The Women's Message

April 10, 2023

See below for some programming notes.¹

Matthew 28:11-20 | Isaiah 52:7-10

We will return next Sunday to the latter portion of this passage, but for today, consider this one last tidbit concerning the religious leaders.

Matthew has had few to no good words concerning the religious authority. That doesn’t change here. We might imagine after word got out that Jesus was back, the rumor mill was running full tilt. Remember: no social media, no TV, no radio, not even newspapers. News was spread by word of mouth. So it would be easy enough for someones with authority like the priests, elders, and the guards to spread messages. Alas, whatever you think about historicity, their message is today at best a footnote…and the one the women carried was celebrated by billions yesterday.

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Matthew 28:11-20

Now as the women were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. They met with the elders and decided to give a large sum of money to the soldiers. They told them, “Say that Jesus’ disciples came at night and stole his body while you were sleeping. And if the governor hears about this, we will take care of it with him so you will have nothing to worry about.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. And this report has spread throughout all Judea to this very day.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”

Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains
    are the feet of a messenger
    who proclaims peace,
    who brings good news,
    who proclaims salvation,
    who says to Zion, “Your God rules!”
Listen! Your lookouts lift their voice;
    they sing out together!
    Right before their eyes they see the Lord returning to Zion.

Break into song together, you ruins of Jerusalem!
The Lord has comforted his people and has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm in view of all the nations;
    all the ends of the earth have seen our God’s victory.

Prayer

God,

What was it like that first Easter Monday? I imagine many people just went back to life, to the grind. But as word spread, how did people feel?

Surely those Jesus healed could imagine his resurrection to be true. Did Lazarus smile? Bartimaeus quietly not in affirmation? Jairus’ daughter - where was she when she heard? What did she think?

I’m sure some doubted, probably most. Others likely thought it a cruel joke.

Lord, despite all our media and technology today, I fear we do no better with information and news. In fact, we’re likely worse. Still grabbing for power and position by framing things this way or that.

As I go about this day, help me to simply be a witness unto truth.

By your spirit & in Christ,

Amen.

1. If you’ve been with us from the start, after today, you’ve read the whole of Matthew’s gospel. And congrats to those who chose to read the whole of the gospels through Lent. Tomorrow will begin a new turn in this year-long journey as we turn from Matthew to Mark. Sundays will continue to be a bit different each week. Thank you all for your likes and responses to these daily posts - it’s so helpful to know they are being read and considered each day.