Faith Formation: Matthew The Gospel of God With Us. Matthew 27:55-56

Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Matthew 27:55-56

All of the Gospels are clear that the men who fled, betrayed and denied Jesus during the time of his arrest and trial stayed away from the cross. According to legend the disciples hid that day in caves at Hakeldama where Judas hung himself. If so they witnessed the death of Judas and did not intervene. They showed no mercy to the desperate or the wicked. They did not witness Jesus suffering and death, who showed mercy to them and the world, the hopeless and sinners. They slept while he prayed and hid themselves far from "beneath the cross of Jesus."

The women stayed with him, even if "from a distance." They stayed, even as Jesus was God forsaken. They may have been helpless to do anything, and certainly could not sooth or rescue him. Often those in the midst of deepest suffering simply need the presence of another who provides a measure of comfort. The women were never called "disciples" like the men, but "they had followed Jesus" which is the call and definition of discipleship. "Follow me." They also served him, "ministering to him." Again, serving defines discipleship. "whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, ... just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many." Luke connects them with the twelve. It is never said what the twelve provided for Jesus, (they were often reluctant to understand what they could offer or they made requests of Jesus for greatness rather than understand humility and service). Luke said of the women, "The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others who ministered to them (him) out of their own resources." Luke 8:1-3 The women stayed "beneath the cross of Jesus." They were the ones to tell the men that Jesus had died. They were also the ones who would tell the male disciples that Jesus had been raised. The men believed their report of Jesus death. They were skeptical, even dismissive of the women's witness that Jesus had been raised.

David Hayward drew a couple cartoons needling the disciples and the perception that the true and best witnesses have been or need to be men in the church. In one, three women come to Jesus and say, "We don't understand why you had so many dedicated women disciples but we weren't included among the 12 and hardly even get mentioned at all." Jesus points his thumb at a group of men sitting at a table, presumably writing the Gospels, and says, "Ask them." In another cartoon three women face the disciples, all male. The disciples say to them, "So ladies, thanks for being the first to witness and report the resurrection and we'll take it from here." It has taken two thousand years for the church to recognize the authoritative leadership and witness of women. Much of the church is still reluctant to fully acknowledge and ordain women to full status as disciples, apostles, priests, or whatever title carries respect and authority in the church and the world. When will we ever learn....

The names of the women who followed and stayed with Jesus varied. Matthew named Mary Magdalene, most of whose identity is bound up in speculation legend. The two other women, Mary and an unnamed other, were indicated by, remembered by their male children, "James and Joseph, the mother of the sons of Zebedee." Under the Festival, Commemorations heading in the hymnal is a song titled "For All the Faithful Women." Among the verses that may be sung are odes to Miriam, Hannah, Ruth, Mary the mother of Jesus, Martha and Mary, the Samaritan woman at the well, an unnamed Mary who was a witness of the resurrection, Dorcas who served and Eunice and Lois mother and grandmother of Timothy. The lyrics of the opening verse: "For all the faithful women who served in days of old, to you shall thanks be given; to all their story told. They served with strength and gladness in tasks your wisdom gave. To you their lives bore witness, proclaimed your power to save." (Evangelical Lutheran Worship # 419)

Keep the faith. Say your prayers. Love like Jesus.

Pastor Tim Bauer