Jesus Honors Women
Womanhood gets a bad rap because of Eve. However, the Bible says that Eve was deceived by the serpent, but Adam, who was with her in the garden, was not. He willfully sinned. Then the blame game started and it’s been going ever since.
In many, if not most, places around the world, women are devalued and treated as second class. Actually, woman is in the same class as man- both created in God’s image. And while Jesus came for all people, He also came to lift and restore woman to her rightful place.
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him….When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:3-6, 10-11 (KJV) emphasis mine.
The woman was caught in the act of adultery and brought before Jesus, but where was the man? The law commanded that both parties be stoned. Jesus prevented the woman from being stoned to death. Instead He told her to go and sin no more. He dealt with the real issue- sin- and set her free to live for God. The only One that could condemn her did not, but liberated her and restored her dignity. When men would have cast stones, Jesus spoke words of love. There is no more condemnation to those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1).
There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Matthew 26:7-13 (KJV)
This lady anointed Jesus with costly ointment, an expensive perfume valued at a year’s wages. It cost her much to do this. According to Jesus, she was anointing Him for His burial. All during His trial and crucifixion, Jesus would have been able to smell this aroma. The men at the dinner table with Him did not do this for Him, but instead they murmured against her. The disciples were indignant againt her and called it a waste, but Jesus saw it differently. He honored her by saying that her act would be memorialized for all time wherever the Gospel would be told. When we honor Jesus, Jesus honors us, regardless of gender.
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. John 19:26-27 (KJV)
On the cross, one of Jesus’ final acts is to commit his earthly mother to the care of the Apostle John. John took her into his own home and cared for her as his own mother. Jesus showed concern and care for all women, and we shoul do the same. Jesus was lifted up on the cross and He lifted women back up where they belong.
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. John 20:11-18 (KJV)
Mary Magdalene was one of the last at the cross, and according to Mark 16 and John 20, the first at the tomb. She was the first to see the resurrected Lord, and Jesus told her to go tell the others. This made her, a woman, the first person commissioned by Jesus to preach the good news of His resurrection. Jesus honored her with His presence because she was the first one at the tomb and she was brokenhearted over the death of Jesus. In the social customs of the day, she was probably considered the least of the Apostles, but to Jesus she was one of their equals. God chooses who He uses, based not on outward characteristics because He looks on the heart.
We see that Jesus came not just to restore all of mankind to its rightful place, but He also restored woman to her position of equal honor. In Christ, we are neither male nor female. Jesus cared about women, and He still does.
