This morning the sermon was from Mark 16. Our minister of the Word paused at this section:

Early on the first day of the week, after he had risen, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with him, as they were mourning and weeping. Yet, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.

Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

He paused to take note that these male disciples who had been with Jesus; who had heard Jesus declare that He would rise again on the third day; who had even seen Him raise the dead—they didn’t believe Mary.

I got distracted, imagining what they said to one another about Mary after she told them she’d seen Jesus alive again.

I couldn’t help but hear the words I have seen professing Christian men—even ministers—say to and about sisters in Christ online.

“That poor Mary. You know, she’s probably still unstable from all those seven demons she had. Trauma does strange things to people.”

“Those seven demons are nothing compared to her body count!”

“Women are more emotional than men. She probably can’t think straight. She’s hysterical!”

“That Mary will say anything for attention from a man since she hit the wall.”

“She always was a termagant and a harpy—even after the demons were out!”

“Remember, women are more gullible. That’s why Eve was deceived. Mary’ll believe anything.”

“Mary shouldn’t be saying anything about Jesus to men. Who does she think she is? She needs to just go home.”

Of course, I was letting my imagination run wild with me.

But when I see and hear dudes saying these kinds of things to women—who are supposed to be their sisters in the Lord! …

… when they expose abuse;

… when they say, Brothers, please stop, this hurts;

… or when they simply have the unmitigated gall to express a theological opinion in public;

I can’t help but think: “Those dudes are still denying the resurrection! Because anyone who actually believed the Gospel … if they really believed that the risen Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead … they would never dare to talk like that!”