“Women Looking On Afar Off”

April 14, 2017 “Good Friday”

This morning while reading my personal meditation of the morning, from Mark chapters 14-15, as my way of honoring Christ on this Good Friday, I write about this little statement in Mark 15:40-41.  Here is what it says:

                There were also women looking on afar off, [that is of Jesus dying on the cross], among whom were Mary Magdalene; and Mary, the mother of James the less and of Joses; and Salome (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him); and many other women who came up with him unto Jerusalem.  (Mark 15:40-41 NKJV)

It is well known in human history and in most instances even today, women often get second billing in the press.  The Gospel of Mark reflects the reality that while the men, who were named to be the twelve disciples, had all now fled while Jesus is dying on the cross, the women who following Christ have not fled, but are there witnessing the crucifixion of our Savior.  One passage says the apostle John was present with Jesus’ mother Mary, but other disciples who are not women are not present.

The reality of the first century church (and today?) is even though women are greatly honored by Christ and even exalted (as Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus), in most cases the women disciples are given a less prominent place in the Gospel narrative, seen here “looking on from afar”, and being remembered as those who had followed Jesus even from Galilee.  There are some who supported Jesus with their wealth, who out of the own means walked with Jesus from Galilee all the way to Jerusalem (apparently Mary Magdalene and Salome were wealthy enough to support Jesus and the disciples).  Other women, whom Mark chooses to leave unnamed were also present in the group which followed and ministered unto Jesus.  It is well known from reading the gospels that Mary Magdalene is the first to see the Risen Jesus on the day of his resurrection (and another Mary), but her word is not believed when she announces this to the other disciples (Mark 16:9-11).

If we pause for a minute and reflect what Jesus’s ministry would have been like without these women, we quickly realize just how important they are.  Who else saw that Jesus was fed, that the disciples following him had a place to stay at night as they traveled?  Who else, except these women would have washed Jesus’s clothes and seen that the whole group was cared for?

Think about this for a minute.  It is truly remarkable what these women did for Jesus and his disciples!

It is even more extraordinary that these women did not flee while Jesus was dying on the cross.  Why are the women not afraid of the Roman authorities as the male disciples?  The men are for the most part in hiding to save their lives.  Jesus found them hiding in the upper room waiting for something to happen.  Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus were out following the soldiers and they “beheld where he was laid” (Mark 15:47) [that is the dead body of Jesus].  They did so in the hope of returning early on Sunday morning to bring spices and anoint the body of Jesus.  Women in this era were the ones who cleaned the bodies after death and prepared them to be placed in the tomb.

Were these women fearless?  I do not expect that was so.  However, their love for Jesus the Christ compelled them to follow the soldiers to the tomb in order to fulfill their religious duty to prepare his body for a proper Jewish burial.  Of course, Jesus did not remain in the tomb long enough for them to do this, but instead rose early on the morning of the third day.

It is surprising, when one reads these stories in all the gospels which record the words and deeds of Jesus Christ, that after reading texts as these we do not amend our behavior towards women and allow them far more leadership roles in the church.  The holy scriptures speaking say they are every bit as important as Peter, James and John!  And yet, more than 2000 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ of God, we are still wrestling to come to terms with the role of our women in the fellowship and leadership of the Christian church.

There is something to be said for those who have little or no power.  Often they are given freedom by God to do what others of us cannot do.

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April 16, 2017 Easter Sunday

“Many Voices, One Song”

Sitting this morning in worship at my church, it was a marvelous worship, which besides the energetic sermon came lively music, exalting the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in honor of His resurrection story.  Because Jesus died, we in union with Christ died to our sins in Christ, and through his resurrection we rise into newness of life, resurrection life. Jesus Christ in his victory overcame sin, death and Satan’s power to distort life.  Because Jesus is risen, we also rise into newness of life in Him!

After the sermon, entitled “The Day of Resurrection,” and offering was received.  The Offertory Hymn,  “I Know that My Redeemer Liveth” (Dengler, from Handel’s “Messiah”) rang out from the choir.  A tenor soloist began with the initial verse, “I know that my Redeemer liveth and in the end he will stand at the latter day upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)

As the song continues, there evolves a chorus of many voices, soprano, alto, tenor and bass which blend together in one magnificent expression of worship to our Redeemer.  Certainly appropriate to be sung at Easter services, the words are appropriate to sing any time one wishes to celebrate the redeeming work of Jesus Christ our Redeemer!

