A Family Member Salome
Sermon
A Cloud Of Witnesses
Sermons On 10 Who Jesus Touched
She was well named. For Salome was the familiar feminine form
of Solomon. But not only did she bear the wise monarch's name.
"The mother of Zebedee's children" was every whit as unique as
he. The very fact she identified herself with Jesus' little group
attested to that. For the two were family, and families often
have a way of underestimating their own. Nor were the Master's
kin beyond it. For at times Mary had doubts about her son despite
the revelations made to her at his birth, (Luke 2:48-51) while
his brothers did not hesitate to discredit him openly. (John 7:5)
Yet here was Salome committing herself to Jesus as her people's
last, best hope.
Watching Jesus grow up Salome had become convinced of his
closeness to God. To her it was evident in both his bearing and
the depth of his insights belying his years. Consequently, she
had committed herself to him in her heart long before she made
her resolution known, awaiting only a fitting moment to declare
it. Little did she know that when that moment came it would
demand a daring step on her part.
I
It was the Sabbath, and Jesus was preaching in his home
synagogue -- his only known appearance in Nazareth. (Luke 4:16-
30) It was an occasion Salome would not willingly have missed.
For one thing, the Master had just returned from forty days of
spiritual preparation and, understandably, she was eager to hear
what he had to say. His words, however, only infuriated the
neighbors among whom he had grown up, kindling in them such a
frenzy they rose as a body bent on killing him.
57
Such a violent display would have sent a lesser woman
scurrying to the sanctuary of the family quays. But not Salome.
Instead, what she witnessed only sharpened her resolution to
support Jesus all the more. It was a daring resolution, for in
pursuing it she knew only too well that she was defying two deep-
seated prejudices of the day.
For centuries Israel had identified wisdom and authority with
age. Gray hair was a badge of knowledge. (Job 32:7) It was a
maxim embraced by all the nations of the East. Yet here was
Salome committing her life to a self-appointed teacher half her
years. (Luke 3:23) To her friends the very thought of doing so
was taboo. But Salome refused to let their stance hold her back.
In addition there was a serious question as to the company
Salome would be keeping. For in the eyes of her neighbors she was
joining a band of tainted women, defiled by the fact that
somewhere in their past each had experienced a mental breakdown,
the sign of demon-possession, and therefore to be avoided. But
all her life Salome had accepted individuals, not for what they
had been, but for what they were. So she would permit neither of
the two postures on the part of her neighbors to deter her.
Instead, she took her place among the women serving the Master
and never broke stride with them.
II
In the course of fulfilling his mission Jesus decided to visit
every town and village in Galilee. Accompanying him on this
visitation were the Twelve, the women he had healed, and "many
others." (Luke 8:1-3) It was an ambitious undertaking; for, in
all likelihood, 30 to 40 persons comprised his retinue -- no
small body considering the fact their journeying would take
several months inasmuch as they were traveling afoot, stopping to
preach from time to time, and living off the land. That they
experienced no major problem along the way seems evident from the
fact the scriptures mention none, suggesting
careful advance planning in which Salome undoubtedly played no
small part. For she would have brought to the mission insights
she had attained in the long years she had shared with Zebedee in
their family fishery.
To begin with, Salome would have lifted up the need for
placing one person in charge of the group's overall concerns.
Someone, she would have pointed out, must have the authority to
delegate a division of labor among them lest the mission fall
into disarray and end in frustration.
Obviously, it was a responsibility that must not be imposed on
Jesus. He must be free to meditate and pray. Nor should the
disciples be weighted down with it. They must always be available
to the Master for other duties.
Salome, on the other hand, had a background for it with years
of business experience behind her. Thus, she knew where to find
the best markets and how to bargain in them effectively. At the
same time she was a reliable judge of the group's needs and could
be depended upon to fulfill them. Accordingly it would seem safe
to assume that, devoted to Jesus as she was and eager to see the
success of his mission, she was chosen as the company's
coordinator.
It was a responsibility to which Salome measured up well. For
not only did she delegate work essential to the mission's purpose
without receiving complaints, she also took on herself her fair
share of it. Hence if any grew weary along the way they had but
to look at Salome laboring in their midst to find the incentive
they needed to persevere.
