The Women at Jesus' Tomb

The Women at Jesus' Tomb

Who were the women at the tomb?

A group of women followed Jesus from His ministry in Galilee to the last day of His life. They faithfully supported Jesus from their own means (Luke 8:2-3). They witnessed the worst moment in history— Jesus’ gruesome death— and observed the desertion of His fearful disciples.

The women at the tomb also witnessed Jesus’ resurrection. Their experience at the tomb appears in each of the four Gospels. The names of these courageous and faithful women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and “other women” who were not identified.

The Story of the Women at the Tomb

The faithfulness of the Women at the Tomb— Luke 23:54-56

The disciples had deserted Jesus, but these women lingered at the cross to the very end. They observed a man wrapping up Jesus’ body. They then followed this man at a distance to see where Jesus was buried. It was sundown, so they returned home to prepare spices for a proper burial.

The follow-through of the Women at the Tomb— Matthew 28:1-2

These women rose before daylight and traveled alone to the tomb. When they arrived, they found the stone rolled away. They entered the tomb but found it empty (Luke 24:3). Suddenly an angel appeared.

The revelation of the Women at the Tomb— Matthew 28:5-6
 

The faithful band of women were the first to see the proof of Jesus’ resurrection. The angel said, “He is not here; for He is risen. . . . Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (v. 6). They were then instructed to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead.

The Women at the Tomb's response— Matthew 28:8
The women departed quickly to carry out the angel’s instructions. Though they were “afraid,” they “told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest” (Luke 24:5, 9).

The disciples were skeptical at first, but ran to the tomb and saw proof of the women’s statement. The disciples left, but Mary Magdalene returned and was weeping by the tomb when Jesus appeared to her (John 20:11-18). This was His first appearance to anyone after His death and resurrection.

The Women at the Tomb's reward— Matthew 28:9-10
Soon after Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, He appeared to the other women on the road. They took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then He instructed them to have the disciples leave for Galilee where they would see Him.

How to gain wisdom from this Biblical story

Faithfulness is not optional. A group of women supported Jesus’ ministry for many months. They were faithful with their resources, steadfast at the cross, and prepared to fulfill their final act of service at the tomb. These women did not allow adversity to keep them from ministering to their Savior. 

Actions always trump good intentions. The women didn’t simply say they were devoted to Christ. They stayed when others fled. They used their resources to minister to Christ, both before and after His death. Having good intentions is easy, but intentions don’t yield results. Actions yield results. Like the women at Jesus’ tomb, be a person of action and use your time and resources to minister to others.

RESPOND WITH PRAYER

Lord Jesus, sometimes I am so tired that I do not follow through on my good intentions. Help me look to You for strength and to find Your purpose in my tasks. Give me the energy to be a strong, diligent woman after Your own heart. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

Easter Sale – Shop our Easter collectionof biblical printables and fill your heart & home with the biblical truths found in these encouraging resources. On sale for a limited time. Click here to view.

A Woman After God's Own Heart BibleToday’s devotion is one of the many featured in this Bible to help you grow in your faith:

  • Daily devotionals
  • 150 biographies of women of the Bible
  • 25 full-page topical reflections on life's challenges
  • 400 brief whispers of wisdom for daily life 

Additional Resources

God's Purpose for You

God's Promises in the Bible

One-Word Themes for All the Books of the Bible

 

REFLECT

How does your faithfulness compare to theirs? “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). 

Read Matthew 28:1-10 and Luke 23:55-24:12.

REMEMBER

Actions always trump good intentions.


2 Responses

Christi
Christi

May 31, 2022

Not sure what the point was from the copy/paste comment above…

But very good article. Women in the Bible were loved by Jesus and still are today! Leave it to the women to still stick around and care for someone they loved and believed in – even after death.

np
np

January 27, 2022

As concerning the Word of life, Luke 10 section 25-28 says: On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
Luke 18 section 18-25 says: A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 5 section 43-48 says: "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
In Old Testament, the Jewish people and their ancestors were given the Law to observe. First, What Adam and Eve should observe was that they could not eat the fruits from the tree of wisdom. Then, their son Cain was told that he should not kill. As sins became increased, the laws were also added more. Up to the generation of Moses, the Law in Old Testament was given to Israelites. We know that the Law is good and the Law is used to punish people who commit sins, but people cannot obey the Law because the sinful spirits are in people. Even that we know stealing and giving false testimony are sinful, but greedy and pride spirits in us drive us to do sinful things. So as Old Testament prophesied we need to get rid of our sinful nature from our spirits.
Jeremiah 31 section 31-33 says: “The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Ezekiel 36 section 24-27 says: "’For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
The prophecies are fulfilled when Jesus begins to teach love. The two greatest commandments are " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" Love is above the Law and if people have love they are free from the law of sin and death. People who are full of love will not think about stealing or giving false testimony but are merciful and they feed hungry people or give thirsty people something to drink or invite strangers in or clothe people who need clothes. The Law is for people who commit sins. Nobody will say that he will get reward because he does not steal before. But love is the grace we get. And with love we will get eternal life.
Romans 13 section 8-10 says: Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Luke 17 section 20-21 says: Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say,’ Here it is,’ or ’ There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”
John 4 section 23-24 says: Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

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Jim and Elizabeth George

Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:

  • Simplify life by focusing on God’s priorities.
  • Appreciate God’s Word and apply it to everyday situations.
  • Respond to circumstances with confidence by seeing yourself through God’s loving eyes.
  • Increase closeness in marriage by serving and honoring each other.
  • Powerfully shape the hearts of children and teenagers.
  • Enjoy greater intimacy with God.

Learn more about Jim and Elizabeth George here.

Jim and Elizabeth George

Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:

  • Simplify life by focusing on God’s priorities.
  • Appreciate God’s Word and apply it to everyday situations.
  • Respond to circumstances with confidence by seeing yourself through God’s loving eyes.
  • Increase closeness in marriage by serving and honoring each other.
  • Powerfully shape the hearts of children and teenagers.
  • Enjoy greater intimacy with God.

Learn more about Jim and Elizabeth George here.


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