The women sat opposite the tomb, bereft of the one they loved. They had witnessed Jesus’ cruel march to death, and now, unwilling to lose Him so quickly, they had followed his bloodied body. Perhaps they followed from afar, tucked away in the growing darkness, or maybe they drew near enough to touch their Savior and friend.
Whichever the case may be, love compelled these women to follow Jesus to the tomb. Until finally, reaching Jesus’ resting place, they “saw how his body was laid” (Luke 23:55)
The burial was a rushed affair. Sunset drew near, and with it would come the Sabbath. But still, the women waited, and they watched. They looked on as Joseph and Nicodemus gently wrapped Jesus’ body in linen, tucking spices into the folds. They saw Jesus’ body laid in the tomb. And with one last look, they witnessed the stone being rolled into place. (John 19:38-41)
But then these women did a remarkable thing. They “went home and prepared spices and ointments.” (Luke 23:56) In the eyes of these women, Joseph’s burial and Nicodemus’ spices were inadequate. Love compelled them to go prepare their own, and as women we understand this, for a heart of nurturing is woven within the fabric of our lives. No one else cares for our most beloved ones like we do.
These women, who had cared for Him in life, now will care for Him in death.
The women who followed Jesus to the tomb
Lost in the shadows between Jesus’ crucifixion and His resurrection, we often forget this story. There are many reasons for this, but perhaps because the narrative can feel a little fuzzy we lose our grasp on the picture. For example, we know little about the women at the tomb. Mary Magdalene stood tombside, a well known figure at the resurrection but rarely mentioned elsewhere. And few of us have heard of Mary the mother of James and Joseph. In addition, Luke also mentions “the women who came with Him from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb.” So most likely there were other women who followed Jesus to the tomb, but we aren’t certain of their names.
Yet however mysterious, I think these obscure women best understood the heartbeat of Jesus’ ministry. As Jesus taught, loving God and loving others defines the greatest act one can do, and these women did it!
I am beguiled by them. What powerful love must have bound them to their Savior so that they followed Him to His tomb. But such is the call of all who follow Jesus. We follow to places of death so we can bear witness of Him who brings life.
How about you, dear one? Does your love for Jesus compel you to follow Him closely…even to places of death and decay? Because let’s be honest, if the complexity of Holy Week teaches us nothing else, it teaches us that following Jesus has nothing to do with power, control or acclaim, and everything to do with humility, sacrifice and service.
Bound by love
Often following Jesus leads us to serve in places of decay. For example, when Jesus taught about the final day of judgement in Matthew 25, He surprisingly doesn’t offer His inheritance to the one who had the most disciples. Instead Jesus said, “as you did for the least of these my brothers, you did for me.” They fed the hungry, clothed the naked, satiated the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, and visited the sick and imprisoned.
And you? Maybe you are parenting a rebellious teenager, or working an exhausting job as a Hospice Nurse, or volunteering at a shelter for abused women, or nurturing foster children, or showing up for a grieving friend. Let me assure you, God sees you. Your selfless love is not lost in this great big world. Quite the contrary, your love is actually the heartbeat of Jesus.
So don’t lose heart! The world might not remember your name, but you are counted among those women whose deep love for Jesus bound them to follow. The women who followed Jesus to the tomb.
Happy Easter, my friends!
{If you would to see Holy Week laid out clearly with Bible Verse readings for each day, please click this LINK. A Holy Week Journal will be available for you to download.
Also, last week’s Bold Mercies Podcast episode is an awesome one about Bible Study and Biblical literacy. You can listen HERE.}
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