PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 27:54-56
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Many women… had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.” (Matthew 27:55)
In this short reading, we see soldiers and women watching the crucifixion.
It was the soldier’s job to be there, but why were the women there?
Why did they come down from Galilee to care for the needs of this Jesus?
Why were they so devoted to Jesus, a man who was neither spouse nor family?
To me this says a lot about what Jesus was like, and how Jesus revealed God.
Jesus was not ‘manly’ in a macho sense; he was weak, meek, gentle, compassionate.
The soldiers were not impacted by the force of Jesus, but the force of an earthquake.
That was power to them, not a weak crucified messiah that couldn’t save anyone.
But these women were impacted by the force of Jesus’s love and goodness.
They saw in Jesus what they probably saw in few men.
Jesus was not ‘womanly’, Jesus was Godly (God-like), what should be ‘humanly’.
As Jesus followers, we ought to be ‘Christ-like’ because that is what we were made to be.
People ought to be drawn to the force of his love and goodness seen in us.
With this force, God will shake up the world, and draw even soldiers to believe!
PRAYER
Lord, make me humble and gracious like you. Use me to draw people to yourself, and to shake up this world from its bondage to power and violence.
I’m glad there was drama – a roll of the big drums – earthquakes – shaking. Yes, Jesus completed the work and evil was shaken – defeated. Although we are still suffering from the effects – it no longer has control if we stand up to it in Jesus name. I know I need to stay connected and not let the context of my living get me down – but see the big picture when you shook all things up!
Having experience an earthquake myself, I can understand that those guarding Jesus were terrified. Our God is a mighty God showing His power and majesty also in the creation. I too was terrified thinking it was the end of the world and yet . . . I need to be ready at all times for His coming. At all times I need to serve the living God, as the women were. They were instruments of His peace serving Jesus and His needs. Help me Lord to see You each day anew as I live for You.
I will bless the Lord at all times.
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
I will bless the Lord at all times.
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
In my mouth, in my mouth,
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.