The dictionary gives these definitions for patient: manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain, steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity.
When Jesus was crucified certain women demonstrated steadfast devotion. I have been thinking about them.
There were also many women there, looking from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Matthew 27:55-56
The women watched as Jesus body was placed in the tomb.
And he [Joseph of Arimathea] rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. Matthew 27:60b-61
These women persisted in their service to Jesus.
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Matthew 28:1
The book of John gives this perspective.
Now in the place where he [Jesus] was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. John 19:41-20:1
Mary went to tell Peter and John. Then she went back to the tomb.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him.”
Having said this , she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary”. She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni” (which means teacher). John 20:11-16
It is hard to be patient and faithful when we don’t understand events that are taking place. We can be inspired by the example of these women and the promises that Jesus has given us in the Bible.
This post is shared with the Five Minute Friday writing community. Today’s prompt is: PATIENT Also Linking up with Anita’s Inspire Me Monday .
They saw the stone was rolled away,
and open lay the tomb;
did they fear odor of decay,
the cold dank smell of doom?
Or did they jump, happy surprise,
when (yes!) unto their noses
began to gather and to rise,
the scent of springtime roses?
He came up behind them then
(they thought Him keeper of the grounds)
and complete was their joy when
He spoke, and then they found
that their Lord’s remains were not taken;
He had but slept, and now He’d wakened.
I agree – patience in uncertainty makes it harder to patient. When we have a general idea of what is expected of us, how long a trial will last, or why we need to be patient it seems a little bit easier. Let’s keep our focus on God, instead of what we are patiently enduring. I will work on it along with you.
Amen. Have a blessed Easter, Amie!