Mark 15:40-41 - Faithful Women

Mark 15:40-41
40 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

Message: Faithful Women

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is on the cross, having been crucified. He has breathed his last after darkness covered the face of the earth from 12pm to 3pm in the afternoon. He felt the rejection of the Father in crying out to him and then cried out later to signify it was over. Mark doesn't record much details of Jesus' words, but instead focuses on the responses of the people around Jesus. Most notable has been their mocking of Him, from bystanders, priests, even the robbers.

There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. In the Bible times, women and children are often the ones that are not highly regarded in society, but rather it is men. Yet, Jesus continually calls attention to women. And they are shown often to be the ones that are most faithful to Him. At times we see this in today's society as well. All to often, women are the ones that are taking their children to church, and really leading their families while husbands are not engaged in life, but focused on their own self-interests. It is rather a sad state of affair of life.

It appears that after Jesus' initial arrest many people that were a part of His group and following Him fled. But afterwards, Peter and John seemed to go after Jesus to see what was going to happen to Him. And here we see the words that there were also women looking on from a distance. Obviously they were sad from what they had seen - the mocking, the belittling of Jesus. And yet even the Centurion yesterday who cried out that Jesus was the Son of God.

Peter calls attention to this in what is recorded in verse 42. When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. They were steadfast. Often this wasn't the work of the disciples, but the women were near.

Summary - This is a brief message by Mark to talk about women and how they continued to follow Jesus and would continue to minister to Him. They took him seriously and stayed faithful to Him and Jesus reached out to them as well. It is at this time that Jesus has breathed His last and is on the cross.

Promise: We are to follow Jesus at all times, even when it seems dangerous. We can stand faithful to Him, even from afar.

Prayer: O Lord, I want to be known as a faithful follower of yours. I want to be like these women, who even from afar followed You and thought of you. I turn to You and turn away from my selfishness.