading the good news. They deserve all the recognition!

So, what women were the main character witnesses in all of this? When it comes to who went to the tomb to witness Jesus’ resurrection, we’ve got a squad of awesome women on the scene. In the Gospel of Matthew, it mentions two Marys – Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Check out Matthew 28:1: “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.”

But that’s not all! If we flip over to the Gospel of Mark, it adds another name to the mix: Salome. Mark 16:1 says, “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.”

Now, in the Gospel of Luke, it’s a bit broader. It mentions “the women” who went to the tomb, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, the “other” Mary (the mother of James), and some others. Luke 24:10 says, “It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.”

And last but not least, in the Gospel of John, it focuses mainly on Mary Magdalene. John 20:1 says, “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” Remember, she is usually in a pivotal spot to witness the miracles of our Lord, but was also portrayed in the lowliest of females roles: a prostitute.

There you have it! Different gospels mention slightly different sets of women, but Mary Magdalene is a consistent figure across all of them. These ladies were the original “watch” squad rolling up to the tomb and witnessing the most epic event in history – the resurrection of Jesus!

However, I don’t want to forget a lesser known female witness: Joanna. She is still super important character in the Jesus saga! So, about her?

Well, in the Gospel of Luke, Joanna pops up as one of the women who supported Jesus and his crew during their ministry. Luke 8:3 tells us that she was the wife of Chuza, who worked for King Herod. Talk about a high-profile connection! She has a connection to the “beginning” and the “end,” or the Alpha and the Omega of Jesus’ life. What a gift!

But Joanna’s not just sitting on the sidelines. So, when Jesus’ passes after hours of agony, she’s right there in the mix. Along with Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and some other women, Joanna goes to the tomb after Jesus’ crucifixion. They’re bringing spices to anoint his body, showing their love and respect for our fallen Lord.

Then comes the big moment – the resurrection. When these ladies roll up to the tomb, they find it empty! Jesus is nowhere to be seen. But just when they’re scratching their heads, bam! Two angels show up and drop the bombshell: Jesus isn’t dead, he’s risen! Luke 24:10 says it was Joanna and her crew who brought this mind-blowing news to the disciples.

Now, Joanna might not get as much screen time as some of the other characters, but she’s a crucial part of the story. Her loyalty, her bravery, and her role in spreading the word about Jesus’ resurrection – that’s the stuff of legends! So, here’s to Joanna, holding it down and making her mark in the greatest story ever told!

Lastly, we need to cover the significance of a few things about the resurrection, that the women noticed, because they were there while the Disciples were hiding. The awesome thing about women’s roles then, they could operate behind the scenes and no one batted an eye…NO ONE would be searching for them, because the view of women at the time were that they were not capable of treachery. We were basically furniture. They noticed that Jesus’ death shroud was folded up neatly. Why is this significant? The act of folding the cloth was a cultural signal indicating the intention to return. This Jewish practice, commonly employed during meals, served as a clear message to the servants that the diner had not yet finished. Being women and usually servers of meals, they KNEW — without a doubt.

Also, the way Jesus’ tomb was sealed is pretty significant because it shows just how serious the authorities were about keeping Jesus in there AND His Disciples out. In the Gospel of Matthew, it says they rolled a big ol’ stone in front of the entrance and sealed it up tight. Check out Matthew 27:60-66 – it’s like they were saying, “Ain’t nobody getting in or out of here! NO. ONE!”

Now, why was this such a big deal? Well, first off, it was a security measure. They didn’t want anyone sneaking in to mess with Jesus’ body or stirring up trouble. Plus, sealing the tomb added an extra layer of assurance that Jesus wasn’t gonna pull a disappearing act. You know, just in case.

The Romans weren’t messing around when it came to sealing Jesus’ tomb. They used a combination of heavy stones and sealing wax to make sure that thing was locked up tighter than a drum.

First, they rolled a massive stone in front of the entrance. This stone was so big that it took a whole team of people to move it – and even then, it was no easy feat. It was like the ancient equivalent of a giant boulder blocking the entrance, making it pretty darn hard for anyone to get in or out without some serious effort.

But they didn’t stop there. To make sure nobody tampered with the seal, they applied sealing wax to the edges of the stone. This wax acted like a sort of glue, sticking the stone in place and making it clear if anyone tried to mess with it.

So yeah, the Romans weren’t taking any chances when it came to keeping Jesus in that tomb. But little did they know, their best efforts were no match for the power of resurrection. When Jesus rose from the dead, that stone and sealing wax were no match for Him. It was like He just walked right through both measures, proving once and for all that you can’t keep the Son of God down – no matter how hard you try! The Gospel of Matthew describes it like an earthquake, with an angel coming down and rolling away the stone like it was a feather. Talk about a power move!

So yeah, the way they sealed Jesus’ tomb might’ve seemed foolproof, but it ended up being no match for the Son of God. It’s a reminder that you can try to contain the Divine, but ultimately, nothing can hold back the power of resurrection. And that, my friends, is some serious biblical mic drop material right there!

Love and light! Be blessed! He is Risen! <3