55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Ever at Jesus’ side, these women followed Him and cared for His needs out of their substance - continuing to minister even to the point of His burial. While these ladies dared to watch from a distance, the disciples dared not to be seen at all. Overwhelmed with grief, these female followers stood watching in disbelief – they had envisioned Jesus on a throne yet now they were seeing Him suffering on a cross.
“True love for Christ will carry us through to the utmost, in following Him. Death itself cannot quench that divine fire.” Matthew Henry
6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned. Song 8:6-7 (NIV)
Certainly there was immense sadness and disappointment among them. We are told in Matthew and Mark that many women watched from a distance the happenings yet some were identified specifically as those who carefully observed the details: Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses, the mother of Zebedee’s sons, Joanna and Salome.
Mary Magdalene, always the first woman to be mentioned in the lists, was one who owed all her comfort to our Savior’s power and goodness. Jesus had certainly “rescued her from the dominion of darkness” as He had freed her from the possession of seven demons. She was well aware of what life was like apart from Christ. She owed Him everything - as we all do – yet she was just privileged to be made more aware of this truth than most of us will ever be! In gratitude, she could never do enough for Him. Jesus addresses a love similar to this earlier in Luke:
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Luke 7:44-47 (NIV)
“Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies.” Charles Jefferson
“Humility is nothing else but a true knowledge and awareness of oneself as one really is.” The Cloud of Unknowing
While Mary Magdalene had carefully observed Joseph and Nicodemus wrapping Jesus’ body in linen along with seventy-five pounds of spices – myrrh and aloes – she was eager to include her part. Out of love for her Savior and ours, she wanted to do what she could. She had experienced in her own life what Jesus’ love had accomplished for her – now it was her turn to express that loving gratitude:
7 But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the LORD has done. Deut 11:7 (NIV)
“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” C. T. Studd
“Love Him totally who gave Himself totally for your love.” Claire of Assisi
Yet interestingly, we discover that out of her obedience to God’s commands she rested on the Sabbath:
1 Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. Deut 11:1 (NIV)
It would do us all well to remember that God’s commands for us are not whimsical or meant for our bondage , harm, or displeasure but rather for our good and for His glory. We do ourselves a great disservice when we fight against or disregard His revealed will in the Scriptures as though it will be for our harm.