Key Thought

Some of the key sets of figures in Jesus' passion and resurrection are "the women." While Jesus' male disciples abandon him, "the women" are there on the way to Golgotha, at the foot of the Cross, and at the tomb on resurrection Sunday. They are also there in the days awaiting the coming of the Spirit in the early chapters of the book of Acts. "The women" are faithful examples of true followers of Jesus through his whole ordeal. They are the first to know about his resurrection. These women are the great reminder that often the most faithful and loyal of Jesus' disciples are not those who are best know to us. However, they are treasured and honored by God. All around us are heroic, faithful, and exemplary disciples who love the Lord, yet so often we focus on those who fail. Let these women be a reminder that our heritage is not just built on the faith of the well known, but also on the faith of the loyal, courageous, and less-known heroes of faith.

Today's Prayer

Get WJD by EMAIL!

Enter your email address above to subscribe to the email edition of What Jesus Did! Follow along FREE every day as we go through Luke in a year. More Info on Mailing Lists

Father in heaven, the Almighty God, thank you for your women of faith who have been examples through the ages. Thank you for their courage, loyalty, and strength. Thank you for their willingness to play important roles in your story of grace and yet not have to be in the spotlight of history. Thank you, O God, for the women of faith who have played such a vital and powerful role in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

The soldiers led Jesus away {to be killed}. At that same time, there was a man coming into the city from the fields. His name was Simon. Simon was from the city of Cyrene. The soldiers forced Simon to carry Jesus' cross and walk behind Jesus. Many, many people followed Jesus. Some of the women were sad and crying. They felt sorry for Jesus. But Jesus turned and said to the women, "Women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children too! The time is coming when people will say, 'Happy are the women that cannot have babies! Happy are the women that have no children to care for.' Then the people will say to the mountain, 'Fall on us!' The people will say to the hills, 'Cover us!' If people act like this now when life is good, what will happen when bad times come? " There were also two criminals led out with Jesus to be killed. Jesus and the two criminals were led to a place called "The Skull." There the soldiers nailed Jesus to his cross. They also nailed the criminals to their crosses. They put one criminal beside Jesus on the right, and they put the other criminal beside Jesus on the left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive these people {that are killing me}. They don't know what they are doing. " The soldiers gambled with dice to decide who would get Jesus' clothes. The people stood there watching {Jesus}. The Jewish leaders laughed at Jesus. They said, "If he is God's Chosen One, the Christ, then let him save himself. He saved other people, didn't he?" Even the soldiers laughed at Jesus and teased him. They came to Jesus and offered him some wine. The soldiers said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!" (At the top of the cross these words were written: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.") One of the criminals began to shout very bad things at Jesus: "Aren't you the Christ ? Then save yourself! And save us too!" But the other criminal stopped him. He said, "You should fear God! All of us will die soon! You and I are guilty; we should bekilled because we did wrong. But this man (Jesus) has done nothing wrong!" Then this criminal said to Jesus, "Jesus, remember me when you begin ruling as king!" Then Jesus said to him, "Listen! What I say is true: Today you will be with me in Paradise !"

— Luke 23:26-43 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.