Women witness

Over a thousand year ago a group of women went to visit a tomb to anoint the body of their Messiah as a act of devotion, when they arrived the body was gone and an empty tomb was there.

In gospel of John 20 : 11 – 18 gives the details description of what happened that morning of resurrection. When our savior Lord Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and resurrected to save the world from the clutches of sin.

        This was a big deal for women to have been the first to witness the resurrection of Jesus. Its not only that they saw the empty tomb, but also got to be first to take the message of risen Jesus to others. What a privilege.

                                 Roman Cathalic Jerwish culture women were treated as second class citizens, the testimonies of a woman was not respected. That why women told them the Jesus had risen. As in Luke… “there words seemed to the disciples as an idle tale  and they did not believe.” So peter went to tomb to find out what was the truth. 

                            God also used a special person to be the first witness. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb shortly before dawn and saw it was open. She was the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection. She was very close of Jesus and prominent in the last days of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified, Mary Magdalene was the supporting him in his final terrify moments. In morning his death she stayed with Him at the cross after the male disciples’ had fled. She was at his burial and first to arrive at Jesus tomb Where she met a pair of angels who told her that Jesus had risen.

                           She was first to see him (Mark 16 : 9) that’s why Mary Magdalene is called “ Apostle to the apostles”. Even the apostles did not believe Mary when she told them about the empty tomb.

Mary Magdalene has been often called as sinner or a prostitute in the Bible.          Over and over, the Bible showed how God worked through the sinner, the outcast and the foreigners in his story of redemption.

 Jesus always had special respect for these women and honored them as the first witness of his resurrection. The male gospel writers had no choice but to report this act as God’s favor. He treated women with dignity and respect and he elevated them in a world where they were often mistreated. He showed every one that women were equal to men in the sight of God. And they could be fully participated in the Kingdom of God.

                     Though we live in a different day and time than the group of women that day but need to be as bold as them in sharing with others the story of “ Empty Tomb” and resurrected Jesus. Like no one believed them we might be discouraged many ways.

                          But we should get our courage and strength from his Holy spirit to witness above the resurrection. If you are backing out or something may be holding you back from sharing your faith in Jesus, don’t be discouraged. But rather acknowledge and confess your faith because God will guide and empowered you to be His great witness.

                          As women we have a great cloud of witness like the women who first saw the resurrected Jesus, we have to testify about Him and serve others . So my dear women share your faith with atleast one person this Easter and receive the greatest blessing.  

May God bless you and guide you always.
Sangha