Main Text: Luke 24:1-12 (Acts 10:34-43; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26)
John’s portrayal of that Easter morning has Mary Magdalene pronouncing boldly to the disciples all gathered in fear, “I have seen the Lord.” In Mark’s gospel it has the women leaving the tomb and telling no one because of fear. This appears to be the evangelism motto of most Lutheran Churches. Matthew’s Gospel sends the women to tell the disciples but does not describe how the disciples received this message. In Luke’s Gospel and John’s, however, the women were perceived to be sharing an idle tale. The disciples did not believe the women when they shared the story. Maybe that is why the women were portrayed as afraid in Mark’s Gospel. Who would believe that story from anyone, let alone a woman in those days? Maybe that is why we have so much trouble with witnessing to our faith. Maybe we are afraid that nobody would believe us. But that does not seem to stop Mary in John’s Gospel or all the women in Luke’s Gospel from telling the story. For them, it did not matter whether the person receiving the message believed. They had seen the Lord. Consider where Christ has met you in your life. Where have you seen the Lord? Now, go and tell that He Has Risen! You have been chosen as a witness!