“Enduring Discipleship!”

“Enduring Discipleship!”(Mk.15:37-41).
This week has been focused on being a disciple. We close the week with the story of the women who followed Jesus till his death and after.
The God of good times is the same God of bad times. Fear and disappointment should not frighten us from following the Lord Jesus Christ.
Even in dead Jesus made disciples. Before he died on the cross, “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The curtain seperated the holy place from the most holy place. The tearing of the curtain at Jesus’ death gave direct access to God for all of us who believe in the Son.
There was a centurion standing there in front of Jesus. When he heard Jesus’ death cry, and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God.” This man was a Roman military officer, but he was the first man to confess the Sonship of Jesus when he died.
Many women who had followed Jesus “were watching from a distance… In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs…”
All the men fled away and left Jesus alone, but the women were there. I remember many years back our baby son was sick. We took him to the Catholic cottage hospital, Bali. When it was his turn for consultation I carried him in. The nurse asked to know where the mother was. I told the nurse she was outside. The nurse told me sternly: “Why then are you the one in here? What do you know about the baby? Go out and ask the mother to come in!”
Women do not only bring us into the world, they care for our needs. They are always there even in troubling times.
When the men had given up on Jesus, the women were there. Unfortunately male chauvinistic patriarchal societies have not allowed women to exercise their full potential in the Church of Christ. But they have always been in the majority, following Christ.
Lesson from the women who followed Jesus: “Following Jesus Christ is an all time activity such that nothing should seperate us from him. Whether in good or bad weather, in times of joy or sorrow, in times of plenty or scarcity, God in Christ does not abandon us. As we carry the cross of shame, pain and humiliation in the same way Christ did, we must remain steadfast in him. He will never abandon us in our trials…!
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit help me to be like the women who followed the Lord Jesus Christ to the end. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Prayer point: Pray that nothing should frighten us from following Christ.
Rev Babila Fochang.