The First Deaconesses

# 753- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:40,41 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. Some people today feel that the Bible places far too many restrictions on women. Jesus wrote the Bible through the Holy Spirit and apparently these women didn't feel that way about the Author. These women “followed” Jesus. That is, they were no different than the the other disciples who heeded the Lord's call. They too, gave up the lure of the world in order to place Jesus first in their life. We know that Jesus told the men that if they followed Him, He would make them fishers of men. We see no such promise for the women, but we do read here of what it meant to them to “follow Jesus.” They “ministered to Him along the way.” This is the honorable role of the New Testament office of deaconesses This office in the church is mentioned in Ro 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well. Please note the respect Paul has for this woman and her office. The church in Rome is to help her carry out her duties of ministering to the needs of others in every possible way. She has clearly proven herself as worthy of such aid since she has a long track record of helping others in time of need, including Paul! These deaconesses, like deacons are commissioned to serve. The word deacon means an attendant. They attend to the needs of others freeing up the pastors and elders for preaching and ministering the word (Acts 6:4) It's what these women we find at the foot of the cross did for Jesus. And in so doing they experienced personal fulfillment and contentment beyond measure.