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I Run like a Girl………Try to keep up!

 

Once again, Easter has come and gone. A long weekend, full of high expectations and to do lists disappointingly unfulfilled, chocolate consumed in larger than needed quantities and in amongst all that, numerous verses and quotes posted on social media, reminding us of Christ’s great sacrifice on the cross and his glorious resurrection.

Many, many years ago, in another time and another culture, in the pages of Scripture, we read of some women. These women were women we see making cameo appearances in various Bible stories at different times.

In Marks gospel (16:1), we see mentioned Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus delivered from seven demons; another Mary, the mother of James, Salome, the mother of James and John and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod Antipas’ household estate and a woman also healed and delivered from evil spirits. There were possibly others as we see in Luke 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee..

These faithful women had walked with Jesus. They ate with him, they listened to him teach, they served him. They partnered in ministry with him. And then came the day when they saw him crucified and laid to rest in a borrowed tomb.

What I find beautiful and fascinating in the story of the resurrection is the fact that God could have announced his miraculous rising from the dead in any number of ways, triumphantly, loudly, grandiosely. And yet, he chose a couple of angels to speak to some women whose lives had been transformed by his Son. God chose to send his message of good news through broken and yet forgiven and redeemed women.

In the harmony of the gospels, we see this story retold with small variations. Matthew 28. Mark 16. Luke 24. John 20. We know that there are no contradictions in the Word of God, so these differences are not errors, they are simply a retelling by men of differing personalities from their own unique perspectives and to different audiences. These authors simply chose different angles to communicate about the same person, Jesus Christ.

In three of the gospels, I noticed something interesting. I’ll get to it in a minute. The women arrived at the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus with spices, as was their custom. But when they arrived, they were perplexed (Luke 24:4) and then frightened (Mark 16:5) as they saw not only an empty tomb but also the angel/angels sitting in shining garments.

They were then given the message of Christ’s resurrection, and they were told to take the good news to the disciples.

We read in the Gospels that the women ran. That’s right. They ran. Now I don’t know how common it was for women in that culture to run, but I think it would have been an interesting sight.

There were no women in Bible times, clothed in Lorna Jane gym wear, out jogging while pushing a pram, air pods in, ponytail bouncing in the breeze.

No, these women would have been clothed head to toe in long, flowing garments and head coverings. Not quite the attire of one bent on running flat out after being surprised and amazed at the sight of an empty tomb, where just 3 days before they had seen their Saviour laid to rest.

But, run they did.

What a sight it must have been, to see grown women, running flat out, intent on giving the good news to the disciples, still grieving over their Saviour’s death.

Matthew 28:5-8 KJV - And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

Mark 16:8a KJV - And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed:

The angel told them to go quickly and give the news to the other disciples, a message of hope and good news. So, run they did.

Luke 24:9-10 KJV - And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

God used different women, from different walks of life to announce his resurrection.

Did you notice, in Matthews Gospel, that they had a divine interruption to their running?

Matthew 28:9-10 KJV - And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

As they ran, flat out, skirts hitched up, head coverings flapping, sandals flip-flopping along the dusty road, they met the one they had been searching for. Jesus stopped them in their tracks. And they knew him immediately. They fell at his feet and worshipped him.

From running swiftly to worshipping humbly to becoming heralds of hope.  

What struck me about these passages, was that God chose to use his people to do a job he himself could have done in any number of ways. He chose some women whose lives he had changed to be the bearers of the good news.

He was able to change their grief to glory.

They ran for God’s glory. They ran with purpose. They ran with passion.

And so, if I can encourage you with one thing today, it is this. When God gives you a message to share, don’t be slow about doing it. Run. Run with the message. And do it with joy!

The Bible tells us that they ran with fear but also with great joy!

Matthew 28:8 KJV - And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

Just days before, they felt all hope was lost, but God turned their mourning into gladness and their grief to joy. They ran for God’s glory. They ran with a message.

Matthew 28:6a KJV - He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.

(Keep a look out for a future post on another interesting figure in the Bible that ran!)

God bless

Xx