Thursday 17th April
Read Mark 15:40-41
“Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 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.” (NIVUK)
We are familiar with the biblical witness of the women to the resurrection of Jesus but perhaps we forget that they are just as important as witnesses to Jesus’ death. The centurion declares that Jesus was the Son of God and the next words of the evangelist direct our attention to a distant point, both safe and sensible, and to the group of women who supported Jesus throughout His ministry.
There is no mention of the male disciples as witnesses to Jesus’ death in Mark’s passion.
These women will repeatedly be called upon as witnesses (v40, 41, 16:1, 4, 6), by both the evangelist, and God Himself, to the death and resurrection of Jesus despite the fact their testimony would not be valid in court. Regardless of what we think the role of women in ministry should be today it is striking that they are central to the passion narratives, clearly undertook ministry responsibilities within Jesus’ circle (v41) and were, according to the texts, placed within the inner circle. They could be considered the female equivalent to the Twelve.
