Who would have thought that in 2012, that the role of women would still be an issue. Over two-thousand years ago Jesus addressed and employed women in many roles throughout the early Church. Lydia, (Acts 16:14) was an entrepreneur, with her own business dealing in purple. This was a very lucrative industry at that time, with high standing in the community. The deep faith of women in the church is also recorded in the New Testament, "Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." (2 Timothy 1:5)
The most radical interactions of Jesus is found in His treatment of Martha and her sister Mary. At this time in the Middle-East, (and today in the Muslim culture) women have but one job in the lives of men, to serve them. As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-41) Martha wanted Jesus to tell her sister to get back to her job, of feeding and caring for the men. However, Jesus tells Martha that learning and being educated at the side of men is more important. This was unheard of at this time. Men and women were kept apart and did not engage in the same actives and most of all did not participate in religious studies. Today we take for granted and skim over the importance of the actions of Jesus in this passage. He is turning the know-world upside-down, by his actions of teaching and including women into his teachings. Jesus instructed women and placed them in leadership roles. He spoke directly to women and asked for their ideals and reactions about the ministry. So how is it today that women of faith and in the workplace still feel they need to take a back seat to men? How is it today that men still feel that women are the "weaker" sex? Jesus set us free! He set us free from sin, and the sin of superiority. We are all the same, Jew, Gentile, Man, Women, all are sinners, and are the same in the eyes of God. We need Jesus and NO ONE is better than another. Women, the Lord has given you talents and gifts to be use, not to be placed on a shelf once you get married. Why is it that two-thousand years later we are still talking about the role of women?
The most radical interactions of Jesus is found in His treatment of Martha and her sister Mary. At this time in the Middle-East, (and today in the Muslim culture) women have but one job in the lives of men, to serve them. As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-41) Martha wanted Jesus to tell her sister to get back to her job, of feeding and caring for the men. However, Jesus tells Martha that learning and being educated at the side of men is more important. This was unheard of at this time. Men and women were kept apart and did not engage in the same actives and most of all did not participate in religious studies. Today we take for granted and skim over the importance of the actions of Jesus in this passage. He is turning the know-world upside-down, by his actions of teaching and including women into his teachings. Jesus instructed women and placed them in leadership roles. He spoke directly to women and asked for their ideals and reactions about the ministry. So how is it today that women of faith and in the workplace still feel they need to take a back seat to men? How is it today that men still feel that women are the "weaker" sex? Jesus set us free! He set us free from sin, and the sin of superiority. We are all the same, Jew, Gentile, Man, Women, all are sinners, and are the same in the eyes of God. We need Jesus and NO ONE is better than another. Women, the Lord has given you talents and gifts to be use, not to be placed on a shelf once you get married. Why is it that two-thousand years later we are still talking about the role of women?
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