There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. (Mark 15:40)
Read and Ponder Mark15: 40, 47
Jesus is being nailed to a cross. The soldiers raise the cross and drop it in a hole. Jesus shudders as the cross settles into place. A woman rushes forward to caress His bleeding feet. She is pushed away by one of the soldiers. Where are the chosen Twelve? One is dead, another has denied knowing Jesus, and all but one of the rest are in hiding in fear for their lives. Beneath the cross stands one apostle, John, and a group of women. In this group are Mary Jesus’ mother, and Mary Magdalene.
After the evening inGethsemanepraying and witnessing the arrest of Jesus, most of the men, demoralized by what they had seen fled. Mary Magdalene and the other women stayed to ensure Jesus would not suffer alone.
Questions to Ponder:
- Mary showed courage in her faith, remaining with Jesus until the end. Would my faith remain as strong when faced with scorn and condemnation or would I be like the apostles, run, and hide?
- Do I let my love and faith fill me up and make me strong or do I only use it when it suits my purposes?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am not worthy of your love and compassion. I thank you for all you have given to me and I offer it up to you in glory and praise of you and your father. Let me be like Mary Magdalene and love you with all that is I. Let me find in you what I cannot find in things of this world. Let me live as one of yours for all eternity. Amen
All for the Glory of God,
Christina Weigand
Excerpted from Women in the Bible: A Study by Christina Weigand