As Jesus was being led to Golgotha (Calvary, the Place of the Skull) for crucifixion, many people lined that road, men and women following Him and watching, watching. 

(NASB) Luke 23:27 “And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of the women who were mourning and lamenting Him.” 

  Who else was in that large crowd?  Wouldn’t there be the men who had been at His trials in the hours before dawn and throughout the morning?  The chief priests, Pharisees, scribes and other men hostile toward Jesus. 

  Where were the disciples?  Scripture doesn’t say.  However we know John was there – he watched Jesus die on that cross.  (John 19:26-27)

  Women – women followed this bloodied and torn Jesus as He went to His death.  At least some of those women had followed Him as He taught throughout His ministry.  (Notice the women throughout the New Testament – they were important to Jesus then and they are important to Jesus today.) 

  These women were mourning and lamenting Jesus’ coming death.  The culture in which they lived was evident as they followed Jesus with sorrow openly expressed.  He was going to die; He would no more be with them.   

  For people today who are without hope of eternal life – they think that death is the end…of everything.  There is no hope beyond the grave.  When the body is buried, hopes and dreams are buried also. 

  Followers of Christ – our hope is in the risen, living Lord Jesus Christ. 
(NIV) 1 Peter 1:3-7 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 

  Men are important to Jesus.  Women are important to Jesus.  Women and men are included in the living hope – a place is being kept for women and men in heaven for all who know Jesus as Savior and Redeemer!  Indeed, women are still important to Jesus.