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Written by Rayne Paz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Brazil
Jesus revolutionized the world. His actions caused dislike and distrust in a society that was trying to understand God’s will but was wrong so many times. Christ brought a direct message from God - what God really wanted from His creation. But some of His followers were being treated negatively Women!
How did Jesus treat and relate to this particular audience?
The middle eastern woman was very underestimated. References from the Old Testament like Deborah, Ruth, and Esther had been forgotten during God’s “silent years”, which led to women being undervalued and underrepresented.
During New Testament times, women were seen as inferior compared to men, but Jesus saw them as equal partners. Not as superiors , but as God’s divine creation and of importance to God and to society. Jesus faced the challenge of including women as participants in His redeeming work. He knew the impact that women would have on His journey. Luke talks about this in chapter 8, verses 1-3, “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, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 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 traveled with His disciples, both men and women, but the women were the ones who supported him financially. Amongst them was Mary Magdalene.
Mary’s past was not the best, she was tormented by demons (Luke 8:2). That fact was a part of who she was, part of her HIStory. Perhaps she was insecure about possibly falling again, but this time everything was different; she had been set free by the CHRIST and from that moment on she decided to follow and support Him.
Mary was a faithful follower of Jesus until the day of His crucifixion. When everyone ran away because they were scared, embarrassed, or powerless seeing their Master on the cross, Mary and the other women were there (Mt 27:55-56) touched, moved, and worried for their Lord. These women were among the last people to see Jesus’ face before He died on the cross and God allowed them to be the first ones to see His body resurrected (Mt 28:1-10).
After three-day Mary went to the tomb to anoint Christ’s body. She was worried about being able to open the tomb by herself, but bravely went anyways (Mark 16:1-3). Seeing the empty tomb and receiving the order to go and announce that Jesus was resurrected was really scary, so she didn’t say anything (Mark 16:8). She was just a woman, who would believe her? And maybe they would think it was her fault. It was too risky. But everything changed when Jesus Himself came to her. The one who gave her a second chance, freed her and healed her. Christ called her by her name: Mary! Her eyes were opened at that moment and she overcame her fear because of the faith she had in the resurrected Christ, Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:18, NAA) Her encounter with the Master made her overcome her fears to testify and announce the resurrection.
We learn so much from Mary Magdalene’s HIStory! A lot of times we are free, but our own past clings on to us in a way that makes us feel insecure. Just like Mary, we need to overcome our fears because in doing so we can have an encounter with the Lord, and gain resilience, new life, confidence, and faithfulness. No matter what our situation is, with Him, even when we feel broken, sad, or helpless, we can be confident that will be with Him. Just like Mary Magdalene, if we stay with Him until the end, we will be able to see Him resurrected. He already is!
Are you ready to announce the good news to all?
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Taken from I already AM: Testimonies of Faith in the Great I AM, written by Michelle J. Goff
A peaceful state in God’s right hand comes when we trust His provision. The I AM gave my family a concrete example of that when I was in high school…
Dad had lost his job in corporate downsizing after having worked for the same company for fourteen years. We were all in shock and his job search lasted a year and a half.
In the meantime, mom recertified and took a job at as a special education teacher in an inner-city elementary school; we girls rotated cooking dinner and other household responsibilities; and we all got creative in our spending—or lack thereof.
Through it all, the I AM’s provision was astounding and humbling…
During the stressful, yet joyful year and a half, each and every one of our needs were met without fail—sometimes anonymously and at other times through our Christian brothers and sisters.
Always on her feet as a teacher, my mom valued her comfortable shoes for standing and worked to make them last. One afternoon after school, she took her worn pair of shoes to the cobbler wanting to stretch their usefulness as long as possible.
“Well, ma’am. I can stitch them here, but they’ll come apart over there. I can glue this, but it’s not going to hold. There’s really nothing more I can do with these shoes. I think it’s time to get a new pair.”
Mom returned to the van where we girls were waiting, “Ladies, our forty years in the wilderness are about up. God promised the Israelites that their shoes would not wear out (Deut. 29:5). My shoes have finally worn out, so it must be time for your dad to get a job.”
One month later, he did.
As soon as my dad got a job, each of my sisters hit a growth spurt (aged 14, 12, and 6 at the time), I left for college, and mom got a new pair of shoes for teaching.
YHWH Jireh means the LORD Provides. And the I AM’s provision is always perfect—in His way, in His timing.