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Reflections

The Women of Easter

By Darla Knoth

We as American women enjoy privileges as a part of today’s society that the women of Easter could only dream of. Yet, as we study those biblical women we see a strength that we can learn from today.

First, the women of Easter were strong at the scene of the Cross. Mark records this: “Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there” (Mark 15:40). We know from historical accounts that crucifixions were gory, gruesome scenes. These women stayed through the violence because they cared for Jesus.

These same women must have followed at a distance when Joseph of Arimathea carried the body of Jesus to the tomb, because again Mark records, “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid” (Mark 15:47). 

Matthew also took note that these women were present throughout the ordeal of Jesus’ death and burial. Jewish custom forbade handling dead bodies on the Sabbath. Jesus’ death during a Sabbath celebration made it necessary to put off embalming and preparing His body for proper burial.  The same women who were present at the crucifixion and burial, the women of Easter, were the ones who prepared for a proper burial for Jesus as soon as the Sabbath was over.

Very early, “at dawn on the first day, “Mark says (28:1), these same strong women, although they had been through the worst ordeal of their lives, got up to take spices and ointments to the tomb. And that’s where we see that God trusted these women with the most important message the world would ever know. 

When the women arrived at the tomb, Mark records what happened. “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.  The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead….’”

The men were so afraid of the angel that they “became like dead men,” but these women were strong enough to be entrusted to take the message of Jesus’ Resurrection back to the disciples. Author Lee Strobel in a Beliefnet Web interview says, “Women in first-century Jewish culture were not given credibility in a court of law; their testimony was not considered reliable, So why [do the Gospel writers] say that women discovered the tomb empty even though it hurts their case in the view of their audience? I believe it’s because they were trying to accurately record what actually took place.”

The women of Easter showed their strength by using their faith in Jesus to lead them through that eventful week. Theologian Tim Beattie says, “In the Gospels we don’t hear about what women did in terms of marriage and motherhood; we hear about them as disciples.”

What about you? Are you a twenty-first century woman who can be trusted with the Gospel message? Are you overcome by fear today, or are you showing your strength as a disciple of Jesus? This Easter, celebrate the risen Lord by committing to serve Him with your all.

DARLA KNOTH serves as Managing Editor for the national Women’s Ministries Department. She has experience in editing, publishing and overseeing the publications staff of Women’s Ministries, as well as serving as an adjunct faculty member at Evangel University.

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