“many women were there” [Matthew 27:55]

“many women were there”. Women played an important part in the Gospel narrative. The place of women in society may have changed but the outstanding fact drawn from our text today is that many women were there when there were few, if any, of the twelve disciples. And it may well have been that these devoted women disciples were the only women there – except perhaps servant girls like the one that accused Peter.
These women were not just by-standers, idle and inquisitive: they were followers of Jesus who recognised their calling to minister to the needs of Jesus and His disciples. They were sympathizing, supporting, praying and weeping. That is why the Gospel writer mentions them. Not there to make the number up! Their kind is needed in the church today.