“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. And a great earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone [from the opening of the tomb], and sat on it.” Matthew 28:1–2 AMP
God Chose Women First
The fact that woman was created second does not mean she was an afterthought. God created her with the ability to carry and nurture the future, both physically and spiritually. At the dawn of the new covenant, God did not send a prophet to tell Mary that she would bear a son and name Him Jesus. He sent the angel directly to her. God entrusted Mary with Jesus—the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. She received the announcement that the Messiah was coming and faithfully carried that message within her before sharing it with the world.
“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” Luke 1:31 NIV
After Jesus shed His blood to establish the new covenant and rose from the dead, God again entrusted the first announcement to women.
That was not an accident. God intentionally placed women at the beginning of Jesus’ earthly life and at the beginning of the proclamation that He had risen.
The Women of the Resurrection
At a time when women often had limited social and legal standing—and their testimony could easily be dismissed—they were not background characters in the Gospel story. God intentionally gave them an essential role in proclaiming its most important message. The angels announced the resurrection to the women, and then Jesus Himself met them and commissioned them to tell the disciples that He was alive. God could have revealed the news in any way He chose, but He chose women to be the first witnesses and messengers of the risen Christ.
“So the women left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell [the good news to] the disciples. And as they went, suddenly, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ And they went to Him and took hold of His feet [in homage] and worshiped Him [as the Messiah]. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me [just as I promised].’” Matthew 28:8–10 AMP
Even the disciples initially dismissed the women’s testimony as nonsense. Peter had to run to the tomb and see the evidence for himself, but the women were right. The message first announced to a woman had now been fulfilled, and women were chosen to proclaim it, and godly men corroborated and supported them.
The Master Producer
I see God as the Master Producer. He established the laws of nature and designed creation to exist in an intricate, interdependent balance. The more we learn about His creation, the more remarkable it becomes. God’s decisions are intentional. He chose Mary to carry the Living Word into the world, and He chose women to carry the first news of the risen Christ to His disciples. Their place in the story sends a powerful message about the value, dignity, and spiritual responsibility God gives women. If it was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for us.
Ready to Play Our Part
I may not be Joyce Meyer, but I do not need to be. God has a unique plan for me, and He will position me to serve His purposes as I continue seeking Him. The women went to the tomb because caring for Jesus was in their hearts. What may have appeared to be an ordinary act of service placed them at the center of an extraordinary moment. God can reach into our everyday roles—even the ones we consider menial—and infuse them with His calling.
Through the women’s role in the Gospel story, God sent a message that continues through the ages: He chooses both women and men to accomplish the work of His Kingdom on earth. We do not need a famous name, a public platform, or an impressive position. We simply need to be faithful, available, and ready to play our part.
