From Nowhere to the Record Book

<p>The responses around the cross are sickening with their abuse, mocking, blasphemy, and a blatant disregard for justice.  The only bright spot is the thief on the cross. But after Jesus dies we see 4 other responses:</p><p>The centurion</p><p>The people beating their breasts</p><p>The council member</p><p>The women from Galilee: and here are some of their names: “and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:2-3 NIV</p><p>The key issue here is the fact that the women are present from the beginning, at the crucifixion, the burial, at the resurrection, at the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost, and ministering in the early church!</p><p>They fulfill the requirements of Luke 1: “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1-4 NIV</p><p>They are the only ones who have been eyewitnesses to all events and become ministers, or servants of the Word!  We read their accounts here! It is consistent with God’s purposes to choose the “foolish” things of the world to confound the wise: He goes to a defeated people, to a borrowed manger attended by angels and of all things shepherds, escapes to Egypt and returns to Nazareth from whence no good thing comes, picks uneducated followers, walks to hills of Judaea and Samaria, feeds the hungry, heals the sick, delivers the oppressed, but does nothing that we would claim to make him special. He is condemned as a rebellious blasphemer and is ex