"And Many Women Were There Looking On From A Distance, Who Had Followed Jesus From Galilee, Ministering To Him..." (Matthew 27:55). The occasion of which these words are spoken is the crucifixion of Christ. One week earlier, Christ had made a triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the crowds praising Him and shouting, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:37,38). Among the disciples who had come to Jerusalem with Christ were many women who had followed Him from Galilee. They had devoted their lives to Him. They followed Him wherever He went, ministering to His needs. Now they watched as those very crowds that had praised Him mocked Him in His hour of suffering. Now, in the deepest sorrow, they watched from a distance as the Lord whom they loved and served suffered the humiliating death of the cross.

But the women would not be kept from Christ. Though His death was unbearable to watch, they honored Him with their presence. After His death, some of them closely observed where He was buried and returned to anoint His body. They loved the Lord and would not be kept from attending to Him. These women were the last at the cross and the first at the tomb. From where did such love and faithfulness come? What was it about Christ’s ministry that caused such devotion in women?

Christ’ ministry affirmed the dignity of women. Man and woman are the greatest of God’s creative works, made jointly in the image of God: “So God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen 1:27). Along with man, woman is made in the likeness of the Creator, bearing a dignity that exceeds the rest of the created order. She was taken out of man’s side to demonstrate that she is made not to be under his feet, but to walk by his side. Though her roles in life are not identical to those of man, she is made to partake with man in all the blessings of God. In creation, she shares with man dominion over this world (Gen 1:26). In redemption, she is a fellow heir of the grace of life (1 Pet 3:7). In glorification, she will share in the new heavens and the new earth.

Christ always treated women with the utmost dignity. At Jacob’s well, He initiated a conversation with a Samaritan woman, the Samaritans being despised by the Jews (John 4:5-9). Even the apostles were shocked that Christ spoke with her, but they dared not question why (John 4:27). The fact that Christ did so established the propriety. He is the Lord of all, and what He sometimes did not say in words, He established by example; and we see here that Christ is no respecter of gender, not even among the most despised of peoples.

Christ never turned away women who sought Him in sincerity. For this reason, women had courage to approach Him and plead His mercy. When He dined with Simon the Pharisee, a woman who was known to be a sinner washed Christ’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Simon thought that if Christ were a prophet He would know what manner of woman this was and not associate with her. But in answer to his thoughts, Christ said, “Do you see this woman?” (Luke 7:44). He then praised her conduct and pronounced her sins to be forgiven. This sinful woman, who could only cling to Christ’s feet, was lifted up and exalted by Him. So also the woman with a flow of blood knew that if she would only touch the fringe of Christ’s garment she would be made well. Christ responded to her by saying, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well” (Matt 9:22). Though Christ came as the King of Kings, He held women in such high regard that He allowed them to touch Him; though he came as the Lord of Lords, He esteemed women so highly as to bear their burdens and grant them His grace.

Christ’s ministry was one of tenderness and compassion toward women. His speech to the Samaritan woman was gentle and kind. He exposed her transgression for her good, but He did so in the gentlest way, leading her to the truth gradually (John 4:5-26). He healed a woman on the Sabbath against the objections of the Pharisees. He did so because she was a child of God, and His concern was for her good (Luke 13:16). He pitied the widow at Nain by raising her only son from the dead. “He presented him to His mother” (Luke 7:15), showing that the miracle was done not only for the glory of God, but for the sake of a grieving mother. He healed Peter’s mother-in-law of her sickness, taking her by the hand and raising her up (Mark 1:29-31). He raised a synagogue official’s little daughter from the dead, saying, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41). He then commanded that something be given her to eat, showing that He cares to provide even the bread for the mouth of a little girl.

It was the women to whom Christ first appeared after His resurrection. Mary Magdalene had come to the tomb to anoint His body, but there was no body to be found. Christ approached her as she was weeping, but her eyes did not recognize Him. As she cried, Jesus said, “Mary!” (John 20:16). The loving and kind voice that she had heard so often now rang in her ears to the reviving of her soul. In her deepest joy, she could not stop clinging to Him. So it is that women whom Christ has touched cannot help but cling to Him in their hearts. His love and tenderness draw them, and they cannot let Him go.

Christ’s ministry blessed women with the privilege and high calling of being His disciples. The women who followed Christ all came to see their sin and that Christ had the words of eternal life. They turned from the world to embrace Him as Lord. Mary of Bethany sat at the feet of Christ, choosing the good part, which could not be taken from her (Luke 10:42). Martha confessed that greatest of truths, saying, “Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (John 11:27). Christ’s own mother, Mary, confessed that she had need of God to be her Savior (Luke 1:47); she too believed in Christ as her Lord.

The women who followed Christ also ministered to Him. There was no task that they would not lovingly do in His service. They did not serve Him for gain but in their love for Him. They provided for Him from their own possessions (Luke 8:3), considering nothing their own as they served Him. So also today, women minister to Christ by using their time, talents, and possessions to bring glory to His name, to bring good to His people, and to bring His love and truth to the lost. And just as those women were with Christ at the cross, so also today women who belong to Christ are called to remain with Him even in the dark hours of life.

Shortly before His crucifixion, Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with very costly perfume. Her love and faith were expressed in this act of preparing Him for burial. Christ said, “She has done what she could” (Mark 14:8), and her sacrificial act has been told in memory of her ever since. So it is that women who serve Christ, even if unable to do great things, do what they can. They are faithful in a little, but even their little is much in the sight of God.

Men, do you hold women in high regard? Are you tender and kind toward them as Christ was? Do you see their dignity as created by God and do you encourage them to find their calling in God? Surely there is no man that can match Christ, but the best of men imitate Him. In so imitating Christ, you will honor Him and be a blessing to women.

Women, do you have the love for Christ that we see in these women of scripture? Do you find your dignity, comfort, and calling in Him? If so, blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Blessed are you because flesh and blood have not revealed this to you but your Father in heaven. Blessed are you because you have the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge. Blessed are you because He has gone to prepare a place for you and will soon return to take you where He is.