Go and Tell // Luke 24:10

Today is International Women’s Day, a time to consider and celebrate all the contributions made by women in the world. Did you know that one of the points often used to cite the accuracy of the Gospels in general, and the Resurrection in particular, is the role of women? We read in Luke 24:10 that Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others went to Jesus’ tomb expecting to prepare His body for burial. That’s a big deal, because women were not considered viable witnesses in that day, yet they became the very first evangelists of Jesus’ conquering of the grave! Luke 24:11 goes on to say that the male disciples thought they were spouting nonsense, but Peter got up to check anyway. If writers of the day had tried to make the accounts of Jesus’ Resurrection most believable to their audiences, they would have had Peter, James, or John as the heroes. Yet, in each Gospel, it’s the men hiding away and the women boldly going to carry out their tasks in love for Jesus. There, they encountered the risen Lord, shared their stories, and the world has not been the same since!

It bothers me that many today feel Christianity denigrates women. The reality is that the Church would not be what it is without their influence. From women like Rahab, who appears in Jesus’ genealogy; to Mary, who bore Him; to Mary Magdalene, who loved Him; and to every single girl and woman who has taught about God’s love in Christ—God used witnesses who could be dismissed by the world in order to change the world with the power of the Gospel. And you know what? I sure am glad He did!