Jesus Through the Eyes of Women by Rebecca McLaughlin
So often we have the idea
of a women's role but Rebecca challenges this and really makes you think about
what it should or could be.
In chapter 1 the book opens by looking at Hannah
in the Old Testament, Elisabeth, Mary and Anna in the New Testament. She
considers the idea of prophecy, how God used women in the role of prophecy being
foretold and fulfilled. We tend not to think of women in this way yet I
personally was always taught that it was Anna who was a women prophetess only.
My perception has been challenged as I realise that in recognising Mary,
Elisabeth was acknowledging this was God's son she was carrying, prophecy was
fulfilled. The Jewish people had their scriptures and knew that one day Jesus
would come into the world. Unfortunately they didn't recognise him when he
came. All except a few and they were women.
Isn't it amazing that this is the age old story of
the gospel. Only a few will respond to the message of God's salvation time and
time again. And we even as women have a role to play in opening the eyes of
others to see that Christ has come and stands with open arms to welcome all who
come to him in repentance and faith.
The opening chapter of this
book looks at 4 women from the bible whose lives were changed through knowing
Jesus personally.
First Mary, the mother of Jesus. I love this
phrase "when you and I let Jesus in, our humdrum lives become the buzzing
centre of a miracle - however little it may feel that way at times."
Rebecca goes on to explain that Mary became the mother of the one through whom
all things are made. And if we trust Jesus ourselves we are his body here on
earth. We are his hands and feet and arms and mouth.
Now just let that sink in. This is for everyone,
not just men but women too! So often we think that as women we cannot possibly
be of any importance to God. We cannot really have gifts and talents and
abilities that could be used by God to bring him glory and honour. But think
outside the box for a moment. This posting is something I can do for God. What
I discover as I read God's word and share through this posting could be the
means of someone who reads it coming to know God personally, or being more
aware of God working in their life.
Mary risked everything to have Jesus as her son.
Her reputation, her marriage prospects, her community even her life. What risks
am I taking for God today? What a challenge.
The second woman Rebecca
McLaughlin looks at in chapter 1 of her book is Elisabeth.
As I read her story again I am reminded of who
wrote the story of Elisabeth. It was Luke the doctor. I love the way there is
that medical reference time and again throughout Luke's gospel. Luke makes the
point that Elisabeth was well on in years and was childless.
Rebecca makes the point that we can focus too much
on childbearing, that it's the primary reason women exist or likewise
undervalue it as if creating new life doesn't matter. Luke helps us to not fall
into either trap.
I know that both opinions are prominent in today's
culture and isn't it amazing that here we find it hinted at in scripture!
Elisabeth is granted the gift of prophecy to
glimpse who Jesus is before he was born. Her cultural shame of infertility has
been removed. She speaks words of humbleness. She recognises she is in the
presence of her Lord when Mary comes to visit her.
What a challenge Elisabeth's story is. How do we
come alongside those who have no children of their own? Do we feel accepted
when we have no children? Do we feel that we have failed in some way? I can
identify with Elisabeth's story. That feeling of despair and not being accepted
by those around me for not having a child - it took me 11 years before I was
granted my request and then to find out that I would only have 1 was hugely
disappointing. But what was worse was the feeling I had failed yet again and
that was something culturally pressed in on me.
Jesus is a Saviour for all
people: rich and poor, male and female, young and old.
But is he? How often do we welcome those who are
"poor" into the body of Christ? Is it the same with women? So we
welcome women who can do more than just providing the "normal"
service expected of women such as making teas and suppers in our church
meetings?
That is the challenge Rebecca is making us look at
in her book. Mary came from a poor background, you only have to look at the
offering they made in the temple after Jesus was born. Yet she was chosen to be
the mother of Jesus.
Hannah in the Old Testament came from a relatively
rich background. Her husband gave her everything she wanted. Buy there was one
thing she desperately wanted and didn't have. The taunting of the second wife
made her pain more real.
