Women's Issues Part I and Part II

Part I: The Heart of the Issue- Christ

Women’s issues were at the heart of Jesus’ ministry. He cared for the aged, the widow, the down-and-outer. He loved the prostitute, the divorcee, the sick and the chronically infirm. His love knew no bounds. So, before there were ever feminists, womanists, or any such nomenclature, Jesus loved women and at the heart of his ministry was a deep concern for women’s position and treatment in His society.

On one particular day, He raised from the dead the son of a widow. Knowing that she would have no one to support her financially, He broke Hallach ( law and tradition) and raised the boy from the dead. Then he went on to heal a woman who had a chronic bleeding problem. Having suffered for over twenty years from anemia, I understand her distress.  My anemia was so severe that it mandated surgery because my body was filled with tumors. So, I can only imagine the extent of her suffering.

After healing this woman, Jesus does not take a rest; He tends to a little girl, Jarius’ daughter. Age is no barrier for Him. He valued children, and not just boy children, as we often see happening in places like China and India. No, he rebuked his disciples, and made an incredible announcement when He told them that they must become like children or they would not enter the kingdom of heaven.

The plain fact of the matter is that Jesus was indignant of his disciples’ disrespect and devaluation of children. He told said that it would be better for an abuser to have not been born or have a milestone tied around his neck and thrown into the sea, than to hurt one of these little ones, and he did not specify gender. Their angels, He said, see God’s face in heaven.

Unlike people, Jesus was never in a hurry, too busy to look one in the eye and stop and chat. He dealt completely with the woman with the issue of blood before heading off to heal Jarius’ daughter. He made sure that all of her needs were met and satisfied.  Then and only then, after making sure she knew that she was both seen and heard, did He move on to touch another life- this time a girl child.

 Part II True Satisfaction of the Right Sort

Satisfaction is exactly what the woman was looking for at the well. She was thirsty and well she knew it. But, she didn’t know what would really satisfy. That is until she meet Jesus and He offered living springs of water, true worship, a new identity, and a calling as an evangelist. He restored her dignity, gave her purpose, and connected her in the most meaningful way back into her community all over a cup of water. Jesus truly is a mighty tall drink.

Women bound by addiction did not turn Jesus off. Whether they were mentally ill, sexually avarice, or tormented by demons, He touched them in all the right places for healing.

I know someone is already asking, “What about the Syro-Phoenician woman who Jesus compared to a dog?” I think Jesus wanted to teach his disciples a lesson, and He knew a persistent woman fighting on the behalf child would provide it. When the woman was undeterred, He grants her request and turned to the Jews to marvel at the faith of a Gentile when His own people did not believe.

Jesus strikes this cord again when He tells his disciples that should pray always and never give up. Who does He take as his example? A woman seeking justice for her child. Jesus trusts us to speak up on behalf of our children. He assigns us these roles. When he tells the parable of the man who goes to borrow bread from his friend, the man makes all types of excuse: his feet are dirty, his in bed with his kids, etc. Yawn. Yawn. If not for the beating on the door, the man would have soon as not responded to his friend. But not the women seeking justice for her child, even the fact that the judge feared neither God nor man could dissuade her from pleading her case and again.

We women have more in us than we give ourselves credit for possessing. Jesus knows us best because He is our creator.


Proudly a Woman,
MJ