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Jesus Cried "Abba"

The first time I remember feeling sorry for the entire male race was the morning of my daughter's birth. My husband was ecstatic. He was bouncing off the walls with excitement. He called everyone he could think of, in spite of the fact that she was born at 3:29 a.m. As I lay in the bed watching him I realized that as happy as he was, he could not know the feeling I had of cooperating so closely with God in this act of His creation. I don't write this to bring pain to those women who have longed to be mothers and are not. I do write this to highlight the special and unique way God created us as women. He created us uniquely to enjoy the intimacy of relationship on a level different from a man. This fact about us as women shows in the events of Easter.

The second time I feel grateful for my status as a woman is when I reflect on the events of Jesus’ Passion. I'm proud of my sisters who stood so courageously at the cross, who dared to mourn publicly for Him, and who insisted on giving Him a proper burial. The women of Easter represent faith, trust, loyalty, and compassion during the darkest days of their spiritual lives. The women shine at Easter. Their example of devotion to Christ is rewarded by God. God chose Mary Magdalene as the first witness of His resurrection, even though women were not considered credible witnesses in that day. Jesus said that everywhere the Gospel is preached the action of Mary of Bethany (anointing His head with costly perfume) would be remembered.

Of Jesus’ seven statements from the cross, one was spoken to His mother. The longest discourse of Calvary was spoken to the women who were mourning for Him as He walked the Via Dolorosa (the road of suffering). He told them not to weep for Him, but for themselves as He prophesied the destruction of the temple that occurred in AD 70. Henry Gariepy writes; With all the record of opposition to Jesus, there is not instance written of in which a woman opposed Christ. No women ever forsook, betrayed, or in any way expressed enmity against Christ. Rather they followed Him, opened to Him their homes and hearts, bathed His feet with their tears, anointed His head with perfume, and now as men dragged Him to His death, they showed the compassion of their sorrow and wept for Him on His way of martyrdom. Before I claim to much credit for the women of Easter, I must admit that due to the customs of that day, it was not as dangerous for a woman to stand up for Christ as it was for the men. There were men who remained faithful to Christ during these dark hours, John was with Him all the way to the cross, and Nicodemus and Joseph made arrangements for His burial.

The events in the lives of women at Easter reveal the way women devote themselves to relationships. Women hang in there when things get tough. It also exposes women's deepest pain. No doubt that this day Mary was remembering the words of Simeon spoken thirty-three years earlier recorded in Luke 2:35 And a sword will pierce your own soul too. She knew this day was coming, and although she dreaded it, she wouldn't have missed it. She needed to be there for Jesus, for God and for His disciples.

The lesson for women at Easter is to ask ourselves; Have I devoted myself fully to relationship with Jesus Christ above all other relationships? Have I have been loyal, compassionate, and trusting of Jesus in the dark days of my spiritual life? Would I have been among these women of Easter who so beautifully demonstrate all that God wants from us—a heart devoted to Him?

[1] Henry Gariepy. 40 Days with the Savior. (Thomas Nelson, Nashville: 1995) p. 92-93.

 

 

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