This is part 1 of 2 of Lesson 5: Gender and Discipleship. Click here to go back to the introduction to this lesson.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 (NKJV)
One of my favourite passages of Jesus’ life was the story of His dealings with the woman caught in adultery and within minutes of being executed by a vengeful mob of hypocritical men.
The full story can be read by clicking here: John 8:1-11 (NKJV).
Here are the things I think are great about this story:
- The woman’s attackers are trying to trick Jesus to respond in a way they can use against Him. But Jesus outsmarts them by turning the spiritual tables back on them, writing their own sins in the ground and provoking those without sin to cast the first stone.
- After the attackers flee, Jesus is left alone with the lady. First of all He comforts her that she is not condemned. This is even though she has actually committed a serious sin. Others Jesus was quite blunt to in relation to their sin – but here Jesus is gentle.
- But Jesus doesn’t leave her to continue her destructive behaviours – He encourages her to go and ’sin no more’.
Question: Do you see Jesus throughout the gospels responding to people in the way that will best ‘get through to them’?
The study guide this week also discusses the situation of the woman with a distressing ‘flow of blood’ problem, that would have seen her considered ceremonially unclean for 12 years. The guide advises that this would have prevented people including family members from having physical contact with her.
Jesus heals the woman (see Mark 5:25-34 – NKJV)which is wonderful, but I like His final comment to her, and the tenderness and acceptance implied as He refers to her as ‘Daughter’:
And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:34 (NKJV)
In another occasion in the midst of a meal (Mark 14:3-9 (NKJV) also John 12:2-8), Mary ‘anointed’ Jesus’ feet and head with very expensive perfume, and wiped His feet with her hair. Some commentators have noted that this was seen as quite an intimate act, and could have been seen as quite embarrassing for Jesus. When Mary is denounced for wasting money, Jesus leaps to her defence:
Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.
While it would have cost Mary dearly for the perfume, what an honour for her to be able to perform an such an anointing and for Jesus to be so pleased at her gift!
Some questions to discuss below:
How do you think Christians in general, and ourselves in particular, can better emulate the way that Jesus interacted with people of all types and classes while here on earth?
Click on the following link to go to the last part of this week’s discussion, on Women Disciples.
