“If you love me, keep *my* commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
“Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:15-27 NIV
Christ Jesus said himself in his own words that he came to save the lost, the lonely, the outcasts, the suffering, the sick, the prisoners, and the sinners. He came to save the people that most in his day would have been ashamed to even speak to. He came to the people of many other ethnic groups like the Samaritans, Greeks and Romans. He came to the most hated government officials in Israel, the Publicans. He ate and spent time with the dregs of society while he was here, those he came to save, sinners like you and me.
“All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God [which is Christ Jesus].” Romans 3:23
Christ Jesus came to save the harlots, whoremongers, wretched, poor, destitute, adulterers, thieves, Publicans, demon-possessed, pagans, women, divorced, etc. The ones the rest of the world and Religious Leaders were ashamed of, and hated. Christ Jesus was like no other religious person in history in the way that he treated others, and the way he spoke about himself. Christ Jesus is not ashamed to call us his friends and family if we have faith in him, and what he came to do – the work of the cross.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant [slave], being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11 NIV
In studying the New Testament and how Christ Jesus conducted himself with others, it is easy and clear to see why it is so important that we treat each other with more compassion, dignity, humility and respect. Christ Jesus was all of those things and more when he dealt with others, especially sinners. The only ones he was angry with were the judgmental ones who thought they were entitled by their works and position, rather than simple faith of a child. He said he had compassion on them because they were sheep, scared and scattered, without a shepherd. So he is the Good Shepherd, our shepherd (John 10).
Consider how he treated women. There is no other person in history who dealt with women in the way that he did, especially in that day and age. He called them “daughter” which is a very tender, intimate and endearing term. He was tender with them, forgiving, compassionate, accepting, and he stood up for them repeatedly in face of biased men who would have had them punished or killed. According to Jewish traditions, customs and laws women could not be considered legal witnesses, be in the temple where the men were, touch a priest or rabbi – especially if they had an “issue of blood,” cohabitate with a man if they were unmarried (or widowed), nor could they support men financially. Jewish people could not associate, or even speak to a Samaritan person, let alone a sinful woman. Just to name a few. Christ Jesus seemed to break all of these traditions of men, which he said made void God’s word and we have many traditions like these. Consider these wonderful passages in the New Testament:
“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
“When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
“Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:36-48 NIV
“A woman who was suffering from hemorrhages [chronic issue of blood] for twelve years (who, although she had spent all her assets on physicians, was not able to be healed by anyone) came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her hemorrhaging stopped. And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched me?” And when they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are pressing you hard and crowding you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, because I know power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she did not escape notice, she came trembling and falling down before him. In the presence of all the people, she told for what reason she had touched him, and that she was healed immediately. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 8:43-48 LEB
“Jesus went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a **Canaanite woman** from that district came and cried out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! [A title of the Messiah] My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came up and asked him, saying, “Send her away, because she is crying out after us!” But he answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt down before him, saying, “Lord, help me!” And he answered and said, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs!” So she said, “Yes, Lord, for even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “Oh woman, your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you want.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.” Matthew 15:21-28 NIV
“And it happened that afterward also he was going about from one town and village to another preaching and proclaiming the good news concerning the Kingdom of God, and the twelve were with him, and some women who had been healed of evil spirits [demons] and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza (Herod’s household manager), and Susanna, and many others who were helping to support them from their possessions [financial support].” Luke 8:1-3 NIV … Demon possessed women, Roman citizens, etc.
“Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
“When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
“He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” [Christ Jesus did not rail on her, accuse her, berate her, talk down to her, make her do anything. He was simply pleased she had been truthful with him, and trusted him.]
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
“The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” [He just told her what he did not tell anyone else, he told her that He was the Messiah to come, which had been prophesied of since the time of Adam.] Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.” John 4 NIV
“Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. **They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.**
“In those days Peter stood up among the believers **(a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters,** the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry. … When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place [as Christ Jesus had told them to do when he ascended]. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them [the women, too!].
“Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” [this is actually what the “gift of tongues” is and what it is for] Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the Last Days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on **all people.** Your sons and *daughters* will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. **Even on my servants, both men and women,** I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And *everyone* who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ [Joel 2:28-32].” Acts 1:12-17, 2:1-21 NIV
In true Christianity, men and women alike receive the Holy Spirit from the Father in Heaven, from all nations. Our Father loved us enough to send His one and only Son to rectify our downfallen state, for our own sinful and rebellious state. Christianity, as said by Paul, is true equality and balance; saying there is no longer male and female, nor “other” ethnicities or social classes, but all are one in Christ. He calls us all “his Bride” meaning men and women alike. In the New Testament, most of the greetings are to the “brothers and sisters” and not just men. Many of John’s letters were written to women. Paul’s letters were written to women and even married couples who were leaders of their congregations in other nations, he greets them and mentions them in his letters repeatedly.
