Women as the first witnesses of the Resurrection A reflection on Luke 24:1 12 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller hello good people.

Welcome to Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

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Let's get into our reading for the day from the Gospel of Luke 24:1 12 Reading from the Message Looking for a living One in the cemetery the crack of dawn on a Sunday.

The women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared.

They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb.

So they walked in.

But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the master Jesus.

They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this.

Then out of nowhere, it seemed two men, light cascading over them, stood there.

The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship.

The men said, why are you looking for a living one in the cemetery?

He is not here, but raised up.

Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to be sinners, be killed on a cross and in three days rise up.

And they remembered Jesus's words.

They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the 11 and to the rest.

Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles.

But the apostles didn't believe a word of it.

They thought they were making it all up.

But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb.

He stooped to look in and saw the grave close.

And that's all.

He he walked away, puzzled, shaking his head.

Well, my friends, this we're exploring here, Luke's account of the resurrection story.

And it's paying attention to the often overlooked voices that first proclaimed this incredibly revolutionary message that was the women involved.

So here's some points to ponder.

The first has to do with women as the primary witnesses to The Resurrection.

In a patriarchal society where women's testimony wasn't often even admissible in court, Luke deliberately centers women as the first witnesses to the resurrection.

There's Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James.

They led the way in proclaiming this world changing news.

This reminds us to question whose voices we dismiss today and challenges us to amplify marginalized perspectives in our own faith communities.

Here's another point.

Finding life in unexpected places.

Why are you looking for the living in a cemetery?

The women are asked.

The profound question invites us to examine where we search for signs of hope and transformation.

Sometimes we become so focused focused on traditional spaces and conventional wisdom that we miss the radical new life emerging in unexpected placements in movements of justice, grassroots communities, and in voices that have previously been silenced.

Here's another point.

The courage to proclaim the truth.

Despite facing dismissal and disbelief from male disciples who thought they were making it all up, the women persisted in sharing their experience.

Their courage reminds us that speaking truth, especially from a marginalized position, often meets resistance from established power structures.

Yet their persistence changed the world.

Here's your action step.

Intentionally seek out and amplify the voice that is often dismissed in your community.

This might mean reading some book or theology by a woman of or a woman of color, or sharing your platform with an LGBTQ person of faith, or inviting someone from a marginalized group to share their story in your faith community, like the women at the tomb, help create space for unexpected voices to proclaim their truth.

We're here to provide you truth every, every day.

And we're going to have a closing prayer here in just a minute.

But I want you to know we have a resource for you to help to read the Bible in your own right, in your own way.

Please go to our website voiceofgoddaily.com and there you're going to find some links to help you to find a free resource.

It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Guide.

Go there.

Pick it up.

It will help you with your daily Bible study.

Here's our closing prayer.

Oh God, you are Divine love.

And we confess that like the disciples, we often dismiss voices that challenge our comfortable assumptions.

Often our hearts open our hearts to recognize your presence in unexpected places and through unexpected people.

Give us courage, like Mary Magdalene and her companions, to proclaim truth even when others doubt us.

Help us create communities where all voices are heard and valued.

Remind us that resurrection hope often appears first to those in the margins.

In the spirit of liberation and new life, we pray.

Amen.

Always a joy to delight to be with you here on the Daily Bible Refresh.

Remember to join us again tomorrow.

Bring a friend.

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Until tomorrow then, friends.

My name is Dr.

Brad Miller, reminding you that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every.