Twice a day there would be fire beds to lay by scooping out
shallow ovals in the fields and ringing them with rocks to
support the two-handled cooking pots used for boiling porridge or
stewing meat. (1 Samuel 2:13-14) So, too, there would be open
flames to kindle for roasting or parching small sheaves of grain.
(Ruth 2:14) Occasionally, conditions permitting, there would be
mud ovens to construct for the baking of cakes. (Leviticus 2:4)
Often, too, garments must be mended where brambles had snagged
them and, when the opportunity arose, laundered by
59
pounding them with stones in a streambed. Thus, from dawn until
well after dark the women kept busy; yet, with Salome sharing the
burden beside them, not one of them was tempted to abandon the
witness of the worker.
III
Perhaps all too little has been made of the role Salome filled
in Jesus' mission. Yet how different its outcome may have been
but for her quiet commitment to him. She was there at the
beginning when, lacking his family's support, (Mark 3:31-35)
Jesus needed encouragement. She was there when many of those
following him, finding the demands of discipleship too exacting,
"went back, and walked no more with him." (John 6:66) She was
there with no concern for her own safety when the knowledge he
was a hunted man with a death threat hovering over him weighed
heavily upon Jesus. (John 7:25) So it is hardly surprising Salome
was there when Jesus returned from the tomb the first Easter
morning. (Mark 16:1, 2)
But then Salome had always been there when anything important
was happening to Jesus.
It needs to be remembered, however, that Salome did not lack
support in doing what she did for the Master. In a day when a
man's word was law where his wife's activities were concerned she
apparently had the full backing of her husband, Zebedee. For
there is no inkling at any point that he tried to bar her from
following Jesus.
For one thing Zebedee realized as well as Salome that unless
there were someone to minister to the minister during what gave
promise of becoming a lengthy and demanding mission the whole
enterprise might be jeopardized. At the same time, knowing his
wife's talents, he felt the mission was secure in the expertise
she was bringing it. Accordingly, in giving her a free hand in
it, like John Milton long centuries later, he was content in the
knowledge that "they also serve who only stand and wait."
60
It was a bold stance on Zebedee's part. For in taking it he
knew only too well that he risked ostracism for disregarding the
strict code Israel imposed upon women by permitting Salome to
travel the countryside with a man other than her husband.
61
of Solomon. But not only did she bear the wise monarch's name.
"The mother of Zebedee's children" was every whit as unique as
he. The very fact she identified herself with Jesus' little group
attested to that. For the two were family, and families often
have a way of underestimating their own. Nor were the Master's
kin beyond it. For at times Mary had doubts about her son despite
the revelations made to her at his birth, (Luke 2:48-51) while
his brothers did not hesitate to discredit him openly. (John 7:5)
Yet here was Salome committing herself to Jesus as her people's
last, best hope.
Watching Jesus grow up Salome had become convinced of his
closeness to God. To her it was evident in both his bearing and
the depth of his insights belying his years. Consequently, she
had committed herself to him in her heart long before she made
her resolution known, awaiting only a fitting moment to declare
it. Little did she know that when that moment came it would
demand a daring step on her part.
I
It was the Sabbath, and Jesus was preaching in his home
synagogue -- his only known appearance in Nazareth. (Luke 4:16-
30) It was an occasion Salome would not willingly have missed.
For one thing, the Master had just returned from forty days of
spiritual preparation and, understandably, she was eager to hear
what he had to say. His words, however, only infuriated the
neighbors among whom he had grown up, kindling in them such a
frenzy they rose as a body bent on killing him.
57
Such a violent display would have sent a lesser woman
scurrying to the sanctuary of the family quays. But not Salome.
Instead, what she witnessed only sharpened her resolution to
support Jesus all the more. It was a daring resolution, for in
pursuing it she knew only too well that she was defying two deep-
seated prejudices of the day.
For centuries Israel had identified wisdom and authority with
age. Gray hair was a badge of knowledge. (Job 32:7) It was a
maxim embraced by all the nations of the East. Yet here was
Salome committing her life to a self-appointed teacher half her
years. (Luke 3:23) To her friends the very thought of doing so
was taboo. But Salome refused to let their stance hold her back.
