Luke 24:10 describes the women who were the first to witness the empty tomb and the message from angels (or, in some accounts, Jesus himself) about Jesus' resurrection. Let's break it down:
"Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James": This identifies three of the women.
Mary Magdalene: A prominent follower of Jesus, from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). She is often portrayed as a key witness to Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
Joanna: The wife of Chuza, Herod's steward (Luke 8:3). This suggests she was a woman of some means and status.
Mary the mother of James: Likely the mother of James the Less and Joseph (Mark 15:40, Matthew 27:56). This helps to distinguish her from other women named Mary.
"The other women with them...": This acknowledges that there were more women present than just the three named. The gospels differ slightly on the exact number and names of the women.
"...told these things to the apostles.": This is the crucial part. The women, having seen the empty tomb and received the message, went and reported this astounding news to the apostles, who were Jesus' closest disciples. "These things" refers to their encounter with the empty tomb and the message of Jesus' resurrection.
Meaning and Significance:
Witnesses to the Resurrection: The verse highlights the crucial role of these women as the first witnesses to the resurrection. In a culture where women's testimony was often undervalued, this is particularly significant.
Apostles' Initial Disbelief: The subsequent verses in Luke 24 reveal that the apostles initially dismissed the women's testimony as "idle tales." This emphasizes the shock and disbelief surrounding the resurrection and the courage and persistence of the women in sharing their experience.
Challenge to Social Norms: Their role challenges the social norms of the time, where women's voices were often marginalized. By choosing women as the first witnesses, the Gospel message emphasizes inclusivity and challenges societal prejudices.
Credibility of the Resurrection Account: Some scholars argue that the inclusion of women as the first witnesses actually strengthens the credibility of the resurrection account. If the story were fabricated, it's unlikely that the authors would have chosen women to play such a central role, given the societal biases of the time.
In summary, Luke 24:10 emphasizes the crucial role of these women as witnesses to the most important event in Christian theology: the resurrection of Jesus. It also highlights the initial disbelief of the apostles and the challenge to social norms that this event represents.
Luke 24:10 describes the women who were the first to witness the empty tomb and the message from angels (or, in some accounts, Jesus himself) about Jesus' resurrection. Let's break it down:
"Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James": This identifies three of the women.
Mary Magdalene: A prominent follower of Jesus, from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). She is often portrayed as a key witness to Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
Joanna: The wife of Chuza, Herod's steward (Luke 8:3). This suggests she was a woman of some means and status.
Mary the mother of James: Likely the mother of James the Less and Joseph (Mark 15:40, Matthew 27:56). This helps to distinguish her from other women named Mary.
"The other women with them...": This acknowledges that there were more women present than just the three named. The gospels differ slightly on the exact number and names of the women.
"...told these things to the apostles.": This is the crucial part. The women, having seen the empty tomb and received the message, went and reported this astounding news to the apostles, who were Jesus' closest disciples. "These things" refers to their encounter with the empty tomb and the message of Jesus' resurrection.
Meaning and Significance:
Witnesses to the Resurrection: The verse highlights the crucial role of these women as the first witnesses to the resurrection. In a culture where women's testimony was often undervalued, this is particularly significant.
Apostles' Initial Disbelief: The subsequent verses in Luke 24 reveal that the apostles initially dismissed the women's testimony as "idle tales." This emphasizes the shock and disbelief surrounding the resurrection and the courage and persistence of the women in sharing their experience.
Challenge to Social Norms: Their role challenges the social norms of the time, where women's voices were often marginalized. By choosing women as the first witnesses, the Gospel message emphasizes inclusivity and challenges societal prejudices.
Credibility of the Resurrection Account: Some scholars argue that the inclusion of women as the first witnesses actually strengthens the credibility of the resurrection account. If the story were fabricated, it's unlikely that the authors would have chosen women to play such a central role, given the societal biases of the time.
In summary, Luke 24:10 emphasizes the crucial role of these women as witnesses to the most important event in Christian theology: the resurrection of Jesus. It also highlights the initial disbelief of the apostles and the challenge to social norms that this event represents.