38. Mark 15:40-41
There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.
It’s hard not to marvel at the way most of the Christian Church for most of its history have ignored these verses. Who is left by this time in the Passion narrative? As Jesus anticipated, his disciples – that is, the men who have traveled with him these last several years and gathered with him at the Last Supper – have all been scattered. As he foresaw, one of them, Judas, betrayed him. And as predicted, Peter, the leader of that band and perhaps the one closest to Jesus, denied him not once, not twice, but three times. So much for the men of this story.
And so who’s left? These women: Mary, Mary, and Salome. They are the ones who have stayed close enough to see what happens, to follow Jesus to his bitter end. Mark now identifies them as those who not only followed him for much of his ministry but also provided for him. You know, took care of him, supported his ministry, encouraged him to do what he came to do. And, if all this is not enough, they are not alone, but gathered with many other women who came with Jesus to Jerusalem.
Despite all this, the Church has for centuries denied leadership to women and in many parts of the Church still does. How have we missed the significance of these verses: that from the beginning women supported Jesus’ ministry, were instrumental to that effort, and were the only ones who had the determination and sheer guts to see it through to the difficult end?
And, shortly, it will be women who go to the tomb to render once last gesture of respect and obedience only to be surprised that the even death could not contain the love of God embodied in Jesus.
We are now near the end of the journey – near the end of Mark’s account and at Maundy Thursday of Holy Week. Certainly there is much for us to ponder and reflect upon. For just a moment on this day, I hope we can give thanks for these faithful women who followed Christ with determination, fortitude, resourcefulness, and courage. And as we do so, let us also give thanks for their daughters, our sisters, who serve our Lord with the same fidelity and courage today.
Prayer: Dear God, you have furnished your church with leaders throughout its history. We give thanks today in particular for all those women, your daughters, who have heard your call to follow and have done so. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thanks for writing this. The important thing, for me as a woman, is to know that Jesus had women as disciples too. I never knew that until recently, in some ways women as leaders is an extra issue, important, but not as important as knowing how Jesus felt about women. Because if women didn’t get the opportunity to be treated with respect for who they are, if they didn’t get invited to follow Him, then why would women be attracted to Jesus today. I just felt real happy and relieved to know that Jesus expected and encouraged women to be disciples, I guess that is why I trust in Jesus. The sad thing too about the extra bit, if women are not encouraged to take leadership roles then they will rightly feel that their freedoms are being squelched and their gifts and talents are not valued in the Church, what a price to pay for men to feel just a little more secure, that can’t be right, but some cling to that. I can’t understand and think it is discrimination.