Luke 8:1-3
Women Working and Helping Jesus
1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Jesus showed His power of restoration and compassion towards women...Jesus’s ministry was filled with moments of compassion that restored dignity to women who were suffering...The woman who had been bleeding for years was considered unclean and an outcast from society...She approached Jesus secretly, believing that just touching the hem of His cloak would be enough to heal her...Jesus, however, did more than just heal her; He publicly affirmed her, calling her "daughter" and praising her faith...He brought her out of the shadows and restored her not only physically but socially and spiritually...
Similarly, the story of the Canaanite woman shows Jesus challenging traditional barriers...When she came to Him for help, He initially responded in a way that seemed to dismiss her...This was likely a test of her faith, and when she responded with an answer that demonstrated incredible faith and humility, Jesus praised her publicly, saying, “Woman, you have great faith!...Your request is granted” (Matthew 15:28)...He treated her as a partner in a theological discussion and honored her faith in a way that was a powerful example to His disciples...
Jesus even had women as witnesses and partners in His ministry...Women played a vital role in Jesus’s ministry...They were not just passive followers but active participants...Luke 8:1-3 tells us that a number of women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, traveled with Jesus and the disciples and helped support them out of their own means...This showed that women were not only welcomed in His ministry but were essential partners in it...
In John chapter 4, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at a well in the middle of the day...This was a significant moment because Jews and Samaritans typically avoided one another, and men of that time did not speak with women in public...Jesus not only breaks these cultural rules but also reveals that He knows her personal history, including her five husbands...He then offers her "Living Water," which leads to her becoming the first person to whom He openly declares, "I AM the Messiah."...This encounter highlights Jesus's compassion and His desire to offer salvation to all people, regardless of their background...The story of the woman at the well is a great example of how Jesus shows compassion and helps women...It also serves to illustrate how anyone can come to know Him and become a believer...
The most powerful evidence of Jesus’s elevation of women is found in His resurrection...In a time when a woman’s testimony was not legally recognized, Jesus’s first appearance after His death was to women—specifically to Mary Magdalene...By making women the very first witnesses to His resurrection, Jesus gave them the greatest honor possible...He entrusted them with the most important message in human history: that He had conquered death...This deliberate act was a stunning reversal of cultural norms, establishing women as the first and most credible witnesses of His victory...
These moments with these women illustrate that Jesus's power extended far beyond simple miracles; He had the unique ability to fully restore a person's physical health, social standing, and spiritual identity, demonstrating a profound compassion that was truly revolutionary...
In conclusion, Jesus's life and ministry were a testament to His belief in the equal worth of women and men...He not only taught about equality but lived it out, challenging the prejudices of His day and establishing a new standard for how women should be treated within His kingdom...