LAMENT FOR EASTER SUNDAY
‘Just some women
A full church on Easter Sunday. Reading: John 19:38-20:20
The preacher said, ‘Jesus appeared after His crucifixion on eleven recorded occasions to multiple different groups of people. To just some women, initially, and then to many disciples, sometimes in groups, sometimes in very large groups, and on one occasion to a group of well over 500 people’.
The preacher could have meant or could have said, ‘He appeared first to Mary Magdalene and other women with her.’
But he didn’t say that, he said, ‘just some women’.
The preacher could have meant or could have said, ‘He appeared first to His female disciples, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, Salome and other women.’
But he didn’t say that, he said, ‘just some women’.
The preacher could have meant or could have said, ‘He appeared first to His female disciples, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, Salome and other women. Jesus particularly commissioned Mary Magdalene to tell the eleven male disciples that He had risen and that He was ascending to His Father, to their Father, to His God and their God.’
But he didn’t say that, he said, ‘just some women’.
The preacher could have honoured and respected Jesus’ female disciples.
He could have shown honour and respect to half of that full listening congregation by acknowledging it was Jesus’ plan for women to be the first witnesses to His resurrection and to announce it to the other disciples.
He could have shown the visiting non-believer that Christians believe both men and women are created in God’s image, that women are ‘people’ and ‘disciples’ too. That Jesus died and rose for all humanity, wanting us all to believe in His victory over death and to tell others about Him.
But he didn’t say that, he said, ‘just some women’.
Lord,
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts, and day after day have sorrow in my heart? (Psalm 13:2)
Surely my salvation and my honour depend on God, He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in Him at all times, you people, pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:7)
“Lord, hear my prayer.”