In addition there was a serious question as to the company
Salome would be keeping. For in the eyes of her neighbors she was
joining a band of tainted women, defiled by the fact that
somewhere in their past each had experienced a mental breakdown,
the sign of demon-possession, and therefore to be avoided. But
all her life Salome had accepted individuals, not for what they
had been, but for what they were. So she would permit neither of
the two postures on the part of her neighbors to deter her.
Instead, she took her place among the women serving the Master
and never broke stride with them.
II
In the course of fulfilling his mission Jesus decided to visit
every town and village in Galilee. Accompanying him on this
visitation were the Twelve, the women he had healed, and "many
others." (Luke 8:1-3) It was an ambitious undertaking; for, in
all likelihood, 30 to 40 persons comprised his retinue -- no
small body considering the fact their journeying would take
several months inasmuch as they were traveling afoot, stopping to
preach from time to time, and living off the land. That they
experienced no major problem along the way seems evident from the
fact the scriptures mention none, suggesting
careful advance planning in which Salome undoubtedly played no
small part. For she would have brought to the mission insights
she had attained in the long years she had shared with Zebedee in
their family fishery.
To begin with, Salome would have lifted up the need for
placing one person in charge of the group's overall concerns.
Someone, she would have pointed out, must have the authority to
delegate a division of labor among them lest the mission fall
into disarray and end in frustration.
Obviously, it was a responsibility that must not be imposed on
Jesus. He must be free to meditate and pray. Nor should the
disciples be weighted down with it. They must always be available
to the Master for other duties.
Salome, on the other hand, had a background for it with years
of business experience behind her. Thus, she knew where to find
the best markets and how to bargain in them effectively. At the
same time she was a reliable judge of the group's needs and could
be depended upon to fulfill them. Accordingly it would seem safe
to assume that, devoted to Jesus as she was and eager to see the
success of his mission, she was chosen as the company's
coordinator.
It was a responsibility to which Salome measured up well. For
not only did she delegate work essential to the mission's purpose
without receiving complaints, she also took on herself her fair
share of it. Hence if any grew weary along the way they had but
to look at Salome laboring in their midst to find the incentive
they needed to persevere.
Twice a day there would be fire beds to lay by scooping out
shallow ovals in the fields and ringing them with rocks to
support the two-handled cooking pots used for boiling porridge or
stewing meat. (1 Samuel 2:13-14) So, too, there would be open
flames to kindle for roasting or parching small sheaves of grain.
(Ruth 2:14) Occasionally, conditions permitting, there would be
mud ovens to construct for the baking of cakes. (Leviticus 2:4)
Often, too, garments must be mended where brambles had snagged
them and, when the opportunity arose, laundered by
59
pounding them with stones in a streambed. Thus, from dawn until
well after dark the women kept busy; yet, with Salome sharing the
burden beside them, not one of them was tempted to abandon the
witness of the worker.
III
Perhaps all too little has been made of the role Salome filled
in Jesus' mission. Yet how different its outcome may have been
but for her quiet commitment to him. She was there at the
beginning when, lacking his family's support, (Mark 3:31-35)
Jesus needed encouragement. She was there when many of those
following him, finding the demands of discipleship too exacting,
"went back, and walked no more with him." (John 6:66) She was
there with no concern for her own safety when the knowledge he
was a hunted man with a death threat hovering over him weighed
heavily upon Jesus. (John 7:25) So it is hardly surprising Salome
was there when Jesus returned from the tomb the first Easter
morning. (Mark 16:1, 2)
But then Salome had always been there when anything important
was happening to Jesus.
It needs to be remembered, however, that Salome did not lack
support in doing what she did for the Master. In a day when a
man's word was law where his wife's activities were concerned she
apparently had the full backing of her husband, Zebedee. For
there is no inkling at any point that he tried to bar her from
following Jesus.
For one thing Zebedee realized as well as Salome that unless
there were someone to minister to the minister during what gave
promise of becoming a lengthy and demanding mission the whole
enterprise might be jeopardized. At the same time, knowing his
wife's talents, he felt the mission was secure in the expertise
she was bringing it. Accordingly, in giving her a free hand in
it, like John Milton long centuries later, he was content in the
knowledge that "they also serve who only stand and wait."
60
It was a bold stance on Zebedee's part. For in taking it he
knew only too well that he risked ostracism for disregarding the
strict code Israel imposed upon women by permitting Salome to
travel the countryside with a man other than her husband.
61
