Her Story, Her StrengthSample

Women Who Followed Jesus: Strong Support

Susanna clung to her friend Joanna, soaking the shoulder of Joanna’s beautiful robe with her tears. Several of their friends stood nearby, sobbing or numbly silent.

How had it come to this? Just a short time ago, the friends had been traveling with their rabbi–their Teacher, Jesus–and their fellow disciples. They had all come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration with such excitement. When Jesus entered the city in what looked like a royal parade, the friends had been sure the whole world was realizing what they had believed for a long time–that Jesus was the Messiah, God’s Anointed One, sent to deliver their people.

But now they were on a rocky hillside outside Jerusalem, watching from a distance as their beloved Teacher was executed by the worst form of torture the Romans knew–crucifixion.

Agonizing hours passed. The women grew exhausted from fear and grief as well as from standing, but none of them left. They would stay with their Teacher until the end.

At long last, it was over. Jesus was dead.

Joanna told Susanna that two of their friends, Nicodemus and Joseph, would ask to take Jesus’s body and place it in a tomb before the Sabbath began at sundown. “Some of us women will go to the tomb early in the morning on the day after the Sabbath to finish the burial,” Joanna said. “Let’s go see if we can buy burial spices before the market closes.”

Susanna took her friend’s hand and squeezed it. Together, the women hurried away to perform their final act of love.

If you’ve heard or read stories about Jesus, you’re probably familiar with his twelve disciples (who are also known as the twelve apostles). These men were Jesus’s closest followers and friends. The Bible tells us many women also traveled with Jesus. Some of these women supported Jesus and his other followers with their own money. These women made it possible for Jesus to do the work God had for him, and he welcomed them into his world–and the kingdom of God.

As you celebrate Easter this year, think about what it means for you to be a follower of Jesus. He wants to welcome you as his friend, to be part of his family, along with other believers. He wants you to join him in his work. What do you think that could look like in your life right now?