Yet Hannah was chosen to prophesy of the coming
King, Jesus himself. Whilst Hannah was rich materially speaking she was humble
in her response and attitude. And it is significant that Hannah realises that
Jesus will lift up the humble and humble the mighty, showing mercy even as he
shows his strength. God granted Hannah's prayer, a son and she in turn gives
back thanksgiving to God. The words she uses are so full of meaning. I take
hope from her words because she demonstrates the depth of her knowledge of God
and it is heartfelt. She has experienced God working in her life and wants
everyone to know it - her words have been recorded for that purpose.
I personally never really
thought about Anna, who she was or what her story was until I read this book.
It is fascinating to be reminded of her age - 84 - when she appears in
scripture. She was one of those women who was in her day looked down upon. She
was a widow and from the tribe of Asher. A tribe that was all but wiped out yet
it united 2 historic kingdoms of Israel and Judah. She had lived through a lot
of change in her life both personally and nationally.
But she received a revelation from God. Anna
unlike Mary and Elisaberh prophesied in public. And this was 4 centuries after
the last prophesy. Her first response in seeing the baby Jesus was to thank
God. She then goes on to speak of God's redemption through Jesus. These were
words inspired by God himself directly to Anna.
What a testimony she had to tell from that day on.
I often wonder did she have the opportunity to tell others after this day? How
long did she live after this meeting? And yet her story is included in our
bibles as a living example of God working in the life of a woman named Anna.
We all have a part to play in God's timeline. Each
job God gives is different and unique. God alone knows what we are capable of
doing. Anna had to wait all those years to see the purpose of her life and yet
she had such patience. She recognised immediately that this was the time - I
wonder how? So many questions that might never be answered until we meet her
face to face one day in heaven but we do know her story and she has been
included for a reason.
I was asked today if I
would pass this book on through my church library and to be honest I was
hesitant. Would it be seen as championing the cause for women to have more of a
role within the local church body, my church? Possibly yes. I know some peoples
perception of women is that of either being in the home and taking care of
housework and children, others see our role in terms of within the church being
a Sunday School teacher or playing the piano. And yet the bible shows it
differently. That is what Rebecca McLaughlin is doing in chapter 2 when she
looks at Mary and Martha. I know immediately people will rise up and say
"now hang on a moment" and it is usually in relation to the emphasis
Jesus placed on Mary having chosen the better part of sitting listening at
Jesus' feet. Funny how this thought came to me yesterday - which is more
important, to have a home that is pristine with nothing out of place, housework
done every day and no embarrassment if someone walked in to see it or is it
better to sit reading God's word and hearing from him each day? What do you
think?
Chapter 2 of this book
Jesus Through the Eyes of Women by Rebecca McLaughlin talks about discipleship.
Luke points out named people who followed Jesus in
order to flag them as eyewitness sources. In this list we see a number of
women. They are Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna. Many of the woman who
travelled with Jesus had been healed by him, whether physically or spiritually.
These women were probably witnesses on whose testimony he draws for his account
of Jesus' life.
Mary Magdalene is identified as having been
rescued from 7 demons. She is the one who plays a critical role later on in the
resurrection story. Her testimony was one of transformation.
Joanna was the wife of Chuza, Herod's household
manager. So she had status - her husband would have held a high position and
she was taking a risk by following Jesus. Remember she would have had servants
at home to cook and clean for her. She had money and funded Jesus and his
disciples on their travels.
The third woman was Suzanna but we know little
else about her than her name.
Matthew and Mark list other woman including Mary
the mother of James the younger and Joseph as well as Salome.
What can we learn from these women? Each were
different in their backgrounds but they all were important in Jesus' eyes. They
left all to follow Jesus for 3 years of their lives. That meant their friends,
status in society and means of support probably. But Jesus specifically affirms
female discipleship. They were important in his eyes - and so am I today.
The story of Mary and
Martha is one we are familiar with - you know the story, one woman rushing
about making a meal while the other sits at Jesus' feet.
