You know, if I were a man, I would be ticked off. Women got all the good news! So, lets talk about what Jesus told women, that no male disciple had to interpret it to them.
- Women could be taught the scripture
- Jesus was the Messiah for Gentiles
- Jesus was the Messiah the Samaritans were expecting
- Jesus had risen from the dead.
They got the Big story. But men had a way of getting even. Shhhhhhh! They put a clamp on women’s mouths.
When Jesus told women these mind-bending facts about him, he expected them to go and tell. And they did. That is how these stories got in the Bible in the first place. Truths that we seal our belief in Jesus the Christ on.
(Mary of Bethany)
In Luke chapter 10 we read the story of Mary and Martha of Bethany. Jesus and his disciples arrived and Martha was busy in the kitchen. She looked around for Mary. She should be setting the table, and putting the ice in the glasses, but she was nowhere in sight.
Martha knew that Mary was in the living room listening to Jesus. Martha bunched up her apron in her hands and stormed in to tell Jesus to send Mary back to the kitchen to help her. What was Jesus going to do? Was he going to send Mary to the kitchen?
Both Mary and Martha knew that Jewish women did not study the Scriptures. In fact, the common knowledge of their day said, “Let the words of the Law be burned rather than committed to women. If a man teaches his daughter the Law, it is as though he taught her about sex.”
Listen to what Jesus said back to Martha. Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, slow down. Mary has chosen what is better.” All the men sitting there heard that. And Jesus says those same words to you and me today. With those words, Jesus not only allowed Mary to learn the Scripture, he was welcoming her into the presence and equality with those men.
You are mothers, and daughters, and many of you have been told what you cannot do. I am here to tell you what you can do. I am here to tell you that you are equal – no buts. You are equal before the Lord, and you are equal in your own home.
There are those who want you to believe that you cannot have any authority over a man. They tell you that you can’t teach men or preach. They tell you that you must obey your husband. They tell you he was designed by God to be your leader.
For some reason, women have listened to those things. Even though Jesus never said such a thing. Jesus never told any woman that. I choose to listen to Jesus. The last thing these women needed was another law on marriage and housekeeping. They had enough things they couldn’t do without Jesus putting one more burden on them.
There is a church in Conroe that posts on its website the roles of husbands and the roles of wives. He is to love her, listen to her and to inspire her. Pure romantic poetry!
You know what she is supposed to do? KEEP HOUSE! That is what she is supposed to do. I wonder if he is inspiring her while the vacuum cleaner is running? Or while she has her head bent down cleaning up the floor around the toilet.
When Don and I got married many years ago, we never heard such nonsense as men’s roles and women’s roles. My father helped my mother cook. Canned jams and jellies and tomatoes for the winter. He helped her wash clothes in the big black washpot. My mother helped him in the fields, picked cotton, and raised 8 kids.
They both worked hard. I thought all families were like that. I soon discovered that my husband did not know how to cook! During the past years I have learned that is much more than household chores that make a marriage.
A woman wrote to me. We wrote back and forth a few times, each time she quoted more scriptures at me. Finally, she said, “One last reply and I do not care to hear from you again. (I love hearing from women who get mad at me!)
She said, “I am a woman – a very equal woman within my church and my home. My husband is the head of my home and I have no trouble submitting to his authority as he submits to Christ. I am loved! I am honored! I am respected!”
I wrote back to her and said, “Honey, as long as you stay in your pen, you will be respected. Get out, and the dogs start barking!”
I want you to get out of your pens! I want to hear the dogs barking! I want you to be free in Christ, in your church, and in your home.
Scripture – Jesus allows Mary to sit with the men
Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 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!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Our next subject is: The Gentile Woman
Shirley Taylor Books (available on Amazon in print and on Kindle)
The Biblical Marriage Myth: The Devil Comes Calling
The Power of a Book: The Street Evangelist
Raising the Hood: A Christian Look at Manhood and Womanhood
Women Equal: No Buts
Dethroning Male Headship: 2nd Edition
From Wife to Widow: What I Know Now
Beyond the Grave: A Christian Dilemma
