Did you ever wonder what your purpose is, as a woman who follows Jesus? Consider one incident in the gospels that I think will help. I’m talking about a paradigm-shifting event in Matthew 28. This pivotal chapter begins with news of Jesus’s triumphant resurrection from death, and it ends with the calling for believers to “Go into all the world.” Sandwiched between is a vital interaction between Jesus and his women disciples. In one conversation, Jesus established the central part of women in the early church. From this first gleam of light we glimpse the dawn of Jesus’s empowered, post-resurrection church. It all began when Jesus sent women to be his first messengers.
The Dawn of a New World
Matthew 28 begins with the account of some women heading for Jesus’s tomb on resurrection morning. While other disciples were sleeping/missing-in-action, the original Gospel Women rose before dawn for a final act of service. But on this day, they didn’t end up ministering burial rituals to the corpse of their beloved master. Instead, they met an angel who told them Jesus is alive.
You probably know the story backwards! The angel told the women Jesus was sending them to tell the other disciples the good news of his resurrection. They were to say that Jesus would meet with his disciples in Galilee. As the women left to fulfil their purpose, something interesting happened. Jesus himself reappeared at the tomb to speak to the women. Did you ever wonder why Jesus came back to tell the women the angel’s message all over again?
Jesus Empowered Women for a Vital Purpose
When Jesus returned to the women, he placed a spotlight on their mission. This was not some mundane message errand. In fact, it was vital that the women complete their task. Here is why:
The women had unique eyewitness testimonies that powerfully proved the divinity of Jesus. To start, as witnesses of the crucifixion they could they confirm that Jesus actually died on the cross, rather than simply going unconscious. They also saw the same brutalised Jesus wrapped in burial cloths, and entombed. Then, later at the same location, they saw the huge stone rolled away, and the tomb empty. Other witnesses could tell parts of the story, but these women were the only ones who could make an unbroken chain of facts. That is why their story was absolutely foundational to establishing the church and its mission. It was essential to get their version of events established and shared immediately.
Matthew 28 names two women being present: Mary of Magdala, and “the other Mary”. Other Gospel accounts mention Salome, Joanna and “others”. It’s clear that multiple women witnessed Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection. This group of women must have been real celebrities in the early church because of their unique perspective as primary eyewitnesses. While women’s testimony was not considered valuable in first century Judea, their stories obviously became valued in the early church. All the Gospel writers included the names of specific women in their accounts.
However, the value of their testimony was not received immediately. I believe that is another reason why Jesus returned to send the women on their way.
Do Not Be Afraid
When Jesus sent the women on this important assignment, he knew that initially it was not going to be easy. When Jesus appeared, the overjoyed women worshiped at his feet. He then added one sentence to the message the angel had given them. He encouraged them, saying, “Do not be afraid.” You see, Jesus understood the disciples’ group dynamics well. He had witnessed his women followers being misunderstood and disrespected while serving him. For example, think of when Mary of Bethany anointed him “in preparation for his burial” (Matthew 26:12). The male disciples criticised, but Jesus corrected them and gave a scolding. He told them that her prophetic act of ministry would be part of the gospel message that would go out to all generations.
Surely, Jesus anticipated the other disciples would not listen to the women’s account of his resurrection. In fact, that is exactly what happened. But, Jesus sent the women anyway. He asked them to confront their fears and speak for him. These Gospel Women at the tomb were beginning a new and important role in the early church as Gospel messengers. Jesus returned to meet them, confirming his wish for them to take that important role. Because they spoke for Jesus, their contribution, like that of Mary of Bethany, is still remembered in scripture today.
Jesus Sent Women to Be Communicators
It’s important for us to understand that this event marks a major transition for men and women. By sending the women to speak to the men, Jesus set a new tone for his future church. Soon, these women won’t have Jesus at their side, defending them. But they will have the Holy Spirit empowering their work for Jesus. In the future all believers, regardless of gender, will share the work of bringing the Gospel to the world. This major shift is a wonderful change for women. God created women with particular gifts in the area of communication. They will use these, in the church and missionally, to serve God fruitfully.
Women are excellent relational communicators. Yet, so much has been made of one little passage of scripture that seems to indicate that women are to be forever silent in churches (1 Corinthians 14:34). As a powerful precursor to that misunderstood statement by Paul, we have Jesus’s own words in Matthew 28. Here we see Jesus asking women to proclaim a message about him to men, and to be brave while doing it. In his first act as ascended Lord, Jesus empowered a group of women to be his front-line messengers.
Your Purpose is Clear
In conclusion, I encourage you as a woman to draw strength from Matthew 28. As Jesus’s primary eyewitnesses, the Gospel Women would go on to powerfully certify that Jesus had risen from the dead. Do you think these Gospel Women afterwards kept their stories to themselves? Surely they gave their testimonies over and over again, happily telling anyone who would listen. Because of their sharing, we have credible accounts of Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection for all generations. Because of them, billions of people today believe in Jesus.
As women who love Jesus, we share the mission and purpose of the original Gospel Women. It is clear: JESUS CALLS WOMEN TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT HIM. He hasn’t changed his mind about the importance of women proclaiming that he is Lord and God. That truth is too important to be hidden. Of course, it definitely takes a lot of courage to follow Jesus and be his messenger. That is why we need to cling to his words for all Gospel Women: Do not be afraid.
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