JESUS & WOMEN

In first-century Palestine, the way Jesus treated women was considered revolutionary.

W HEN SHE became a teenager, her father made the arrangements, as was the custom. Mary would be married to a carpenter, Joseph, the son of Heli. From birth, Mary's role in life was set, for she was born female to a Jewish family during the time of the Roman Empire. Yet her role in history was to be extraordinary. God chose her to be the mother of Jesus.

Woman of Courage

When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, initially she was troubled by what the angel's appearance might mean. The angel reassured her, explaining that she was chosen to be mother of Jesus. ' " How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

'The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have child in her age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

' " I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her' (Luke 1:34-38). Though she knew she was facing shame and humiliation, Mary in faith, willingly submitted herself to God's will. She understood that it was possible Joseph would marry her. She would be considered damaged goods. Mary acted in great courage and faith.

Though God protected her by showing Joseph in a dream that he should accept her in marriage in spite of her being pregnant, the story of her pregnancy appears to have been known. Yet Joseph faithfully married an already pregnant Mary. It seems that a legacy of raised-eyebrow, finger-pointing gossip followed them and Jesus, God in the flesh, throughout their lives.

Jesus honoured his mother throughout his life and at the crucifixion. Mary was at the foot of the cross. when Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home' (John 19:26-27)

When Jesus saw her there, no doubt in shock at what she was witnessing, he compassionately let her and John know how she would be cared for after his death and after his resurrection. Yet this honour and respect was not reserved simply for Jesus' mother. It was extended to all women - an attitude largely unexpected and unknown in the culture of the time.

Jesus, unlike the men of his generation and culture, taught that women were equal to men in the sight of God. Women could receive God's forgiveness and grace. Women, as well as men, could be among Christ's personal followers. Women could be full participants in the kingdom of God. Jesus offered full discipleship to women.

These were revolutionary ideas. Many of Jesus' contemporaries, including his disciples, were shocked. Women were overjoyed and grateful, of course, and many dedicated their lives to his service.

Let's take a look, from the historical narratives in Scripture, at a few of these women of faith and how Jesus dealt with them. In the early days of Jesus' ministry, one most unusual example is the devoted following of Mary Magdalene.

Mary of Magdala

Among the group of women who traveled with Jesus and his 12 disciples was Mary of Magdala (Luke 8:2). She is usually mentioned first in a list of the female disciples of Jesus Christ. Mary may have been one of the leaders of that group of women who followed Jesus from the outset of his ministry in Galilee to his death and afterwards.

The risen Jesus appeared to her first. It is ironic that in a time when women could not be legal witnesses, Christ chose women as the first witnesses of his resurrection. As the British writer Dorothy L. Sayers observed: 'Perhaps it is no wonder that the women were first at the cradle and last at the cross.

They have never known a man like this Man - there never has been such another. A prophet and teacher who never nagged at them, never flattered or coaxed or patronised; who never made arch jokes about them...who rebuked without querulousness and praised without condescension; who took their questions and arguments seriously' (Are Women Human?, Page 47). Along with his mother and Mary Magdalene were two other close friends of Jesus and Martha.

Mary and Martha

Jesus Christ taught that women were just as responsible for growing in grace and knowledge as men when it came to being one of his followers. This is clearly expressed in Luke's account of Christ's visit to the home of Martha and Mary, who lived in Bethany, a village about two miles from Jerusalem.

Martha had invited Jesus and his disciples to her home for a meal. But while Martha was busily preparing to serve her guest, her sister, Mary, was listening to Jesus along with the rest of his disciples. 'As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

'She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" ' (Luke 10:38-40).

Martha seems to have been the older sister and head of her own house. Jesus didn't chastise Martha for being busy serving, but he gently told her that Mary was the one who actually had her priorities right. ' "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" ' (verses 41-42).

Jesus expected women as well as men to learn from him. He did not feel that women's work - or men's work, for that matter - wasn't important. He was not saying it is wrong to be diligent about our responsibilities. Christ was saying we should get out priorities right. Women were called to be disciples of Jesus, just as men were, and women were expected to fulfill their spiritual responsibilities, just as men were.

A Daughter of Abraham

Another fascinating account of Luke's story of the healing of a disabled woman - on the Sabbath day, in the synagogue, in front of the synagogue ruler. The healing not only shows Christ personally contrasting his new way of life with the old legalistic, pharisaical restrictions, but also shows his deep regard for women.

'On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Women, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God' (Luke 13:10-13).

The ruler of the synagogue immediately protested. He indignantly told the people there were six other days they could be healed. This was his means, of course, of chastising Christ for what the religious ruler considered as breaking the Sabbath. Was Christ intimidated by these words? Not in the least.

' "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" ' (verses 15-16).

Jesus Christ not only faced the wrath of the Jewish leaders by healing this woman on the Sabbath, he showed his regard for her by calling her a 'daughter of Abraham'. 'The idea of being a son of Abraham was common enough. Jesus used that term in reference to Zacchaeus a few chapters later in Luke. But Jesus with this one modification of the phrase - from "son" to "daughter" - raises this formerly pitiful woman to a new status.,' say authors Ruth A. Tucker and Walter Liefeld (Daughters of the Church, page 31).

Before his most venomous critics, Jesus publicly showed his concern and high regard for this woman, someone whom others had probably seen for years as she struggled in her affliction to come to the synagogue to worship God. Someone whom they may well have shunned because she was a woman and because she was disabled.

The Bible doesn't specify just how many women travelled with Jesus an his male disciples, but Luke records the names of prominent few and mentions there were 'many others'.

Female Followers

'After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Sussana; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means' (Luke 8:1-3).

Think about these remarkable words. Here were women not only associating with Christ and his male disciples, but travelling along with them. Also, notice at least some of these women - possibly widows - had control of their finances. It was out of their generosity that Jesus and his disciples were at least partially supported.

Although Christ worked with the cultural traditions of the first century, he ignored the limitations that had been placed on women by their culture. Women were free to follow him and to take part in his ministry to the world.

All Are One in Christ

In Christ we are all children of God. As the apostle Paul wrote: 'You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew not Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus' (Galatians 3:26-28).

Paul's significant words, especially were they concern women, are bold even now, and certainly were astonishing in the time he wrote them. This was another of Paul's transitional statements showing that a new covenant relationship through Christ had begun. Now we have a new life in Christ. All Christians have a new relationship with God. Through Christ, we - both male and female - have become God's own children and one in Jesus Christ.

Christ is calling all - men and women - to repentance and a new way of life. He showed through personal example that it is time to put aside the old biased, the feelings of superiority over others, the feelings of resentment and anger, and to walk in newness of life with him and through him. Many of us are striving to be women of faith. Many of us, like the bent-over woman healed by Christ in the synagogue, have disregarded any discrimination in order to worship God faithfully and serve him.

Don't get discouraged and give up. Jesus Christ calls us equal in every way in his sight, and heirs to his promises. And, as we humbly follow him, Christ will use us in his service.

For those who haven't taken that step yet, remember that just as Christ freed that poor woman from Satan's debilitating physical affliction on her, he promises to free you, and all his 'daughters of Abraham' who repent and follow him.

Jesus Christ wants you in his kingdom.