The Women of Easter

The Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs           Hardback Book: 226 pages                

Great book!   It gives the reader a more focused look at several of the women who were believers, followers and disciples of Jesus, strong Christians in their own rights.    Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, Salome, and a host of other women mentioned in the Bible by name or by station in their own rights not as servants, not as chattels, not as the wife, daughter, sister of, but strong, faith warriors following Jesus at the risk of great peril to themselves in a historically male dominated culture during a time when women were not to even be seen in the synagogue but had to sit behind a wall away from the men in their own little quiet group straining to her the teachings of the rabbi as best they could.   Women were not lead characters but shadows behind the scenes in a society that did not value them nor their contributions yet, Jesus valued them often mentioning them by name or relating stories including women as equals at a time when that just wasn’t done.   Jesus even appeared to Mary Magdalene before He appeared to his apostles.    Women tend to have low self-esteem at times, devaluing their worth but this book points out many examples of just how women are daughters of the King and worthy of praise.    The book discusses Bible verses that talk about how women were part of the group of followers around Jesus and how they ministered by preparing the meals for the camp, cleaning up, likely washing the clothes of Jesus and the apostles helping as best they could while learning the teachings the Messiah delivered to them and the men surrounding Him.    No one was excluded.   Women did not have to take a backseat to the men.   They were valued, honored and respected by Jesus even as he hung on the cross dying he cared enough about them to address what they were going through on His behalf.    He had to go through all the pain and suffering to achieve forgiveness for the world.   Hanging on the cross  after having been beat up by the Roman guards, spit on, punched, flogged with a whip like a cat of nine tails that cut the flesh from his bones as well as laying deep, long cuts on his body then to have spikes driven through his hands and feet into the crossbars of wood he was crucified on all that and he still had the compassion for the women standing there crying over what was being done to Him.    He told them not to cry.   His mother who was beside herself with grief over what He was going through, He loved so much He made sure she would have someone to look after her on earth when He was gone.   He told her, “Woman, behold your son.”   Looking at his disciple John who was standing beside her.    He looked at John and said, “Behold your mother.”   John understanding took care of Mary bringing her into his home and treating her like his mother to her dying day (she was a widow by this time).    Amazing grace.     A joyous, inspiring book.   I highly recommend it, it delves deep into the scriptures and puts you, the reader, right in the midst of what is being discussed.   Excellent, Excellent, Excellent book.   Makes you say, “Hosannah!” right along with them.