Jesus Christ’s perspective toward women was completely opposed to His Middle Eastern culture. Women were often treated as property. A wife couldn’t divorce her husband, but a husband could divorce his wife for any reason. Women were viewed as inferior to men. Jewish rabbis began every temple meeting with the words, “Blessed art thou, O Lord, for thou has not made me a woman.”
Remember when the religious leaders caught the woman in the act of adultery. They were hoping to get Jesus to verbally go against their law. “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What do you think?” If Jesus gave the woman mercy, it meant He overlooked adultery and their law. If He told these leaders to stone her, then everything He had been teaching about mercy and forgiveness would be of none effect.
Jesus bent down and began writing with his finger on the ground. He stood up saying, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. One by one they walked away, “beginning with the oldest” until it was only Jesus left with the woman. Jesus then asked her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? The Woman said, “No man, Lord,” Jesus then told her, “Neither do I condemn thee…Go and sin no more.”
Jesus did not come to judge but to seek and save the lost. Praise the Lord, He changes us like He changed that woman.
I love when Jesus said, “I must needs to through Samaria”. He knew exactly who He would encounter there. Jesus knew that this Samaritan woman, considered inferior with a bad reputation, would be at the well at that particular time.
Being weary from His journey, Jesus appeared and spoke to her, “Give Me a drink?” Not only was He not suppose to speak to her because He was a Jew, and she was a Samaritan, but men weren’t suppose to speak to women without their husbands being present.
Jesus knew all about the law…but He also knew that this woman needed spiritual water more than He needed physical water.
F. B. Meyer said, “I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other and that the taller we grew in Christian character the more easily we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other and that it is not a question of growing taller but of stooping lower.” Remember, it was Mary Magdalene—who was content to kneel at Jesus’ feet—who was also honored to be the first to see the Lord after His resurrection and share that good news with others (John 20:17).
Submission is the putting of oneself under the authority of another. It is an act of humility, something that both men and women in our churches should practice. Although Paul taught that women ought to submit to the authority of men in the church, this must never be an excuse to promote the idea that women are inferior and are not as valuable as men. Christ submitted to the Father, yet He is equal to the Father in worth and essence. Therefore, submission is about order, not value!
During Jesus time, most of the pagan religions had women priests, yet there is not a single example in Scripture of a woman being ordained as a priest, pastor, or elder. Even though in Jesus culture and time women were not valued, that was not Jesus’ idea of women.
Today marketing and television portray it attractive to exalt women as leaders over men. Religious leaders are ordaining women to the ministry. Even though this is where our culture is going, there is a great problem with this concept in Scripture. If we are going to reject these politically correct teachings of the world, we must also teach women the clear teachings of Christ about women’s role as leaders.
Jesus spoke with women (John 8:10–11), He served women (John 2:1–11), He healed women (Mark 5:21–43), and He praised women (Luke 21:1–4).
Ways to promote and encourage women to be leaders in our churches
• Encourage other women by teaching them the principles of God’s Word. Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
• Equip them to study the Bible for themselves.
• Lead them to read good books and have those books available for them.
• Take your women to Ladies Seminars and conferences where they can grow spiritually.
• Pray for the women of your church.
• Provide childcare so that moms can attend Bible studies and events.
• Protect women and children within your church from abusive situations. Partner with ministries that serve women who are facing crisis pregnancies or are victims of sex trafficking or domestic abuse.
• In your church, “adopt” a widow or single mom to care for. Help her with lawn care, snow removal, and home maintenance projects.
• Invite a single woman to join your family for dinner.
• Host a brunch where single moms or widows can give and receive encouragement.
• When you talk about abortion, speak with love and grace. The post-abortive woman needs to know forgiveness is possible at the cross.
• Actively seek out women to teach or lead in biblically appropriate situations.
• When serving in your church, value your sisters in Christ…their intellect… their gifts…and their talents.
• Thank your pastor’s wife for her help and sacrifice.
• Write a note encouraging a mom who is faithfully serving the church by caring for her family.
• Give honor to women by publicly recognizing their contributions to the church.