In all honesty I had no idea that today was International Women's Day until one of the Wednesday morning prayer call partners wished us all a happy Women's Day before logging off.
Normally, I am not really looped into stuff like this (some moreso than others) but after logging off the call this morning and reflecting on what was shared during our time of devotion this morning, I thought to myself let me press into this.
This morning we read John 20: 10 - 18 and reflected on the resurrection of Jesus and interaction between Jesus and Mary Magdalene
"Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him. ”Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”) Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Mary was an early follower of Jesus. Jesus did not treat women as others did in His culture during that time, He treated them with dignity as people of value and worth. Mary traveled with Jesus, served Jesus and others, was present at the crucifixion of Jesus, and was on her way to anoint Jesus at the tomb when she noticed it was empty.
Mary Magdalene is a great example for us women today as she is a woman of genuine heartfelt faith. She lived a life of thanksgiving to Jesus and demonstrated her appreciation for the freedom Christ gave her when He drove seven demons out of her. Her freedom in Christ allowed her to stand under Jesus' cross when all the disciples except John were hiding in fear. Jesus entrusted her with the first message of His resurrection!
We can learn from Mary's life that we as women today are vital to carry out the ministry God has given us.
We can learn that Jesus relates to women as He created them- as equal reflectors of God's image.
So today, woman BE ENCOURAGED. Stay rooted in your faith. Reflect on God's goodness in your life and walk in the path God has created for you with strength and dignity.
As I write to encourage you, I write to encourage myself!
Blessings + Love
Tunai