RE Verse reading–Mark 15:40-47, 16:1-8 (day seven) ” Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.” (16:1) For a moment please think of the women who have figured significantly into the Gospel of Mark. The woman with the issue of blood–Mark 5, the little girl raised from the dead–Mark 5, the Syrophonecian woman–Mark 8, the Lord’s protection of women through His teaching on divorce–Mark 10, Mary’s anointing–Mark 14, the women who followed Him from Galilee to help with chores–Mark 15, Mary Magdelene and Mary and Salome who were first to know and first to tell the resurrection–Mark 16. Why (in a world as biased against women as the 1st century was) would the Lord have taken such bold actions? Why would the scripture be so faithful to report such culturally unpopular activity? Only two available answers. “Male AND female created He them” (Genesis 1:27) “There is neither male nor female. . .for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28)
