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Here's our text for this Sunday, April 8, 2007
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (NIV)
Did you know that the very first command Jesus gave after His resurrection was to some of His female disciples? Did you know that this command was to preach? "Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee..." Some folk believe texts like this one make the women messengers, not preachers. However the definition of preaching is often called "evangelism", and the title evangelist is from the Greek which means "The Messenger". Some of our Christian brothers and sisters believe that women are not allowed by God to preach, or teach, men anywhere, and much less from a pulpit. But Jesus gave one of His greatest messages to the messengers He was closest to, the only disciples who would come out of hiding to His tomb that first Easter morning, the women. What do you think Jesus thought about allowing women to preach?
I hope to see you Sunday at 7am for our Easter Dawn Service at the Prayer Walk Cross, and 9 or 10:45am for our two main Easter Celebration Services!
Pastor Ken
NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, all Bible verses quoted in this website are from the New International Version (NIV). Any words from those verses that are in "red" are words spoken by Jesus.
Pastor Ken sends a Weekly Newsletter that includes his devotional message for the week and an update of the current happenings at Hope Church. If you would like to receive his newsletter, just click below and he'll add your email address to his list of subscribers.