Message Bearers


Matthew 28:1-10, Acts 10:34-43

How is it that after hundreds of years the Easter story of the resurrection is remembered and celebrated? Who were the first witnesses of this? In our Matthew account it is Mary Madgalene and the other Mary who encounter the earthquake that removes the stone showing the empty tomb with the angel sitting on the stone. The angel tells them to not be afraid like the guards who shook and became as dead men, but tells them news that Jesus is not there since he has risen from the dead. They are told to go quickly and tell the disciples, “He has risen from the dead and will meet you in Galilee.” These women have been tasked to deliver this message. It’s amazing that God chose women to be the first witnesses and messengers of the good news.

Peter and John are told of in John 20 of going to the tomb and seeing only the linen wrappings wrapped up. Even though they see and believe they return to their homes not sharing the news.

Peter makes up for this in our Acts passage when he talks about the message spreading throughout Judea about Jesus being anointed by God to be the Messiah and about him going around doing good. Peter tells about how he and others were chosen by God to be witnesses of Christ’s death and how he rose from the dead stating Christ is the one the prophets testified about.

From the disciples first-hand accounts written in the gospels along with the Marys being the first messengers of Christ’s resurrection to those who were saved due to their testimonies and to those who also became messengers. It has continued up to us today where our own message bearers told us the story of Christ and about salvation through his death on the cross and new life in him due to his resurrection and how he conquered death.

What of us today? Are we message bearers? Do we show the love of Christ to all we meet or do we just bask in our own salvation? Do we share the story of the living Christ we celebrate at Easter? Let us continue to be like Peter and the two Marys to be message bearers of the resurrection of Christ which brought us salvation. Amen.

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