They Were There the Whole Time (You Just Didn’t Know It)

Work and Witness team to Jerusalem, 2010 -- Fort Wayne, Grace Point Church of the Nazarene. 

Scripture:

Mark 15:40   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. ⁴¹ 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.

Observation:

As Jesus dies on the cross, we are left wondering about the presence of his disciples. Mark’s gospel leaves Peter denying Jesus, but suddenly, at the cross we discover the eye-witnesses to the entire event. The women watch the crucifixion, they go to the burial site and, as we know return to testify to the resurrection. They are the only characters in the story who can testify to having seen it all, and they were there the whole time. It’s in this brief comment that we discover that an entire group of women disciples had followed Jesus and provided for him and the others when they were in Galilee. Interestingly the verb used here for “provide” is the same word that is used for the angels providing for Jesus in the wilderness. Not only had they served with him there, but had now followed him up to Jerusalem. 

Application:

The sudden presentation of these women into the story is fascinating. Women were not considered of equal value with men and yet, they are the ones who stood up to the authorities and remained with Jesus. When others ran in fear, the women watched until Jesus breathed out is final breath. They are present to remind us of the upside down nature of the kingdom of God. 

If we believe that this gospel is really Peter’s story written by Mark, then this becomes even more poignant. Peter, the one who thought that he was strong, ran away and denied Jesus. He honors the women by recording for history that they had been present all along, and that in the midst of the crisis, they were the ones who remained strong. They became symbols of faithfulness that is not dependent upon status given to us by society. It’s in this moment of Jesus dying on the cross that we are given a glimpse of the transformational power of the kingdom of God where the weak suddenly become the strong. 

It’s Good Friday and most of the world remains in COVID-19 quarantine. It’s a challenge for those who are a part of the church to find creative new ways to celebrate this holy season when we cannot gather. The reality is that the disciples weren’t gathered on that first “Good Friday.” They were scattered in fear of what was happening, hiding in the shadows of the darkness. We have a choice to make during this time, and it’s one that may not come easily to the strong and powerful. Maybe we need to look at those whom we consider weak, those at the margins of society, who have been experiencing Jesus in powerful ways, only we didn’t know it. Maybe it’s their faith that will carry us through these dark hours, for they have been there all the time, watching and witnessing to the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. 

Yes, it’s Good Friday. Are we faithfully standing by Jesus, witnessing to his entire act, or are we afraid, and cowing in the shadows? Let’s join the women, never giving up hope, and take the entire journey with Jesus. (Even if no one notices)

Prayer:

Lord, today we come with hearts of gratitude for your amazing faithfulness to your unworthy children. Amen.