Have you ever put all your hopes and dreams into something only to have it all fall apart? A death, divorce, diagnosis, or some other devastating circumstance can make us question all that we have known and trusted in.
For the women who followed Jesus, that dark day at Golgotha must have taken their breath away. These women had been saved, delivered, validated, and valued by Jesus.
They trusted in Him, followed Him, sat as His feet and learned from Him. They had cared for His needs and supported His ministry out of their own resources. Yet on that fateful day, all must have seemed lost.
Women Who Stay with Jesus
Helpless as they watched Jesus carry His own cross, confused as they witnessed Him mocked and beaten beyond recognition, heartbroken as He breathed His last on the cross–the women who followed Jesus must surely have despaired of life itself.
Yet, they stayed.
“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 Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”
Matthew 27:55-56, NIV 84
Faithful to the very bitter end.
These women watched from a distance–hurt, broken, confused, but not turning back. At some point, a few of them drew near the cross, not wanting to remain apart from Him as He suffered.
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”
John 19:25
As Jesus was laid in a tomb, they stood watch over where His body lay.
“Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.”
Matthew 27:59-61
I can’t imagine what was in their hearts and minds that day. Their devotion to the Messiah outweighed any fear they may have felt toward the Roman soldiers or religious leaders who demanded His death. Their love for Him overruled the despair, the questions, the doubt. Their gratitude was greater than their grief, and they couldn’t leave His side.
Disappointed? Sure. Angry? Absolutely. Disillusioned? Maybe.
But walking away? Not on your life.
Jesus had loved them so deeply and completely, and they simply loved Him back. Even death couldn’t quell their devotion.
Dear friend, I don’t know what you have been through that might cause you to lose hope and give up on Jesus, but God wants you to know today that He loves you so deeply and completely that nothing can separate you from His love.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
Don’t give up on God. Stay. Stay with Him even when it hurts. Remain in the Word even when you don’t understand. Abide in His love even when it feels cold and distant.
Stay at the foot of the cross in worship. Wait by the tomb in prayer. It’s not over yet. Jesus always gets the last word.