Women in the Ministry of Jesus

Faithful to the end

In Mark's Gospel the women around Jesus are often unnamed, yet they show a faith that outlasts the crowd. They trust Jesus, serve him, stay at the cross when others flee, and are the first to reach the empty tomb. This module follows three of those moments.

Discipleship words

Four terms run through this module:

Three women, three moments

Mark records women at very different points in Jesus' ministry.

Match each episode to its passage

A mother's plea

In Mark 7, what did the Greek (Syrophoenician) woman ask Jesus to do?

• Heal her daughter
• Feed a hungry crowd
• Calm a storm at sea
• Forgive Peter

The anointing at Bethany

At Bethany a woman poured very costly ointment over Jesus' head. Some of those present complained that it was wasteful and could have been sold to help the poor. Jesus defended her: she had done a beautiful thing and had prepared him for his burial, and wherever the good news is told, her act would be remembered (Mark 14:3-9).

What the women did

Select the TWO things the women did in Mark's account of the crucifixion and resurrection.

• Watched the crucifixion when others had fled
• Came to the tomb and found it empty
• Betrayed Jesus to the authorities
• Denied knowing Jesus three times

The resurrection morning

Put the women's part in the crucifixion and resurrection into order.

• The women watch the crucifixion from a distance
• They see where Jesus is laid in the tomb
• After the Sabbath they come with spices
• They find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty
• They are told he has risen and to tell the disciples

Match each person to what they did

First to know

In Mark's Gospel, why are the women especially important at the resurrection?

• They were the first witnesses that Jesus had risen
• They wrote the Gospel of Mark
• They were the twelve disciples
• They were priests in the temple

The story in words

In Mark's Gospel, a _____ woman begged Jesus to heal her daughter, and he praised her faith. At Bethany, a woman poured costly ointment on Jesus and he said she had prepared him for _____. At the cross, women watched from a _____ when others had fled. After the Sabbath they found the tomb _____, and Mary _____ was the first to see the risen Jesus.

Women in Mark's Gospel

Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE.

• Women were the first witnesses of the resurrection in Mark's Gospel.
• The Syrophoenician woman was a Gentile whose faith Jesus praised.
• Jesus scolded the woman at Bethany for wasting the ointment.
• All the male disciples stayed at the cross while the women fled.
• Mary Magdalene wrote the Gospel of Mark.

Name the moment

Work out which episode from Mark's Gospel each description points to.

• A woman who is not Jewish trusts Jesus to heal her daughter, and he praises her faith. Who is she?
• A woman pours costly ointment on Jesus and is criticised for waste. How does Jesus respond?
• On the first day of the week, women find the tomb empty and are told to tell the disciples. What does this show about them?

What the women teach

Using examples from Mark's Gospel, explain what the women in Jesus' ministry show about discipleship.

• Describe one woman and what she did, with the passage
• Explain what her faith or action showed
• Explain why the women at the resurrection are important
• Explain what this teaches about who can be a disciple