“Then God [Elohim: God(s) – plural form of God’s name] said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:26-27 NIV
“He [Christ Jesus] is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:17-20 NIV
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29 NIV
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife **as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”** Ephesians 5:22-28 NIV
Christ Jesus is the head of the church, and as such he has all authority to choose whom he will. He calls us his “Bride” and that includes all of the church body, men and women alike. God also, being sovereign and all powerful, has the right and authority to choose whom He will. He did choose women, many times. He chose women like Miriam, Isaiah’s wife, Huldah, Deborah, Hannah and Esther. He chose Ruth the Moabite, and Rehab the harlot, both of which were close ancestors of King David, the line of Christ Jesus. They were married women, mothers, leaders, tent women (homemakers), of other faiths and nationalities, sinners, and even warriors. He even chose some when Christ Jesus was being dedicated in the temple:
“There was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher (she was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and herself as a widow up to eighty-four years) who did not depart from the temple with fastings and prayers, serving night and day. And at that same hour she approached and began to give thanks to God, and to speak about Him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38 NIV
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.” 1 Corinthians 1:19-29 NIV
“So Christ himself gave the apostles [sent ones of God], the prophets [those that bubble over with God’s word – today that word is the word we have already been given by Christ Jesus], the evangelists [those that tell the “Good News” or “Gospel”], the pastoring [shepherding] teachers [of his word, disciple means “learner”], to equip *his* people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we *all* reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV
“The Spirit clearly says that in Later Times [Last Days] some will abandon the Faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:1-8 NIV
Believe it or not, despite the traditions of men and denominational heresies (as with MANY other things), women are included in the four offices mentioned by Paul in Ephesians 4. Taking scripture out of context to make very bad doctrine is what this modern church and its leaders do best. That is exactly what they have done with Paul’s warnings to Timothy. Paul was talking about the rich old women coming at Timothy and Titus to shut them down, or some power-hungry controlling mistress of the house telling her husband what to say and do with regards to the Gospel Message. The women in those cities were used to running things, and mostly their mouths. Remember, they were in a pagan place and time where Diana/Artemis and many other goddesses were worshipped, and women held very important religious offices. It was not easy for them to give up. But God is sovereign, and Christ Jesus chooses his own gift ministers. He chose women, and Paul mentioned them repeatedly. Christ Jesus was surrounded by faithful ones who took the message to France and Britain. They were some of the very first to do what he said, as our great commission, and take the Gospel Message to others:
“Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside at the tomb, weeping. Then, while she was weeping, she bent over to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white, seated one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him!” When she had said these things, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and she did not know that it was Jesus.
“Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She thought that it was the gardener, and said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned around and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and he had said these things to her.” John 20:10-18 NIV [She is the very first one to tell the Good News!
The only reason to be a called minister of God and Christ Jesus is to deliver HIS word, the Gospel Message concerning HIS Son. If a preacher is not doing this, he or she is not preaching anything, they are only catering to itching ears. That means men and women, alike. Women who are called will not be talking about women’s issues, or teaching with saccharine sweet messages of prosperity, humanism, and self-empowerment. They will not be flamboyant, nor attention seeking, same as men. Nor will they be selling you trinkets, baubles, or any of the things God says He finds detestable. They certainly do not sound like the women you see on Christian television or media these days. They are more like what Paul said in 2 Timothy 3, Peter said in 2 Peter 2, or what Ezekiel and the other prophets also warned about. They are more like temple oracles, ancient witchcraft practitioners and fortune tellers.
A true called minister of God and Christ Jesus will be held to the same accountability regardless, be they male or female. They will sound the same, because it will be all about Christ Jesus and God’s word, the Gospel Message (Good News) and nothing else. It is a calling to be taken seriously no matter who you are. It is a very difficult and lonely road, setting aside all other things to do His will, most ending with death (taking up your cross and following him). Yet it is a privilege, and an honor.
“Now as they traveled along, he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman named Martha welcomed him. And she had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the feet of Jesus and was listening to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much preparation, so she approached and said, “Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me alone to make preparations? Then tell her that she should help me!” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things! But few things are necessary, or only one thing, for Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 NIV
The men in Christian leadership roles, or otherwise, who are steeped in denominational tradition and chauvinism, and who keep harping on “women preachers” really need to sit down, remain quiet, and take it up with God. They need to meditate on this word more. He is sovereign. With Christ Jesus there is no more male or female, free or slave, all are one. His words. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Paul (Galatians 3:28) One day we will all answer to Him, and be held accountable.
Hannah’s Prayer: Beauty for Ashes
One of the many studies done with regards to God’s word (especially in preparation for this article) is His use of women in His work, and His favor and blessing upon them for their faith in Him. One of my most favorite and overlooked is the humble prophetess, Hannah, mother of one of the greatest prophets in the Bible, Samuel. “Hannah” simply means “Grace.” Grace is the gift of God to us, it is defined as “unmerited favor,” nothing that we earned or deserved. Her prayer is beyond beautiful, and not the words of a worldly vain woman, but the consistent and steady words of one called by God and filled with His Spirit:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn [my strength] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
“There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
“Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.
The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
“The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap (dunghill);
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.
“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.
He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails;
those who oppose the Lord will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
“He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
– Hannah’s Prayer (1 Samuel 2:1-10 NIV)
God called and used this remarkable woman, just as He did others throughout the Bible, and is still doing today. “He raises up the poor from the dust, and the beggars from the dunghill. He sets them among princes.” Such a remarkable young woman, such faith in the face of doubt. We know that the scripture and Christ Jesus said that it is impossible to please God without faith in Him and His word to us (Hebrews 11:6). Most of faith is courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, but true courage is overcoming that fear to act in faith with absolute confidence in what God and Christ Jesus said. The best definition of Faith I have found to date:
“The ABC’s of Faith” coined by Dr. Gene Scott; “Faith” is defined as:
• Action, based upon
• Belief, and sustained by
• Confidence in God’s word.
Today, Christ Jesus is still calling men AND women to do his work, the work of faith, the work of taking the Gospel Message and the witness of Christ Jesus to the whole world before the end comes. God is still calling men and women to be His sons and daughters, and heirs to His Kingdom through Christ Jesus. We are truly blessed, if we recognize this. In him is true equality, for all men and women of the earth; of all nationalities, creeds and classes. All he asked is our faith in him. He said, “Whosever will, come!” He will not turn ANYONE away. Praise Christ Jesus for all he has done for us, sons and daughters of God! Glory to His name!
Painting: “Jesus and the Samaritan Woman” by Carl Bloch, c.1872
A Pilgrimage Into God's Word 