Rebecca McLaughlin in her book points out that
this story is not about 2 personality types but 2 responses to Jesus and Jesus'
validation of female discipleship. I love the idea of serving being used to
describe the women who provided for Jesus. Here it refers to domestic duties.
Mary however sat at Jesus' feet and listened to his teaching. What a lovely
picture!
Martha thinks she's serving Jesus by giving him a
meal, while Mary has chosen the good portion or right meal by learning from
Jesus. Jesus clarifies that he's the one serving the real food - and Mary is
right to sit at his table.
Jesus welcomes women and defends their right to
learn from him. He is also the one who gives us so much more than we could ever
give to him.
Is that not a very encouraging word today?
The 7 I am's of Jesus. Most
of them were spoken to groups of people. I am the resurrection and the life is
one of only 2 exceptions. It is remarkable that these 2 are spoken to women. I
love the reference back to Moses in Exodus when he asked for God's name so that
the Children of Israel would know God had sent Moses to them. I say it again,
isn't it amazing how the Bible is like one big jigsaw puzzle that fits together
so perfectly.
This I am - I am the resurrection and the life is
so very personal not just to Martha but to me. Why? Because nothing that can
happen in my life on earth can rob me of that everlasting life. To trust in
Jesus is to live.
Now let that sink in. What hope we are offered
today.
What a revelation Jesus made that day but there's
more.
Jesus showed he cared very deeply because when
Mary came to him he wept. The shortest verse in the bible and yet it speaks
volumes. He cared so much. As I read this again I was reminded of J C Ryle in
his commentary on these words. Jesus wept because sin had caused death,
separation from God. He knew there was nothing he could do for the here and now
but here is the second hope - one day there will be no more death, no more
tears, no sorrow, no pain. I'm looking forward to that are you?
I wrote these words on
17 March and I thought it was very relevant to the second chapter of Rebecca
McLaughlin's book Jesus through the eyes of women.
John 11 verse 35 "Jesus wept." The
shortest verse in the bible and yet it has such depth of meaning.
Did you realise that Jesus was not just weeping
for his friend Lazarus but for you and me? He knew how Lazarus' story would
end. Tim Chester points out that what Jesus really felt here was anger. He felt
anger against the sin which caused his grief. The 5th century Bishop Cyril of
Alexandria says "Jesus was not mourning Lazarus alone but all of humanity,
which is subject to death, having justly fallen under so great a penalty."
Jesus reveals a God who is not unfeeling or uncaring but one who feels our
infirmities and shares our grief - a God who is outraged by sin.
The next time you feel like crying remember Jesus
who cried on your behalf too. It is good to weep. We all need it sometimes!
There were 2 reactions to
Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Many of the Jews believed but some went to
the Pharisees and told what has happened. This leads to the chief priests and
Pharisees plotting Jesus' death.
Today there are similar reactions to the truth
about Jesus - acceptance and rejection.
Visibly these men could see the reality of a man
being placed in a grave then walking out of that grave days later.
It reminds me of the story of the other Lazarus
and the rich man. Both men died and in hell the rich man lifted up his eyes and
seen Lazarus in heaven. He begged for someone to go and warn his brothers.
Abraham told him quite clearly that they had Moses and the prophets, if someone
came back from the dead would they believe?
Then I thought about Jesus' own resurrection. So
many witnesses to his death and resurrection but they still did not believe.
Nothing has changed all these years later.
CHAPTER 3
We look to food or drink for comfort or to cover up our pain - to give us the illusion of control or a means of escape." How true!
This is a sentence from third chapter of Jesus Through the Eyes of Women by Rebecca McLaughlin and it helps us in looking at how Jesus met with women at times when food and drink was involved.
Firstly and the most obvious one is the occasion of the wedding in Cana of Galilee. I have to admit that when Jesus told Mary his mother "my hour has not yet come" I never would have translated it "what is that to you and me?" but that is what is implied. Jesus and Mary were not hosting the wedding so really it was not up to either to provide a solution. Nor would I have thought of Jesus being protrayed in the New Testament as the Bridegroom. Yes I have heard of us the church of Christ as his bride but not Jesus as the Bridegroom. It just puts a new meaning of what awaits us when Christ comes again and invites us to a feast with his Father in heaven.
