December 8, 2024— Sometime in the first century A.D., Jesus Christ of Nazareth was being led to Calvary carrying His cross. Most of the Disciples fled when Jesus was arrested at Gethsemane (Mark 14:50). The Gospel of John records the Disciples that were present at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Of the remaining 11 disciples, only John was present at the crucifixion. In addition, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were also present (John 19:25).
Women as Disciples
After He was buried in the tomb, Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of Jesus and James), and Salome went to the tomb to anoint Him with spices (Mark 16:1). When they arrived, the stone was rolled away from the tomb by an angel who told them that He is risen (Mark 16:4,6). When Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9).
As Jesus’s ministry began, He spent most of His time with the disciples. Yet, He chose to first appear to Mary Magdalene, who also went to His tomb to anoint His body. This is love, and no not in a romantic manner. 1 Corinthians 13:7 states that love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Jesus endured the cross out of love for humanity.
Jesus Healed and Saved Women
Jesus performed numerous miracles for women, often in public settings that defied conventions. When Jesus was walking through a crowd to heal a girl, a woman touched His clothing and was healed of her issue of blood flow. The woman had been sick for 12 years. Instantly, she was healed of her infliction (see Mark 5:25-34). After she was healed, Jesus raised the girl from the dead (Mark 5:41). The girl’s father, Jairus, requested Jesus to heal her, and he was a synagogue ruler (Mark 5:22,23).
Luke 13:10-17 records a woman with a spirit (demon) causing her to be bent over for 18 years. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” (Luke 13:12). While the ruler of the synagogue rebuked healing on the Sabbath, Jesus called him a hypocrite (some texts make the word plural). Jesus restores her physically and faithfully by calling her a “daughter of Abraham” (Luke 13:16).
In addition to healing women, Jesus also saved women. One woman was caught in adultery. The scribes and the Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus, saying the law states that she should be stoned. Jesus said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (John 8:7). Those who heard this word were convicted by their conscience and started to leave one by one until the woman and Jesus were alone (John 8:9).
A second woman was living with a man who was not her husband. She had five husbands previously. If you are thinking of the Samaritan woman, you are correct. Jesus goes to the well, asking for a drink of water. A conversation begins, and by the end of their dialogue, the Samaritan woman realizes she is talking to her savior, Jesus Christ. (See John 4:1-26).
Accepting Jesus
Jesus healed and saved when He walked on the earth. He still heals and saves today.
Jesus was born through a virgin, was baptized at thirty, and started His ministry. Three years later, Jesus was arrested and put on trial. His sentence was crucifixion. Though Jesus knew no sin, he became sin for the salvation of our souls. After Jesus died, He was resurrected three days later and remained in His resurrected body for 40 days. Then, Jesus ascended to heaven, where He remains active for our benefit.
If you would like to accept Jesus as your savior, all you need to do is say this prayer aloud:
God, I confess that Jesus came in the flesh and blood, paid the price for my sins, died on the cross, rose on the third day, ascended to the heavens, and sent the Holy Spirit to help me understand Your ways. For that, I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord, and I welcome the Holy Spirit in my life. In Jesus’s name, I pray, amen!
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