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On Easter Sunday, we who know Jesus Christ as our Savior will celebrate the most important event in all of history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. Your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (I Corinthians 15:14,17). The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely essential to our faith in him as our Savior. But let me assure you, he is risen indeed! There is much evidence for his resurrection.
Easter is a good time to consider the women at the cross. In Matthew 27:55-56 we read that “Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.” In Mark, he tells us, “Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there” (Mark 15:40-41).
Luke mentions that “A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him” (Luke 23:27). Lastly, John 19:25 states, “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”
By my count, there are seven women identified in the four gospels, but we know there were many others as well. It’s interesting to me that the women are named, and yet there are no men named at the cross, with the exception of John.
Why were all these women there at this ugly scene? The place of crucifixion was the most horrible place in Jerusalem! Furthermore, crucifixions took place beside busy roadways so everyone would see, mock, and be terrified by them. It was not a place for women; unless it was a close relative, women would not go to such a horrible place. Yet there were all these women at the cross of Jesus. Why?
