Worthy by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Author:Elyse Fitzpatrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Women's Interest;REL012130;REL012000
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2019-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

What We See in Jesus

Jesus noticed women. On one occasion, Jesus sat down in the Court of Women (the farthest women could enter into the temple) and watched people put their gifts in the offering box (Mark 12:41–44; Luke 21:1–4). He noticed a woman who may have been easy to overlook—a poor widow. Not only did he notice her, but he also called others to see her, praising her example as being greater than all the others.

Jesus dignified women as fully human.9 On another occasion, as Jesus taught in the synagogue, he noticed a woman suffering under demonic affliction with physical results, a condition she’d endured for eighteen years (Luke 13:10–17). Jesus called her to himself, touched her, and healed her. When the ruler of the synagogue rebuked the people for seeking healing on the Sabbath, Jesus rebuked him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Jesus has no patience for a man who values an animal more than a woman.

Notice how Jesus dignifies this woman. He sees her, speaks to her, touches her. He defends her value as a human being and a member of God’s family—“this woman, a daughter of Abraham.” He shames those who value their animals more than her.

Jesus enjoyed the company of women. Women were counted as his acquaintances and traveling companions from his earliest moments of public ministry to the foot of the cross (John 2:12; Luke 23:49). These “many” women ranged the social scale from Mary Magdalene (out of whom Jesus exorcized seven demons) to Joanna to the wife of Herod’s household manager (Luke 8:1–3).

Each gospel notes a group of women (some named and others unknown) present at Jesus’ crucifixion, which “followed him and took care of him” (Mark 15:40 CSB; cf. Luke 23:49; Matthew 27:55–56; John 19:25). Scholar James Edwards comments on Mark’s expression:

The imperfect tenses of both verbs in Greek indicate not occasional or sporadic accompaniment and service, but the continued presence and service of Jesus throughout his ministry. These and “many other women” have done what Mark throughout his Gospel has defined as discipleship: following and serving Jesus. Only angels (1:13) and women (15:41) are said to have ministered to Jesus in Mark. . . . A Roman centurion makes the first Christian confession, and women, although not Jesus’ most notable followers, have been among his most faithful.10

Jesus did not shrink from spending time alone with women—even scandalous women. Once, while passing through Samaria, Jesus sat down at a well, wearied and thirsty. His disciples had gone into town to fetch food, leaving Jesus alone. A Samaritan woman approached the well, whom he immediately engaged in conversation. When his disciples returned sometime later, “they marveled that he was talking with a woman” (John 4:27).

Jesus initiated a theological conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well.

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