HOW DID THE LORD JESUS TREAT WOMEN?

As the world celebrates today, the International Women’s Day, let us look to the Bible and see, “HOW DID THE LORD JESUS TREAT WOMEN?” Across all cultures, and across all times in history, in a general sense, women were suppressed. As Christians, we too did not fare all too well. Let us look to the LORD Jesus.

1- THE LORD JESUS TREATED WOMEN WITH RESPECT
Jesus helped at the marriage of Cana out of respect for His mother Mary.
– “3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it…7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.” – John 2:3-5,7
– “Mary] carried in her womb the one through whom all wombs were made. She nursed the one who generated life on earth. She reared the one who formed the stars. But as we look at Jesus through his mother’s eyes, we see how God grabs ordinary folk to be his chosen agents in this world.” – Rebecca McLaughlin

2- THE LORD JESUS TREATED WOMEN WITH COMPASSION
Jesus spoke with the woman caught in adultery with great compassion and tenderness. He confronted her sin, and did not condone it. Instead, He spoke to her with compassion and kindness.
– “10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” – John 8:10-11
– “How do we see Jesus through the eyes of these repentant prostitutes? We see him as the only man who welcomes them not for what he can get but for what he can give. We see him as the one who does not count their history against them, but who knows each detail of their past and [yet] welcomes them into his stunning future. We see him as a magnet for those who feel like scraps of human metal on life’s junk heap, picking up the broken and abused and drawing them into his kingdom of love.” – Rebecca McLaughlin

3- THE LORD JESUS TREATED WOMEN WITH DIGNITY
Jesus interacted in full public glare, and that too in the broad daylight, with a woman, at the public well, that too a Samaritan woman, with great respect and dignity, even though He knew everything about her.
– “7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” – John 4:7-10
– “Jesus’ longest recorded private conversation with anyone in the Gospels is with a woman Jewish men would have avoided at all costs. This woman is the first person in John’s Gospel to whom Jesus explicitly reveals himself as the Christ, and she is the last person with whom a respectable rabbi should have been spending time alone.” – Rebecca McLaughlin

4- THE LORD JESUS TREATED WOMEN AS EQUALS
Jesus called the women as “daughters of Abraham” restoring to them, the God given status. Bestowing such an honourable status in women is unthinkable to the men of Jesus’ times.
– “12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God…15 The Lord then answered him and said…16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” – Luke 13:12-13,15-16
– “Jesus called the Jewish women ‘daughters of Abraham’ (Luke 13:16), thereby according them a spiritual status equal to that of men.” – Dr. Donald Bloesch

The LORD Jesus treated women with utmost compassion, kindness, tenderness, respect and dignity. We too should do the same, as Christians. Respect and dignity are better seen and felt in action, than in mere words. “Chair-man” changed to “Chair-person” does not bring any change in the ground realities of life. One can use such politically correct language, yet be full of hate and prejudice towards women. Therefore, all of us, beginning with women in the Church today, let us be careful with the winds of changes sweeping in the world today. What the world preaches and teaches about women, their liberation and their freedom, may not be entirely compatible with what the Bible teaches. It pays us well, to not only be aware of it, and also to avoid its pitfalls all together. They appear to me, potentially more destructive of families and societies, than be of any constructive use. Let us look to the LORD and His Word for wisdom and guidance on matters such as these. Even so, the LORD help us.