WEEK FIVE
March 15 - March 21
Theme: The Woman Disciples

In ancient Israel, females were considered second-class citizens at best and often regarded as nothing more than the property of their fathers or husbands. Little has changed over the centuries for many women living in certain sectors of the Middle East and other parts of the world today. During His short time on Earth Christ overthrew the customs and laws of His day regarding the female sex. Throughout the Gospels He treated women and men as equals, eliciting dumbfounded responses from the Jewish establishment. We most often think of Christ and His male disciples; infrequently do we contemplate His ministering female disciples, women who followed Christ as devoutly as their male counterparts.

Sunday, March 15
Scripture: Luke 8:1-3, 23:27-31, John 19:25-27

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’  For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

MINISTERING WOMEN

When we think of Christ’s followers we most often think of his male disciples. These men are present in many of the gospel stories. The twelve vividly come to life as they interact with the Savior. But there were also female followers who quietly played a significant role in the Jesus saga.

In fact, Christ had quite a band of women disciples. We of course know Mary, Christ’s mother, who was the first Christian and lover of our Lord.  Then there was Mary Magdalene from whom he cast out seven demons and who was the first to encounter Christ after his resurrection. Mary of Bethany and her sister, Martha, were also deeply committed servants of Jesus, as was Mary the mother of James and Joseph and sister of the Virgin Mary.  In addition, the Gospels mention Joanna the wife of King Herod’s steward; Salome, the mother of James and John (“the sons of Thunder”); and Susanna.

It seems that these women followers of Christ were more unwavering in their love for the Master, than their male counterparts. On That fateful Gethsemane night and in ensuing days, the men scattered--abandoning, betraying and denying Christ. In contrast, the female disciples, more sure in their love, were present at the cross; at his burial; and came early, before the dawn, to anoint and reverence his body on that life changing Sunday morning.

These women, some with means, gave financially to the cause. In all likelihood they helped prepare meals, washed and mended garments and found ways to make the travels of Christ’s nomadic tribe more tolerable. Their generosity, nurturing spirits and sensitive caring must have left a deep mark on Christ’s male disciples.

We know that the culture of Christ’s day viewed women as nothing more than the property of the males who possessed them. They weren’t allowed to talk to strangers, couldn’t be educated, couldn’t witnesses in courts of law, enter into religious discussions or participate in synagogue worship. But Christ powerfully ushered in a brand new paradigm. He demonstrated over and over again, that in his eyes women were equal to men and were to be treated with respect as intelligent, gifted, faithful disciples.

The detail from Mantegna’s Calvary depicting Christ’s mother and the ministering women in deep mourning is jolting to look at. We are reminded that in ancient Greek and Middle Eastern cultures, the women were the ones that led the community in the crucial ritual of wailing—expressing for all, catastrophic loss and devastation. Here, at the foot of the cross the feminine voice is clearly audible as body and soul join together in a dramatic chorus of shrieking anguish and grief while Christ takes upon himself the world’s sin.

The female disciples have much to teach us. Their emotive, demonstrative and sensitive acts of adoration are vivid reminders that we should strive to be more purposeful in expressing openhearted love for Christ and others in thoughtful, tangible ways. 1 Corinthians 15:58 reminds us of these sold-out women, “My dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Like the ministering women, may we learn to nurture and care for those Christ calls us to faithfully serve.

PRAYER
Ah, Blessed Lord of Love, I wish I knew how I might best love you and please you, and that my love were as sweet to you as your love is to me. Amen.
Margery Kempe (1373-1432)

CCCA Staff