The next conversation Jesus has with a woman involving water is at a well in Samaria and it is with someone most would and should avoid. Who were the Samaritans and why were Jews avoiding them at all costs?
After the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC most of the resident Israelites were deported. Some were left and intermarried with foreigners relocated there from other parts of the Assyrian Empire. This is where the Samaritans came from. Jews saw them as both racially and religiously contaminated. Like the Jews they worshiped the Lord but they only recognised the first five books of the Bible. They built an alternative temple on Mount Gerizim which was destroyed by the Jews in 128 BC.
It is strange but Jesus purposely goes to Samaria. His disciples go to buy food in a nearby town. Jesus is tired and thirsty. He sits down at a well. It is noon, the hottest part of the day. No person never mind a woman would come at this time of the day. Jesus is breaking down ethnic and social barriers by talking to this woman.
There is only one reason for Jesus being there - to give something. He asks the woman for a drink - notice it is not the other way around. He is making the point to her that he is the one who provides living water. The woman asks Jesus to give her the water he is offering.
Rebecca makes the point that whilst the woman asks for the water she doesn't really understand what Jesus is offering. Too often we ask Jesus for things we think we need or want. What we should really ask for is for him to give us himself. What an amazing realisation!
Then Jesus tells her to go and call her husband. By right he should not have talked to her without her husband present but he is really trying to show her that he knows all about her past and present life. He uses this information to reveal more about himself. Jesus knows all about us - past, present and future. What a thought! Because Jesus goes on to tell this woman what will happen in the future. Then he tells her that he is the one, the Messiah they have been waiting on. It is the first great I am revealed way back to Moses in Exodus.
Rebecca McLaughlin makes the point that just as the disciples Simon Peter and Andrew left their nets and James and John left their boat and father, so too this woman left her jar to tell everyone about Jesus, the man she had just met and who was able to tell her all about herself. Wow! I never really thought about that before! Yes I have heard the sermons on leaving all you have to follow Christ but never in this context. What an amazing gospel message within this story.
Jesus stays in the area for another 2 days and as a result many more believed because of his word. Those who were raised to hate the Jews came to hear Jesus and asked him to stay with them. They recognised Jesus as the Saviour of the world, the one whose living water is available to anyone who thirsts and comes to him.
Imagine the transformation in these people. But it is no different that the transformation that takes place in our own lives when we place Christ first.
Matthew calls her a Canaanite. They were the original inhabitants of the land God had promised to the Israelites in the Old Testament. This woman is an outsider through and through. But there is one difference - she had a better grasp on who Jesus is than the Jewish leaders of that day.
The remarkable thing about this woman is her continual asking. Jesus' disciples get so fed up with her they ask Jesus to send her away.
This is a difficult story to understand because Jesus tells her firstly that he has not come to reach the Gentiles but rather the Jews first. We tend to only think of Jesus reaching everyone whatever their class or background. But here he tries to put her off by saying "it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She immediately replies "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." This woman understands perfectly well that she has no right to eat with Jesus but it is precisely those who know they have no right that Jesus welcomes in.
Jesus comments on her faith - it was her knowledge that one day not only Jews but Gentiles will be accepted into Christ's kingdom that amazed Jesus. Is that not true for us today? Are we not amazed that Jesus ever accepted us? We can listen and read of the most amazing transformations in people's lives as a result of coming into touch with Jesus and yet you know ours is just as amazing. Coming to faith in Christ is amazing for anyone, whoever they are, whatever they have come from.
She had one request - for her 2 sons to sit with Jesus in his kingdom, one on the left and one on the right. Jesus tells her that she doesn't understand what she is asking - "are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" James and John reply they are but like their mother they really do not understand what they are asking for. What all 3 are asking for is suffering.
