Ray Ciervo Ministries

The morning of the Resurrection is the most important date not only in Christian history, but world history. From this moment of his resurrection the world would be different. One significant point of the Resurrection was the first eyewitnesses on the scene, namely women. Luke records (Luke 24:10) Mary Magdelene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James as the three women. From an apologist's point of view this is the first significant point other than just being an eyewitness account.

The fact that they were women who first found Jesus is important because the testimony of women in First Century Judea, was not acceptable. If the disciples were going to falsify this account they would not have chosen women as the first eyewitnesses. There is mild support for this from the disciples' response. When the women reported to them what they had seen, the disciples considered it as "nonsense."(vs. 11)

There is another important item in this account. When the women saw the angels and bowed their faces to the ground, the angels said, "Why do you seek the Living One among the dead? He is not here, but he has risen." Then they say something startling, "Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” (vs 26, 27) This is startling because it infers that these women were privy to information only the disciples are credited with. These women were in on the private teachings of Jesus.

Luke, as in the other gospels attributes the discovery of the empty tomb to women, but goes further. It appears Luke relied on the women to recall their eyewitness testimony. One other supporting fact would be the rememberence of how the women waited for the Sabbath to pass before they went to the tomb. After seeing where the body was laid, they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. (23:55) The it says, "And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment." (vs. 56) This is not an insignificant recollection. It testifies that Luke relied on these women as others probably wouldn't recall this detail.

Ususally, at this time of year there's a flood of articles, programs and films trying to discredit the life of Jesus, especially the Resurrection. (This year seems to be an exception.) What always amazes me is how little time is ever spent looking over the text in the gospels. The assumption is that the Bible, especially the gospels is not reliable as a credible source. However, when you survey the accounts of Scripture, understand the authority of eyewitness testimony, and look at the trajectory of history you come away with a completley different conclusion. The word of the angels at the tomb spoken to the women ought to be heard by those whose attempts continue in vain. "Why do you seek the Living One among the dead. He is not here, but he has risen."