The resurrection story is far more radical than we often realize. While churches debate women in ministry, Jesus himself chose Mary Magdalene—a woman freed from seven demons—to be the first witness and announcer of his resurrection.

In this powerful Holy Week episode, we journey to the empty tomb through Mary's eyes. What must it have felt like to lose your dearest friend to a brutal execution, only to discover his tomb empty days later? Mary initially didn't recognize Jesus, mistaking him for the gardener. It was only when he spoke her name that revelation dawned. This intimate, personal moment transformed history as Jesus commissioned Mary to announce his resurrection to the waiting disciples.

The language Scripture uses for Mary's assignment is significant—the same Greek word later describes Peter's proclamation of salvation to Cornelius. Yet tragically, the disciples initially dismissed her testimony. Had they completely rejected her message, they would have missed receiving the Great Commission in Galilee.

This sequence reveals a profound truth: God often works through unexpected vessels, challenging human restrictions on who can share divine truth. We confront the handful of Pauline texts often weaponized against women in ministry, showing how they address specific cultural situations rather than contradicting Jesus's clear command for all believers to go and make disciples. When reading Scripture holistically, we discover a Savior who consistently empowered women in counter-cultural ways.

The question remains: are we missing God's voice by silencing those he has chosen to speak? Join us as we reclaim the radical inclusivity of Jesus's ministry and break free from human-made restrictions.