Matthew 27:55-56
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
As we move forward in the aftermath of Jesus’ execution, read Matthew 27:55-56 taking note of anything that stands out to you.
First century Israel is a patriarchal society and Matthew is a Jewish man, so the fact that he includes the details of this passage in his Gospel is noteworthy. Apparently, there are a great number of women followers of Jesus who have left their homes to be with him since the beginning of him ministry in Galilee. And considering Jesus’ disregard for any social system or structure that devalues another human, we can assume that these female disciples have been listening and learning from Jesus all along the way.
Both Matthew and Luke tell us that among these women is Mary Magdalene, and Luke adds that Jesus had previously freed her from demonic bondage (Luke 8:1-3).
Stop to think about this. Here is a woman, an invisible member of society except for the terrifying effects of her demonic possession, who has been restored to sanity and freed from torment. Of course she followed Jesus from Galilee – she would follow him anywhere. And of course she did not leave him in his darkest hour. She must be where Jesus is.
Take a moment to try and imagine the fierce loyalty to Jesus of Mary Magdalene that keeps her near him even as he is executed by the governing authorities and the forces of nature explode around her. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you through her example.
Read Matthew 27:55-56 again.
Matthew doesn’t tell us much about the second Mary in this passage, but the third is the mother of James and John. This is the woman who attempted to curry favor for her sons by begging Jesus to give them both positions of power and influence in his kingdom (Matthew 20:20-23). This Mary is also present as Jesus dies even though by all appearances he has failed in his mission. One has to wonder if her time following him changed not only her heart but her entire understanding of life.
Take some time to imagine what it might be like to have your entire understanding of life transformed by the Author of Life himself. Then get still and listen to Jesus.
What might Jesus be saying to you through the example of these women today?
What will you do in response?
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