What does it tell us about how God regards women that the first ones to witness the empty tomb and the risen Christ were female? If the early church did not think this needed to be suppressed, why have women had to struggle to be recognized as leaders and scholars in so many churches? All four gospels tell us that the first witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection were women. The early church, even thirty to sixty years after the resurrection, when the Gospels were being compiled and written, openly acknowledged this fact, despite Luke’s admission that women were – unfairly – regarded as spinners of “idle tales.”
Then [the women] 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. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
Jesus’ male disciples may not have believed what the women told them, but the story did galvanize them to investigate for themselves. Without the story the women brought, they might have remained huddled in that upper room while the Risen Lord waited patiently to talk to them.
Of course, it’s not only women’s stories that the church needs. It needs all our stories, our stories of encounters with God, and seeking for God, and doubting God, and coming to know Christ. Stories are how Jesus taught the reality of God’s realm in this world, and stories are how that reality continues to spread through those who have witnessed the amazing power of God unleashed in the world.
If we are not witnessing that power, we’re not hanging out in the right places. Often, we need to get out of our comfort zones, see things from new angles, to experience God and have stories to tell. Tonight in many church communities we will begin to tell the story of Christ’s Passion, not only in words, but in actions – eating, drinking, singing, praying, washing feet or holding our feet back. We are invited tonight to feel this story by which we are saved, not only hear it.
The world needs our stories of God’s activity in our lives – neither women’s stories nor men’s stories, but saints’ stories. In the fullness of God-Life, Paul wrote, gender doesn’t matter any more than does race, ethnicity or one’s status as a slave or free. (Galatians 3:28) We are equal in blessedness, equal in belovedness, equal in apostleship.
Our stories may not convince people any more than did the story the women’ shared that day – but if we tell them, people may run to find out for themselves. The rest is up to God.
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