Later we read in Acts that James was martyred. Jesus' reply to their original request was simply to tell them that only God had the right to decide who would sit where in his future kingdom.
This woman actually was named as one of the eyewitnesses of Jesus' crucifixion. And we discover that she had actually followed Jesus since the early days of his ministry. As she watched did she finally realise how stupid her request was for her 2 sons? But she remained watching and waiting. She probably saw her two sons take a prominent role in the early church.
We might not realise what suffering lies ahead of us but are we prepared to stay with Jesus to the end?
Rebecca makes the point that only 3 men who were healed by Jesus are named in scripture - blind Bartimaeus, the high priest's servant Malchus and Lazarus. Of course there were many healing stories of unnamed men and there is only one woman identified simply because of her relationship with one of Jesus' disciples - Simon Peter's mother-in-law.
Her story comes after the healing in the synagogue of a man with an evil spirit. After the visit to the synagogue Jesus is invited to this woman's home. It is clear she is not well and everyone tells Jesus about her illness.
It is her reaction to the healing that Rebecca draws our attention to. As soon as Jesus heals her she gets up to serve her guests.
The service is key here. And not because this is primarily a women's role. Too often we tend to think that this is a woman's role in life. But I was interested in the fact that this word "serve" is used in reference to the angels who ministered to Jesus after he was tempted in the wilderness and it describes Martha's service in the home. But Jesus himself said "whoever would be great among you must be your servant and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a random for many." So serving Jesus is everybody's work.
The result of this woman's healing brought many people to her door who wanted to be healed. Rebecca shows how in this healing Jesus was fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy as the suffering servant.
Jesus came to give his life for us but he also came to share his life with us.
This is a hard concept to get into my head and not one I have heard too much teaching on. I think this is because of the traditional view held by the local churches I have attended to over the years. When there are functions it is expected that women serve food and drink but what it described here is not referring to this, it is talking about service in response to Jesus himself. What am I doing to serve Jesus and ultimately those around me? What is my service to God today? Such a challenge.
Instead of naming her it is the town in which she comes from and her position in life that sets her apart.
Her son has died and she is in a terrible predicament. Her son would have provided for her after her husbands death but now she faces possible destitution. Being homeless and in poverty.
Jesus displays compassion on this woman. He approaches the coffin and tells the young man to rise. A miracle is performed as he comes back to life and Jesus hands him back to his mother. Notice she never asked for him to be raised to life again. This shows Jesus had compassion, deep compassion.
Not every one can experience healing today. We should ask for it yes but also for wisdom to understand God's purpose in our sickness. Some people are of the opinion that all believers in Christ should be healed and cured of their illness and if not then we really lack faith.
This story has fitted in so with my reading from James which says "count it all joy." There is a purpose in it all - the maturing of our faith and becoming more Christlike.
Jesus has promised to be with us in our pain and also that one day we will no longer experience pain, sickness, even death. And I can say that I have know the presence of God as I have walked the road of cancer this past year
The woman is only identified by her condition and the child by her father Jairus. Jesus encountered them on the same day. The woman decided that Jesus was the one to heal her. She did not invite him to heal her but took it on board that she needed to do something which was to touch Jesus' hem. It was her last hope. She was desperate . She had been bleeding for 12 years. She was ashamed of her condition. She didn't want anyone to know what her situation was but Jesus called her out. By this stage she had been healed and I am sure she was embarrassed admitting not only what she had done but why she had done it.
Rebecca states it well - instead of confirmation she receives affirmation. Jesus gives her peace and calls her his daughter. He validates her and us today.
It is a wonderful example that even in shame and desperation Jesus wants to welcome us with open arms. It reminds me recently of a book I read called White as Snow by Noel Davidson. This is the testimony of Debbie who was a drug addict but came to faith in Christ. To find acceptance in Jesus despite all she had done and how far she had gone was amazing. This is grace and it was extended to this woman with the issue of blood too.
Jairus came to Jesus, fell at his feet and begged him to come and lay his hands on his daughter because she was at the point of death.
