Jesus’ Resurrection: The Women Were Stunned
Had Jesus’ followers fabricated the story of Jesus’ resurrection to propagate it, then from the start they would have been trying to convince others Jesus had risen from the dead. Instead, they themselves had to be convinced. Jesus’ followers were reeling from His death. They were disillusioned and afraid. Despite the fact Jesus told them repeatedly He would be raised from the dead (see Matt. 16:21-22; [see also Mark 8:31-32; Luke 9:21-22]; Matt. 17:22-23; [Mark 9:31-32]; Matt. 20:17-19; [Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34]), the news of His resurrection stunned them. Here we will consider the initial response of the women who discovered the empty tomb; in “Jesus’ Resurrection: Jesus’ Disciples Were Amazed” we examine how Jesus’ closest male followers reacted to the news of His resurrection.
The women who came to Jesus’ tomb and found it empty had come to pay their respects and to anoint Jesus’ body (see Luke 24:1-3), the very body they’d seen placed in the tomb just hours before (see Matt. 27:59-61). Initially “they were perplexed” (Luke 24:4). Two men—angels—told them He’d risen from the dead and said, “Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” (vv. 5-7). At that point, “they remembered His words” (v. 8). Stunned, they ran to tell others about their experience (see v. 9).
In addition to the women’s surprise, we should note that had the story of Jesus’ resurrection been fabricated, no one dreaming it up would ever have put the women at the tomb before the men! A woman’s testimony was not considered valid in court at that time and in that culture. Thus, even the simple fact that women were the first ones to discover the empty tomb is evidence of the authenticity of the biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations in SundaySchoolZone.com materials are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