It struck me listening that while this song could be sung with only one voice, it is not complete without all the other voices.  The role of both women and men in celebrating the resurrection of Jesus carries forward into the whole work of God in the church.  As Jesus is being crucified the women are watching, seeking to comfort Christ on the cross and one another.  Their love for Christ has made them fearless, and since, in that society, women were not known for sedition towards Rome, they are not considered a threat to the soldiers of Rome who are charged with crucifying our Savior.  These women, watching Jesus being crucified, did nothing of a radical sort, they simply held each other, watched Jesus on the cross, wept and prayed for him as he died and also prayed for one another!

The men whom Jesus personally chose as disciples, Peter, James, (except John) and the other eight (since Judas Iscariot is about to hang himself from remorse and shame when he sees Jesus dying on the cross) are all in hiding.  It is not until the risen Jesus personally appears to each of them, sometimes individually (as with Peter), but often as a group (as with Thomas, the one who doubted) that they become energized to engage again in the proclamation of the Savior.  The women did not fall away, but the men did, and Jesus restored them to himself and to one another.

As we all know, it is not until the Holy Spirit as the gift of the Father and the Son (of the risen Jesus Christ) to the disciples (the church) is received that the disciples finally become the fearless witnesses for Christ and the resurrection.  The formation (birth) of the church of Jesus Christ is the direct result of God’s own intervention though the Holy Spirit of God the Father and God the Son, a gift to all disciples of Jesus on the day of Pentecost, both men and women.  (Acts 2)

As I listened to the strong soprano voice of one articulate woman who led the congregation into the beauty of Handel’s hymn and then heard the other voices joining, sopranos, tenors, altos, and basses only then did I begin to appreciate the necessity of all human voices blended together to produce one magnificent song!  The voices of worship of the many swelled and surrounded the clarion call of the one soprano, so that what began as a song of the one quickly becomes the song of the many, producing a new song of worship appropriate for the One God, who reigns in heaven and on earth.

On occasion, we may be tempted to believe that without our contribution to God’s work, the work will be lacking.  While in some respect this is true, in another respect we are only one voice among the many who are called by God to join in this song of salvation, to bring an offering of praise and worship to our Redeemer.  The song of the one is always the song of the many, which becomes the song to the One God, our Lord and Savior of all the human race!  Because Jesus died, we died with Him.  Because he is raised from the dead, we also are together raised to newness of Christ’s resurrection life!  Our baptism into Christ by water and Spirit makes us part of the body of Christ, the new creation of God.

As women and as men we together play our part in this drama unfolding in heaven and on earth!  We all have a role to play and whether large or small, our part is necessary for the melody of God through Jesus Christ God’s Son to be heard across the whole earth.  Jesus said, “This gospel must first be preached as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come!”  (Matthew 24:14)

In this between times, between Jesus’ first coming to the earth as a human being and his return to the earth as the resurrected Christ, our Lord and our Redeemer, we are called to remain faithful in His service.  We are to “keep our lamps burning” (Matthew 25:1-13 (but in the story all lamps go out)), being vigilant to be sure we have plenty of oil to bring us to the marriage supper of the Lamb, which is the union of Christ with his bride.  The New Jerusalem is the passing of the old creation in order to make place for the new creation of God! (The Revelation, chapters 21, 22)

The message of the gospel, which begins with the crucifixion and ends with with the Easter resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead sets the stage for the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church (to all the disciples of Christ).  Both men and women, women and men receive this holy gift.  We are baptized by God into the Holy Spirit.  Tongues of heavenly fire rests upon all our heads and we begin to speak in the new universal language of the Living God, giving our new song of testimony to the risen Jesus Christ our Lord!

The reality of this gospel song is that my song is not complete without your song, and of whatever tribe and tongue, people and nation you may be from, you and I who belong to Christ are part of this new song, as the renewed people of God our Redeemer.  I was reminded of this today, listening to a strong soprano who led the way for all others to join her in this heavenly song of our Redeemer.

On this season of Easter, let us pray for the unity of the church universal and for the unity and healing of all creation, to include all peoples, tongues, tribes and nations on the face of this earth.  Is this not better than killings, bombing of innocent children and endless wars?  I am so tired of hearing of suicide bombers blowing apart the lives of these innocent children.  O God, in your great mercy, hear our prayers and save these children from dying, so they too may one day sing your song of praise in this everlasting chorus which You, O God, have said will rise from every land and tongue, people and nation.

For we pray in the strong and beautiful name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who loves the little children, for you said, “Suffer (permit) the children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14-16)

In Jesus Name, let us pray. “Amen!”  We pray also for our brothers and sisters of the faith of Islam that they too will come to be enlightened by the Spirit of the Risen Jesus Christ, so they too may come to love and worship Jesus Christ our Lord!

“Amen!  We praise you, Lord Jesus Christ!”

The Voice of the One among the Voice of the Many