“Some women were watching from a distance. Among them are Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee, these women had followed Him and cared for His needs. Many other women who had come up with Him to Jerusalem were also there.”
(Mark 16:40-41 NIV)
The church still argues about women in ministry, but here we look to the very beginning and find women gathered at the foot of the cross. We unpack their story and we find the root system of our own.
They followed Him. I picture more than a passel of ladies trailing behind the teacher and His disciples. If we define ‘follow’ biblically, we know it means to put into practice, to embrace, adopt or maintain, to imitate and copy. These women didn’t just physically stay in step with Jesus, they got on board with Him spiritually. They accepted His teaching and embraced His Kingdom.
They cared for His needs. Jesus had real needs as all men do. Meals and laundry. Shopping and water retrieval. I’d imagine these women tended to Jesus’ details with great care. It is an act of love to tend to the needs of our treasured people.
They refused to abandon Him. Even when things got grim and the named disciples were nowhere recorded, these courageous women stayed as close as their constitutions and culture would allow. Crucifixion was a gruesome act and though ancient art always includes a loincloth on our dying Savior, most historians agree; Rome’s victims were crucified naked, shame heaped on to the tortuous nature of their punishment. The women may have stood at a distance for decorum’s sake, but they stayed close enough that Jesus still knew they were there. They refused to abandon their Lord in His darkest hour, even when proximity became incredibly painful.
The church at large may try to limit women’s access to the pulpit, but women will always be in ministry. We still tend to the Body of Christ today; recognizing and meeting the many needs within our local and global congration. We still make meals and do endless loads of laundry. We gather supplies and coordinate relief efforts. We make hospital calls and prayer chains and staff the nursery and visit the elderly. We teach Sunday School and VBS. We counsel and encourage.
Mark Batterson said it yesterday in the Network of Women Virtual Minister’s Leadership Summit: if we discount women in ministry, then half the work force sits down. How will we reach the whole world if fifty percent of the church isn’t allowed to participate?
The truth is, whether the church can agree on it or not, women will still minister. We see it that first Easter Sunday, the women were up early, hurrying to the gravesite at first light, spices in hand, ready to serve the body of Jesus one more time. They were met in the empty tomb and given a significant task: go, tell.
“Don’t be alarmed, he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He’s not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.'” (Mark 16:6-7 NIV)
Their task has never been retracted. Jesus never relieved these (or any) women from their responsibility to tell the good news. It may have taken a moment to collect themselves, they were frightened and confused by the empty tomb, but when they came to, they started talking. And they’ve never stopped. Still today, we tell our story about how our lives intersected with Christ’s and now everything is different. We testify to His glory; it’s who we are. We share stories and we stoke hope.
Lord, we have a huge task ahead of us; telling the whole world the good news about You. Let us not shy away from our part. We have a Kingdom responsibility and we take that seriously. May we continue to follow You closely, care for the needs of Your Body, and share the gospel freely. Amen.