Luke 24:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Upon their return, these individuals, along with Mary Magdalene, shared with the apostles everything that transpired, with Magdalene having observed the tomb twice and the others once. Concerning the Myrrh-bearing Women, there is a consensus without any contradictions in their accounts. This material is attributed to St. John Chrysostom and is categorized as Spuria in the Minya edition.

The women, instructed in this mystery by the angels’ message, hurried to share the news with the disciples. It was appropriate that such a magnificent grace should be granted to women. The one who had been the agent of death since the dawn of time was now liberated from her guilt by heeding the call of the holy angels and becoming the first to recognize and proclaim the joyous mystery of the resurrection. In this way, womankind received both a release from its condemnation and a reversal of its curse. He who had previously declared to them, "In sorrow you shall bring forth children," provided them with relief from their plight by encountering them in the garden, as another Gospel writer recounts, and saying, "Rejoice."

The women approached the tomb and found it devoid of the body. They received the announcement from the angels that Christ had risen. They conveyed this message to their husbands. And what had been written? What had they heard? What the women witnessed firsthand was dismissed by the men as mere words. Such is the unfortunate nature of humanity! When Eve communicated the serpent’s words, Adam listened without hesitation. The deceit spoken by a woman led to death, yet the truth proclaimed by women went unrecognized, preventing life. If the women’s words were disregarded, what prompted Adam to trust Eve? Conversely, if the women were credible, why did the disciples doubt these holy messengers?

In a similar manner, it is stated and understood in this passage: "They took the money and did as they had been instructed."

As Mary informed the apostles and they rushed toward the tomb, the other women who brought spices arrived first. They entered the sepulcher and discovered that the body of Jesus was missing. Instead, they encountered an angel who brought them the good news. This radiant messenger proclaimed to them with clarity that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, precisely as He had predicted prior to His crucifixion in Galilee. This revelation represents the third, or more accurately, the initial confirmed announcement of the Lord’s resurrection. The myrrh-bearers found no need for additional confirmation; the angel’s presence was so powerful that they had no reason to doubt the truth of his message.

Luke does not elaborate on the emotional state of the women as they returned from the tomb; instead, he highlights the disbelief of the apostles regarding the women’s announcement of the Lord’s resurrection. Matthew indicates that the emotions of the women, who encountered such remarkable events and received the astonishing message, were complex, characterized by both fear and profound joy. However, Mark reveals that their initial reaction was predominantly fear, leading them to remain silent and say nothing to anyone during their journey. Once they joined the circle of Christ’s disciples, their fear dissipated, allowing them to speak freely, particularly as they were tasked with fulfilling the angel's instruction to inform the Lord's followers about His resurrection.

Upon receiving the joyous announcement, the women emerged from the sepulcher and hurried into the city to share the news with the apostles. Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene had already reached Peter and John, and upon entering, she expressed her anguish, declaring, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him" (John 20:2). They proceeded to convey all that they had witnessed and heard, not only to the eleven apostles but also to all who cherished Jesus; however, their words seemed to them to be of no significance, and they remained unconvinced. Thus concluded the first morning following the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On that morning, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, followed by all the other women who visited His tomb. They recounted these encounters and everything they had observed to the apostles, but their accounts appeared to them (the apostles) as nonsense, and they did not accept them.

With a sense of apprehension, they approached the tomb, but suddenly, brilliant beams of light erupted from within, and two radiant, cheerful young men appeared before them. The women had barely gathered their composure after the shock when one of these joyful messengers addressed them, saying, “Do not be frightened! Are you searching for Jesus of Nazareth? Why do you look for the living among the dead? He has risen! He is not here! Come and see the place where they laid Him.” The women, hearing this glad tidings from the heavenly messenger, found themselves overwhelmed by happiness and momentarily perplexed. They stood at the tomb in amazement.

"Proclaiming all these matters": Following the directive of the angels (Matt. 28:7, Mk. 16:7) and the Lord Himself (Matt. 28:10), the women hurried back to share with the Apostles and everyone else, namely those who were in their company, what they had witnessed and heard.