Women at the Tomb

The liturgical readings after Easter focus a great deal on women. While the apostles are supposedly huddled in the Upper Room for fear of being killed like their leader, several women go to the tomb on Easter morning to anoint his body. They are told by an angel that Jesus is risen. When they go back to tell Peter and the others,  "the story seemed like nonsense and they refused to believe them." (Jn.24:11)

Mary Magdalen encounters Jesus in a garden but does not recognize him until he says her name. Jesus tells her to go and tell the Eleven, but she is not believed. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus (one or both women?) encounter the risen Lord too, but only recognize him "in the breaking of the bread." (Jn. 24:35)

Although Jesus had told the apostles and the women that he would rise from the dead, they did not understand what this meant. In his resurrected state, he looked different so they didn't really know who he was. Also they were still overcome with grief  and fearful of being arrested.

Jesus chose to reveal himself to the women first, perhaps because they were the ones who stayed with him all through his passion and death. John the beloved apostle is the only man mentioned at the crucifixion. Women were the first witnesses of the resurrection. Although their message was doubted, it proved true. Eventually,  Jesus appeared to the apostles and they could see the holes in his hands and the wound in his side. I'm sure they were embarrassed that they had disbelieved the women. Another instance of Jesus elevating the status of women.