relationships (Matthew 27:61-66) Having in Common the Most Important Thing

(Matthew 27:61-66)

55 And many women were there watching from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while caring for Him. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57 Now when it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea came, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:

I think this is important to note.  In our Christian communities and families, we are not to be paternally driven, and we are not even to be maternally driven.  We are to be Christ-driven: If Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, were so important to one's faith, a bigger deal would have been made, not just here, but in the rest of the Bible. Notice that Jesus' name isn't even mentioned as a son.  Instead, two of the four known half-brothers of Jesus are mentioned.  

(Mother) Mary is not even the first one mentioned in this motley mix of believers.  This Mary was like everyone else, born a sinner in need of saving.  We know that she was a believer as a very young woman, even before the angel told her that she would be the one to give birth to Israel's Messiah.  She was called by God to "provide" the human part of Jesus, so that He could be born fully man, while still being fully God.  As a believer, she was already deemed righteous by the Lord, as was her husband, Joseph, who was a carpenter by trade.  Together, they raised Jesus in a humble and righteous household, as they were led by God. 

Now for the rest.  At the top of the list is Mary Magdalene, a woman with a very sordid past, once being a prostitute, and being possessed by several demons, she became a believer, and her life changed dramatically, becoming one of Jesus' most faithful followers and disciples.  Salome, the mother of James and John, came from Zebedee, where the family had been in the fishing industry.  We have no idea when she became a believer, but we know that at some point she did make a decision, as verse 57 indicates.  This verse says Joseph had "also" become a disciple of Jesus, Joseph, being a rich man from Arimathea, a region in Judea or Ephraim..

This group of believers, all from very different backgrounds, had one very important thing in common - they all loved Jesus!  And in God's unity, they worked together.  This is a snapshot of the Church.  This is how it should be.