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Women at the Tomb, does it Matter? Let's talk about women at the tomb.

The women disciples of Jesus were the first to arrive at the tomb, find it empty, and go away confused. These were the same women who journey with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem. They witnessed innocent Jesus suffer and executed like a criminal on the cross.

Why were they going to the tomb? They had some unfinished business - anointing the body of Jesus. The women ventured out – to give a ceremonial burial to Jesus. They were ready to complete their last act of love- no matter the circumstances.

Jesus' brutally torched body, after more than thirty-six hours of the burial, would begin to smell. The ceremonial embalming with aromatic spices was to keep down the smell. Although Jesus' body was wrapped with a white linen cloth, there was proper embalming done.

These women took the risk to go to the tomb early in the morning. They discovered uncertainty along the way – who will roll the stone away from the tomb. The highly motivated women had a hurdle; they did not know how to handle it.

All four Gospels note that the women were the first arrival at the tomb. But they do differ in the details. Mark says three women: Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome (Mark 16:1). Luke writes that there were more than three women (Luke 24:10) – inserting Joanna instead of Salome. Matthew tells two women present at the tomb (Matthew 28:1). John says only Mary Magdalene met Jesus (John 20:1).

Okay, don't get confused. All Gospel writers agree that Mary Magdalen was among the women or the only women.

The names of women are rarely mentioned in the Bible – when a name is given – lookout for what it says. Mary Magdalene – a former demonic – was healed by Jesus. The New Testament does not provide an account that Mary Magdalen was a prostitute. Women of social repute considered it a taboo to associate with women possessed with demons, even when she claimed to be free due to a miracle.

Joanna had social standing, probably a wife of top official working for Herod. Her husband would not approve Joanna associating with a criminal who was sentenced by Herod.

Most women were at the bottom of the social ladder, who voluntarily engage in the unpleasant task of embalming. These women lost their teacher, friend, healer – Jesus of Nazareth – killed like a criminal -an execution reserved for rebels and slaves.
The empty tomb is an epiphany - how the women's story changed the narrative. The empty tomb is more about the meaning - not the absence of Jesus' body. Something happened on that Sunday morning.

Women discovered the empty tomb. Yes, it does matter. The first-century mocked women – never trusting a testimony of a woman. Their stories rarely entered the male mainstream discourse. What changed?

The Messiah turned the system upside down, affirming the full dignity of women.

Some scholars draw a parallel between the Fall in Genesis and the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection reversed the effects of the fall.

The fall of man brought pain, sin, and alienation from God. The resurrection brings joy, forgiveness, and the continuous presence of the risen Christ.

Resurrection re-evaluates the role of women - God choosing the weak to shame the strong. The risen Lord re-affirms women's equality - as the book of Genesis says, "in his image God created both male and female. God restored his likeness, as the society had kicked women out - making women an accessory to the patriarchal society.

On Holy Saturday, people remain in prayer waiting at the tomb, meditating on Jesus’ suffering, death, and descent to the dead.

Like the women who went to the tomb, when you are motivated with an act of service, hurdles disappear, and you hear a voice – "do not be afraid."

The women did not have a clear path for the immediate future – they did not know how the Easter story would turn out. But the words "do not be afraid" gave them hope and comfort – they ran - continuing their mission to inform the male disciples.

The women were prepared to deal with the dead body – they prepared for the worst. Jesus showed them the best.


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