While Jesus was healing the woman, someone came to tell Jairus his daughter was dead. What devastating news. Jesus shows no hint of regret and tells Jairus to not be afraid just believe.
Jesus questions all the weeping when he arrives at the house and the people in response mock him. They have no faith in Jesus' ability so he sends them out of the house. He takes the little girl by the hand and tells her to get up. Immediately the little girl came back to life. Her parents are amazed. Jesus told them to tell no-one and give her something to eat.
What Rebecca brings from this story is something that I never thought of before. The first voice and face she heard was Jesus'. When we wake in heaven one day it will be to see Jesus face to face. He will have prepared a feast for us all to enjoy too. What power Jesus demonstrated that day to 2 people and he will show us the same power when he raises us back to life again.
What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
And I look upon his face
The one who saved me by his grace
When he takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day that will be
She was in the synagogue one Sunday when Jesus was present. She had a disabling spirit for 18 years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her he called her over and told her she was now freed from her disability. He laid his hands on her and immediately she was made straight and she glorified God.
The difference in this story is that Jesus called her to himself. Suddenly her 18 years of pain was broken. But this is not the end of the story.
The synagogue ruler is angry because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day. Jesus stood up for her. He called her a "daughter of Abraham". She is an heir to God's promises. Her response of praise to God sharply contrasts with the synagogue rulers reaction and shows that she is a true heir of Abraham while he is not. The people that day were divided and it is the same today. We can receive God's words of life or we can stand against him and be put to shame
"But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore"
I am reminded of how many stories there are in the bible of people seeking forgiveness. I think of Sarah and Hagar. Sarah cast her out when she discovered she was pregnant with her husbands child. The angel found Hagar and asked her what she was doing. She was told to return to her mistress and submit to her. There is no question of apology or asking for forgiveness on Sarah's part. Just a realisation by Hagar of "thou God seest me." It was hard for Hagar to go back into that situation and for her to bring up a child who reminded Sarah every day of the wrong action she had taken. Later she cast Hagar out yet again when Isaac was born but God was there directing Hagar's paths and leading her forward. From Ishmael we have the Arab nation today.
Forgiveness is hard especially when we know we are in the wrong. Is there someone we need to acknowledge we have wronged today, that we need to make contact with and accept forgiveness?
Jesus is waiting to forgive us all our sins. He died in our place on Calvary and he wants to welcome us with open arms. Is pride stopping you asking for his forgiveness?
It is the fact that Jesus went up into the Mount of Olives and stayed all night before he returned to the temple. What was he doing? Praying to his Father in heaven. Why is this important? Jesus was being prepared for what he would face in the coming day. That is why he could do what he did, say what he did in response to the scribes and Pharisees and show this woman forgiveness.
What an important aspect of our lives as Christians. If we were to place Christ first and take time to spend time at the beginning of each day and at the end of each day to pray and ask God's guidance surely it would make such s difference in these days. What a challenge!
This woman was literally thrown at the feet of Jesus. It was early in the morning. Caught in the act. The scribes and rabbis brought her from the very act of adultery, dragged her into the temple. Nothing can hide her shame from now on. She will be forever known as an adulteress. Imagine the gossip among the local women. These religious men didn't care about any of that. It should have been both the man and the woman who would be stoned according to the Jewish law.
These people were setting Jesus up for failure. If he agreed that she was guilty of breaking the Mosaic Law the Jewish rulers would be powerless to do anything as they were under the Roman leadership. We are clearly told in scripture that the Jews wanted to trap Jesus.
This is a story of failure, shame and abuse but it is also a story of grace.
This is only one of 3 occasions in the bible where the finger of God is mentioned - previously it was in reference to the writing of the 10 commandments and then the writing on the wall during Belshazzar's feast.
Jesus did not condemn her but rather told her to not sin any longer. He was telling it as it was to the woman - this was sin and she had to stop it. We say Jesus is the friend of sinners but we cannot twist that. Jesus does not excuse sin but extends mercy and forgiveness to this woman.
