Luke chapter 24 verses 5-12 (NIV) In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Last day of the Luke Christmas challenge. The resurrection. Once again I’m struck by the fact that the women were the ones chosen to spread the news. Just as the shepherds were the ones chosen to tell of Jesus’ birth, the women were the unlikely messengers of the resurrection. Yet we read that the majority of those they spoke to were sceptical for their words appeared to the others as nonsense. But Peter took them at their word and went to look for himself. Their words brought hope to broken Peter even if the others couldn’t take it in.
Not everyone will accept our testimony, but some will, and our story may make a difference to someone who is really struggling. The unbelief of some didn’t put those women off and we need to be like them.
Dear Lord,
Even if my words appear to some as nonsense, help me still to be willing to share them, for the sake of the ones who will believe. I ask in Jesus’ Name.