Encouragement for Today

April 20, 2025 From Grief to Glory: The Women Who Ran To Share the Good News DORINA LAZO GILMORE-YOUNG Lee en español

“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:8 (NIV)

Editor’s Note: Today’s devotion is part of our Holy Week series! Journey with us as we experience the power of Jesus’ love, remember His sacrifice, and walk in the victory of His resurrection. We pray this series prepares your heart for the joy of Easter. Subscribe now.

On the first Easter Sunday, some women rose to bring spices to anoint Jesus’ dead body … but what they witnessed was miraculous.

An angel dressed in gleaming white revealed to them that Jesus had risen from the dead. The angel invited the women to come and see where Jesus had lain, then go and tell His disciples. These ladies had the opportunity to run for God’s glory. And that’s exactly what they did (Matthew 28:2-8).

I coach track and field at the high school my daughters attend. One of my athletes has a T-shirt that says “I run like a girl” on the front and “Try to keep up” on the back. Every time she wears that shirt, I am filled with delight. The shirt is a tongue-in-cheek statement to those who believe girls must run slower than boys.

Still, I’ve always taught my girls we don’t run merely to beat the boys or prove ourselves to the world. We run for God’s glory.

When the Gospel writer Matthew described the scene at Jesus’ tomb, he quoted the angel as saying: “‘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” (Matthew 28:7-8, NIV, emphases added).

God could have announced His Son’s resurrection in a myriad of grandiose ways, but He chose to send an angel first to go and tell women whose lives had been transformed by His Son.

The Gospels mention that among these women were Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus delivered from seven demons; another Mary, mother of James; Salome, mother of James and John; and Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s servant, whom Jesus healed and partnered with throughout His ministry (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). These faithful women walked with Jesus, ate with Him, and listened to Him teach. Many women were there the day He was crucified and the night His body was buried (Matthew 27:55).

At the opening of the empty tomb, they leaned in close to see for themselves as eyewitnesses. Then they ran joyfully to share the Good News.

Can you fathom the grief and sorrow these women had endured just days before? Have you ever felt like all hope was lost, only to discover there was good news on the other side?

Imagine these women picking up their skirts and running with all their strength, soaring like eagles, until they reached the feet of Jesus, where they fell down in worship (Matthew 28:9-10). They ran like the girls God created them to be, sharing about His resurrection — and so can we.

Dear Jesus, we’re filled with deep gratitude and abundant hope as we’re reminded that You sacrificed Your life for every human being. Give us courage to run and tell others what You have done for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

John 20:18, “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her” (NIV).

How have you seen Jesus in your life? Who can you encourage today with the truths He has revealed to you?

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© 2025 by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young. All rights reserved.