Jesus told the chief priests that the tax collectors and prostitutes were going into the kingdom of God before them - why?
John the Baptist had come and preached repentance and the righteous, upstanding Jews had not believed him yet the tax collectors had. Even when the priests saw what was happening they did not change their mind and repent.
Rebecca McLaughlin makes an astounding claim in her book, one that should shake the reader and it has done that for me today. But it is so true ...
The prostitute, drug dealer, alcoholic may well repent and enter Jesus' kingdom while the most respectable mother of 4 who volunteers on all the school committees and is married to an elder in a church does not.
A man imprisoned for his crimes may well repent and enter Jesus' kingdom while a respectable police chief never does.
Jesus offers free and full forgiveness for the prostitutes and tax collectors who will come to him. In fact it seems they flocked to him while many of the most religious Jews refused to come.
Shocking but true.
Jesus welcomed such women, particularly those who put their trust in him. And that is what happened to the sinful woman who appeared in Simon's house in Luke 7. Somehow she had come to faith in Christ and her appearance on this night and the act she performed in washing Jesus' feet was merely an outward service, a recognition of her appreciation of what had happened in her life. She was weeping with joy not grief. She broke down because her heart was overflowing with love for Christ.
Simon was upset, really upset. He didn't know what to do. But Jesus knew what Simon thought even without him expressing it verbally. Jesus told Simon that this woman had shown more courtesy than he had. No kiss of greeting had been given, no washing of his feet and no anointing of his head. He had no respect for Jesus but this woman had. Simon had wanted to discreetly remove this woman. He wanted Jesus to push her away, to ask her to leave but Jesus did the opposite.
Too often we want evidence before the facts. We want people to be "cleaned up" before we accept them as believers of Christ. Jesus accepts sinners just as they are. Jesus challenges our perceptions in this real life experience. He offers real forgiveness even in the most difficult of circumstances.
I have been challenged by this story and there are elements in this story that have caused me to think and ask God for a change in my ideas and reaction to those who put their trust in Christ from very difficult backgrounds. Too often we want people to come and accept Christ on our terms but are they Christ's?
I am always amazed that even as Jesus was dying on the cross he thought about his mother.
"When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother Woman behold your son! Then he said to the disciple Behold your mother! And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home." John 19 verses 26 and 27
We know that James was Jesus' half brother but at this time in his life none of his biological siblings grasped Jesus' mission. Maybe that is why Jesus asked John to look after his mother.
What care and love Jesus showed at that time when he was suffering and it is the same today for us. Isn't that amazing.
I found writing down all the women present at Jesus' crucifixion and burial helped in understanding the events and reasons why the Gospel writers included them.
Actually you don't hear too many sermons on the women being present at the crucifixion and burial and Rebecca McLaughlin hints at the reason for these - are they reliable witnesses? So many will jump ahead to Peter and John hearing the news of Jesus' body not being in the grave and move into their re-dedication to following Christ. But the women remained throughout the entire death and burial. They did not desert Jesus even at this final hour. They watched from a distance. They followed when Jesus was taken down from the cross and buried. What total acceptance they had of all that was going on and even on that resurrection morning there was no fear as they made their way to anoint Jesus' body. What a testimony they had to share.
I love how Rebecca looks at each of the records of the resurrection from the different women. It is interesting to see how each Gospel writer handles the individual women and their reaction to the realisation Jesus is alive.
Love this quote from Rebecca McLaughlin's book Jesus Through the Eyes of Women.
"If we look more closely at the Gospel passages, we find the opposite: not evidence of a fake but signs of authenticity. One of these signs is that all four Gospels invite us to see Jesus' death and resurrection through the eyes of women."
Jesus is alive today! Hallelujah!
And it took the women to see, hear and spread that good news. Not men! We still have that same role to play today. Faith in Christ is not some "crutch" for those of us seen as too emotional or cannot be believed. We have an important role to play today in the spreading of the gospel. Are you getting involved?
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