Women and the Ministry Team: Mark 15:40-41
“40) There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41) When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.” Mark 15:40-41
Mark included these two verses for a reason. A large caravan of people had accompanied Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem. Many were godly woman who had been set free from sickness, disease and demonic bondage.
One of them was Mary Magdalene. Her past was full of sin and bondage. Mark 16:9 records that Jesus had cast seven demons out from her. She became one of His devoted followers.
These woman ministered to the whole delegation that came from Galilee. Acts 1:14-15 hints that there may have been as many as 120 people in Jerusalem from the delegation that came from Galilee. The logistics for this size of delegation was huge and was picked up by godly women.
These women were devoted to the point of following Jesus right to Golgotha. They watched the crucifixion and were the first to witness the resurrection and proclaim the good news. They were prayer warriors and ministers to the needs of Jesus and His team.
The way Mark mentions them in these two verses indicates they were held in high respect and honor. Make no mistake, they were a crucial part of the ministry team. Mary herself, the mother of Jesus was part of this team.
Never minimize the importance of women to ministry. My observation is that they carry much of the load of ministry, missions and world evangelism in every country around the world.
I see no gender distinction to the distribution of spiritual gifts as mentioned in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. They are equally given to the entire body of Christ.
I do see the biblical pattern of men being the lead pastors and shepherds of the church, but women are always included as a crucial part of the overall team.
I celebrate the gifting, leadership and crucial service of women in ministry. They remained faithful to Jesus to the very end and they were the first to announce His resurrection.
Aquila and Priscilla served together as husband and wife as a ministry team in the early church. (See Acts 18:1-2; 18:23-28) They accompanied Paul on many of his ministry trips. In Romans 16:3, Paul called them; “my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.”
In his closing comments in Romans 16, Paul mentioned several woman by name who were fellow workers in the spread of the gospel. Phoebe, as a single woman even fit the description of an itinerant missionary and evangelist. (See Romans 16:1-2)
So what is my take away from these verses in Mark 15:40-41? Mark was acknowledging, celebrating and dignifying the crucial contribution and dedication of women to the ministry team. They and John stayed the course at the side of Jesus right up to His last breath, even when the other eleven apostles betrayed, denied and abandoned Jesus.
This story has been played out countless times in church history and around the world. Women are often the unsung heroes of missions and world evangelization.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“40) There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41) When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.” Mark 15:40-41
Mark included these two verses for a reason. A large caravan of people had accompanied Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem. Many were godly woman who had been set free from sickness, disease and demonic bondage.
One of them was Mary Magdalene. Her past was full of sin and bondage. Mark 16:9 records that Jesus had cast seven demons out from her. She became one of His devoted followers.
These woman ministered to the whole delegation that came from Galilee. Acts 1:14-15 hints that there may have been as many as 120 people in Jerusalem from the delegation that came from Galilee. The logistics for this size of delegation was huge and was picked up by godly women.
These women were devoted to the point of following Jesus right to Golgotha. They watched the crucifixion and were the first to witness the resurrection and proclaim the good news. They were prayer warriors and ministers to the needs of Jesus and His team.
The way Mark mentions them in these two verses indicates they were held in high respect and honor. Make no mistake, they were a crucial part of the ministry team. Mary herself, the mother of Jesus was part of this team.
Never minimize the importance of women to ministry. My observation is that they carry much of the load of ministry, missions and world evangelism in every country around the world.
I see no gender distinction to the distribution of spiritual gifts as mentioned in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. They are equally given to the entire body of Christ.
I do see the biblical pattern of men being the lead pastors and shepherds of the church, but women are always included as a crucial part of the overall team.
I celebrate the gifting, leadership and crucial service of women in ministry. They remained faithful to Jesus to the very end and they were the first to announce His resurrection.
Aquila and Priscilla served together as husband and wife as a ministry team in the early church. (See Acts 18:1-2; 18:23-28) They accompanied Paul on many of his ministry trips. In Romans 16:3, Paul called them; “my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.”
In his closing comments in Romans 16, Paul mentioned several woman by name who were fellow workers in the spread of the gospel. Phoebe, as a single woman even fit the description of an itinerant missionary and evangelist. (See Romans 16:1-2)
So what is my take away from these verses in Mark 15:40-41? Mark was acknowledging, celebrating and dignifying the crucial contribution and dedication of women to the ministry team. They and John stayed the course at the side of Jesus right up to His last breath, even when the other eleven apostles betrayed, denied and abandoned Jesus.
This story has been played out countless times in church history and around the world. Women are often the unsung heroes of missions and world evangelization.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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