Eve vs Mary Magdalen
In Genesis we read how Eve was seduced by the Devil’s empty promises of becoming God. In her enthusiasm to eat the forbidden fruit she got Adam involved and pulled him into sin as well and consequently both injured communion with God. From this story, I’ve heard numerous times from my childhood, that women were responsible for bringing sin into the world and that whenever a woman tries to cajole a man to do something, we are instantly reminded of Eve convincing Adam to sin with her.
Interestingly, the account of the morning of the first Easter, seems to be the redemption of women. Here we find Mary Magdalen and the other Mary being the first to receive the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection. Subsequently, these women are the harbingers of the Good News to the dejected Apostles. These women therefore edified the faith of the Apostles. Contrast this with Eve’s action of destroying the faith of Adam.
In Genesis, the first time a woman walks in the Garden she is confronted by the Devil. Later in the Bible, when some women are walking in a garden towards the tomb of Jesus, they are met by God himself. Note the contrasting outcomes - in Genesis account mankind is doomed but in the Gospel accounts mankind is hopeful.
Unfortunately the latter scenario are what we tend to gloss over. It’s as if we males prefer the stereotype of women as leading men into sin but do not like the stereotype of women being leading men to God by their faith. May this Easter make us see a new positive role of women as God intended - the support of men.
