In Matthew 27:55, we have pictured the many women who had chosen to follow Jesus and minister to Him. It is a wonderful thing that there have been, and are today, many women who choose to do this. They choose to be a follower of Christ and they find ways to serve Him by serving others for His sake. But there have always been some who stand out from among these many women.
Verse 56 mentions some of these women at the cross. Though many stood beholding “afar off” (v. 55), there were some that got close enough to hear Him speak (Jn. 19:25-26). Here we see what made the difference in these women—the courage to be identified with Christ in His rejection. This is what Jesus meant when He taught His disciples to take up the cross and follow Him.
In Luke 24:1, there are several women who came to the tomb of Jesus, but only some from among them who brought spices (see Mk. 16:1 for those named). Spices speak of personal appreciation, and in this case with the Lord, it would speak of personal worship. Many women can enjoy what the men say in a remembrance meeting, but there are some women who bring their own worship to offer up silently, with no outward appreciation, but only to God.
Was the extra effort worth it? Imagine being there at the cross, hearing the words of tenderness and triumph just before Christ died. Imagine seeing the angels at the tomb and being commissioned to be the first ones to tell about the resurrection.
But even from that special group of women that stand out from among the many, there are those who stand alone in the spotlight of God’s Word.
Mary Magdalene was among the women who came “very early” in the morning, but what was her difference? She stayed on, when the rest left. One thing she desired, and that was to behold her Lord (Ps. 27:4) The consequence? She was the one there to first see Him after His resurrection.
What would you do to see Him? Get up very early in the morning, and have the desire not to leave until you have seen Him? It’s still available today. He is ready and waiting to show you His beauty, through His Word, a beauty that will more and more be reflected in you as you meet with Him.
There is another that stands alone from this group bearing their spices, even though she wasn’t there—Mary of Bethany. She had her perfume to anoint His body for His burial (Mt. 26:12), but had already poured hers out—the only one actually able to do it. Why? Because she had chosen the one thing that is needful (Lk. 10:42) and that was humbly listening to His Word. He spoke about His death to the disciples. Why was she the only one that understood? The others had tried to figure things out—she just listened.