A Biography of Jesus (BOOK EXCERPT, PT 6)

The Book Stop Blog is featuring excerpts from A Biography of Jesus by Tom Cowley and available from Paraclete Press.

A Biography of Jesus by Tom Cowley

Dignity of Women

The ground is level at the foot of the Cross.

Throughout his ministry Jesus elevated women and demonstrated their dignity in ways that were surprising to his contemporaries. Now that Jesus was on the move from place to place, women continued to play an important role tending to his needs and those of his disciples.
Early in his ministry, he honored his mother’s concerns with a first miracle, changing water into wine at a wedding in Cana (John 2). His dialog with a Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar (John 4) again showed respect for a woman in his early ministry. In John 11:5, we see the love that Jesus had for Martha, her sister Mary, and Lazarus. Later in the Gospel narratives, women are the first at the tomb to see the risen Christ. Many experiences such as these illustrate the impor- tance women played in the life of Jesus.
Here is a list of stories and events from the four Gospels that are worth closer study.
Mary and Martha—Lazarus heald -- John 11
Mary chosen as the Mother of Jesus -- Matthew 1:18–25
All women, adultery defined -- Matthew 5:27–30
Canaanite mother, daughter healed -- Matthew 15:21–28
Bleeding woman healed -- Mark 5:25–34
Daughter of Jarius healed -- Mark 5:21–24, 35–43
Poor widow recognized -- Mark 12:41–44
Woman who anoints Jesus is appreciated -- Luke 7:36–50
Widow of Nain, dead son healed -- Luke 7:7–17
Crippled woman healed on the Sabbath -- Luke 13:10–17
Samaritan woman becomes evangelist -- John 4:1–26
Woman caught in adultery forgiven -- John 8:1–11
Women last at the cross -- Luke 23:49
Mary Magdalene first at empty tomb of Jesus -- John 20:10–18
Question: Jesus went out of his way to show respect for women in his own day, contrary to the norms of his era. What groups of people need that sort of respect from us today?


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