The First to Share the Good News - July 6

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 5, 6; PM Psalm 10, 11; 1 Samuel 15:24-35; Acts 9:32-43; Luke 23:56b-24:11

Today’s Reflection

Growing up in a different kind of church and in a different time (the 70s and 80s), the emphasis of what we learned about the Bible was likely quite different than what children coming up at Saint Stephen’s are learning today. We did get very good at learning the books of the Bible in order, through songs and the always popular “sword drill” (in which a book of the Bible is named and the competition is on as to who can open their Bible to it the fastest). And we heard many stories of the “heroes” of the Bible—people like Noah and Abraham and Moses, David and Jonathan, the twelve disciples, Zaccheus (who can forget the song where he climbed up in the sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see), and the apostle Paul.

Though I went to Sunday School just about every week growing up, and learned many interesting stories from the Bible, looking back I don’t recall hearing much about the faithful women to be found in Scripture. The main women I remember learning about were Eve (along with Adam) and Mary (along with Joseph). Until I began reading Bible stories to my own children, years later, I didn’t really learn the details of other women’s stories, like those of Esther and Ruth and Naomi. While it’s true that fewer stories and voices of faithful women are recorded in Scripture, their stories are there—it’s just a matter of listening for them and shining a light on them when they do appear so that the experiences of all people of faith are valued.

Today’s Scriptures give us a couple of opportunities to learn from the experiences of these faithful women. In our Gospel passage from Luke 23-24, we read of Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some anonymous others who arose early in the morning, the day after Jesus’ crucifixion, to go to the tomb to anoint his body with spices and ointments. But when they arrived at the tomb and found it empty, “they were perplexed” and then when they were met by “two men in dazzling clothes” (angels we assume), “they were terrified.” These faithful women had gone to do their duty, following the tradition of their faith by going to anoint the body. But then they were met with a situation they could never have expected—the body was gone!

The angels helped the women to realize what had happened to Jesus: “‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.”

Though their initial response was to be perplexed and terrified, once it sunk in that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead—just as he had said—the women realized what they must do next: They must go and tell the apostles and all the rest. And that is just what these faithful women did—which means that the very first people ever to share the Gospel (or Good News) of Jesus’ resurrection were these women. This is a perspective on Scripture that was never taught to me growing up—that women played such a pivotal role in the spreading of the Gospel. I am grateful for the role that women have played in spreading the Good News about Jesus from the very beginning—and the good example they are for us all to step out in faith to share the story of Jesus, even when, at first, we may feel perplexed or afraid to do so.

—Becky+

Questions for Self-Reflection

What Bible stories stand out most to you from when you first started to learn about the Bible?

Daily Challenge

What women and men have you met along the way, in your own life, who have inspired you in your faith? Take the time to pray for them today, and maybe take the time to send them a note or give them a call to thank them for how they shaped your faith.