Here is a message I gave in a Presbyterian church in Lahore during my recent stay in Pakistan (18 November 2025). Together with Olivier Fleury, I spoke about the JC2033 initiative. I was asked to reflect on the resurrection in relation to women, as the majority of those attending the meeting were women.
JC2033 is an initiative centred on the resurrection of Jesus. I would like to offer a short meditation on this great event. Let me begin with a simple question: Who were the first witnesses of the resurrection?
The First Witnesses: Women
Some may answer: the apostles. But in fact, the first witnesses were the women.
Who stood at the cross of Jesus? Where were the apostles? They were not there—only one remained, John. But three women were present: Mary, the mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; and Mary, the wife of Cleopas.
Who were at the tomb of Jesus? Again, it was the women.
And on the morning of the resurrection, they were the first to go to the tomb. The first person to see the empty tomb et Jesus alive was Mary Magdalene. She carried the joyful news to the apostles and became, in a way, the “apostle of the apostles.”
So when we say that our faith is founded on the resurrection of Jesus, we also affirm that women were the first witnesses—and that they taught the apostles. At that time, this was revolutionary: women teaching men.
On the Road to Emmaus
Let us now walk the Emmaus Road. You remember the story of the two disciples: they were walking, sad and confused, arguing about what had happened to Jesus. A stranger joined them, and they did not recognize him. It was Jesus. He began to teach them and open the Scriptures.
When they reached the village of Emmaus, they said to him, “Stay with us, for evening is near.” He entered the house with them. Around the table they began to eat, and when Jesus took the bread, blessed it, and broke it, their eyes were opened. They recognized him, and at that moment he disappeared from their sight.
Another Moment of “Opened Eyes”
Let me ask you another question: Where else in the Bible do we read that people opened their eyes? One man and one woman who opened their eyes to themselves? Where is that written?
It was Adam and Eve.
Perhaps the Gospel of Luke wants us to see something meaningful here. In the text, we only have the name Cleopas: Cleopas and another person. Maybe that companion was Mary of Cleopas, his wife. If so, then together they experienced the opening of their eyes and became witnesses of the risen Jesus.
When Adam and Eve opened their eyes, they felt shame and hid. But on the Emmaus Road, a man and a woman open their eyes and become missionaries of the risen Christ.
Men and Women Ministering Together
Thus, this story teaches us that in the Lord, men and women are called together to be ministers and missionaries of the risen Jesus.
I had the grace of having a good wife. Every morning, we read a verse or a short passage of the Bible together. We read it, then kept silence, and afterwards shared what had touched our hearts. Then we prayed together. This has become the spiritual focus of my life, of our life as a couple.
My wife passed away two years ago. And if the Lord gives me a new wife, the most important thing will be that we can open the Bible together, offer our hearts to Jesus, the risen one, and pray together.
A Basic Christian Principle of Marriage
If you are looking for a wife, or looking for a husband, the first thing to discern is this: Will this person be able to read the Bible with me, to keep silence before the risen Jesus, and to pray together?
Do you understand? Do you agree? Yes. Then let us live this way.
As Paul says, “in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. » (1 Co 11.11)