Women, Called and Serving in Leadership

Hearing Results in Action

In Matthew 13: 1-3 large crowds gathered to Jesus and He spoke to them in parables.

From the seat of a boat Jesus spoke the Parable of the Sower to the crowd on the beach.

After speaking the parable to the crowd Jesus says in Vs 9, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

The gender specific words of “he” and “him” were added by the translators. They do not exist in the original text. Vs 9 simply says, “possesses ears hear.”

Speaking to the crowd – which certainly contained men, women, and children – Jesus instructs ALL who are in possession of ears which have the ability to understand to hear the parable with understanding.

Jesus DID NOT limit those who could hear with comprehension to men alone — He told ALL who possessed ears with ability to understand to hear with understanding.

After being questioned by His disciples as to why He spoke to the people in parables. Jesus tells them, “to you has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. (Vs 10-15)

His disciples had been granted the privilege of knowing – being taught by Jesus – the true meaning of each parable. The crowds were not granted this explanation from the Jesus. His disciples were granted the privilege of receiving this explanation so that they would know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

In Vs 16 and 17 Jesus tells His disciples “blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see , and to hear what you hear, and did not hear. ”

[It should read "many prophets and righteous desired to see...", the word "men" was added by the translators.]

Jesus’ disciples were BLESSED because they had been granted the privilege of seeing the works of Jesus and the privilege of hearing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven revealed -explained to them by Jesus.

In Vs 18 Jesus says to His disciples, “Hear then the parable of the sower.”

Jesus grants His disciples the privilege to hear and understand a revelation of a mystery of the kingdom of heaven as He unfolds the meaning of the parable to them.

Matt 13:19-23 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

Jesus begin His explanation of this parable by saying “when anyone hears the word of the kingdom.”

When speaking to the crowd Jesus DID NOT limit hearing the word of the kingdom with comprehension to men alone — He told all who possessed ears to hear and understand.

When revealing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to His disciples Jesus DID NOT limit hearing to men alone. Jesus reiterated to His disciples ANYONE could hear the word of the kingdom with understanding.

The Greek word translated as “anyone” is “pas” which means “all, the whole, any. whosoever, whoever, anyone.” The gender specific pronoun “him” in Vs 19 is an added word by the translators. It does not exist in the original text.

Jesus continues to speak in non gender specific language as He says, “This is the one.”

The Greek words translated as “this is the one” are ” houtos houtoi hautē hautai” which mean “this man, this woman, that man, that woman, this, that, these, they, who, which”.

[In Vs 20 the word "man" is added by the translators.]

Jesus continues to speak in non gender specific language as He expounds on this parable to His disciples. He uses the same Greek phrase translated earlier as “this is the one”. Thus Vs 20 DOES NOT read in the original text as “this is the man who hears the word” BUT it reads as “this man, this woman, these, those, which, or who hear the word.”

[In Vs 21 both uses of the gender specific word "he" has been added by the translators.]

[In Vs 22 and 23 the word "man" is added by the translators.]

Jesus continues to speak in non gender specific language as He expounds on this parable to His disciples. He uses the same Greek phrase translated earlier as “this is the one”. Thus Vs 22 and 23 DOES NOT read in the original text as “this is the man who hears the word” but it reads as “this man, this woman, these, those, which, or who hear the word.”

Jesus DOES NOT limit receiving of revelation knowledge as a privilege of the male gender alone. All could and did receive revelation knowledge of the kingdom of heaven as Jesus taught them.

Jesus specifically chose non gender terminology as He unfolded the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to His disciples.

In Vs 23 Jesus says, “this man, this woman, these, those, which, or who hears the word and understands it indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.

The men and women who hear and understand the word of the kingdom BEAR FRUIT and BRING FORTH a harvest from their understanding, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.

Anyone – male or female – who hears the word of God with understanding will BEAR FRUIT and BRING FORTH a harvest !!!

Col 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

All – male or female – who hear the word with understanding bears fruit in every good work and increases in the knowledge of God.

The hearing of the word of God with understanding produces action – these actions are good works. These good works bear fruit which produce an abundant harvest.

Jesus says in Matt 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Hearing God’s word we are to put it into action !!! Our actions which follow hearing the Word bear fruit and bring forth a harvest.

How can limits based on gender be placed upon who can labor in the work of God’s kingdom when Jesus made no such distinction? Jesus said EVERYONE who hears His words with understanding is to act upon them. These good works bear fruit and bring forth a harvest.

John 4:35-36 “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 “Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

[In Vs 36 all uses of the gender specific word "he" has been added by the translators.]

The actions which follow the hearing of God’s word include the labor of sowing the seed of God’s word and reaping. Those who reap gather the ripe for harvest fruit from the field – this fruit is gathered and bundled unto life eternal.

1Corinthians 3:7-10 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.

[In Vs 8 both uses of the gender specific word "he" and "his" has been added by the translators.]

The actions which follow the hearing of God’s word include the labor of planting the seed of the word, watering the planted seed, and building on the laid foundation of the gospel.

Women ARE NOT excluded from the labor of the kingdom. The word translated as “man” in vs 10 is “hekastos” which means “each man, each women, each one, every man, every woman, every one.”

Each man and woman who performs the labor of God’s kingdom must be careful how they build.

Col 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

[In Vs 28 the word translated as "man" is a non gender specific word which means "human being."]

The men and women who labor in God’s kingdom through the power of God which works mightily in them proclaim Jesus, admonish all, and teach all with all wisdom. The purpose of their labor is to present all complete in Christ.

Both men and women are called to labor in God’s kingdom and bear fruit which brings forth a harvest.

Jesus DID NOT exclude women from the work of the kingdom, neither should His church.

Woman as Deacons

Let’s consider the impact these words “minister to Him” and “contributing their support” spoken of the women who followed Jesus as His disciples has upon women and their service in the church today.

Matt 27:55says of these women “had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him.” Mark 15:41 says ” When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him” Luke 8: 3 says ” who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”

The Greek word translated here as “ministering” in Matt 27:55, Mark 15:41, and as “contributing support” in Luke 8:3 is “diakoneo”.

The Complete Word Study says one of “diakoneo” many meanings is “those in the early church who fulfilled the duties of the office of a deacon, bringing advantage to others, to help and when diakonéo is used, then helping someone directly is involved.”

New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance says one of “diakoneo” meanings is “serve as deacons.”

Strong’s Greek Dictionary says one of “diakoneo” meanings is “technically to act as a Christian deacon: minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.”

Thayer’s Greek Definitions says one of “diakoneo” many meanings is ” who administer the office of a deacon” and “in Christian churches to serve as deacons.”

When these women minister to Jesus the office of deacon did not yet exist. The type of ministry these women preformed became known in the early church as the service rendered by deacons.

Jesus’ actions demonstrated He placed no gender boundaries for those who ministered to Him in this type of service. I find these women’s acceptable service to be compelling evidence of no gender boundaries for those who serve in the position of deacon.

Jesus did not exclude women from ministering to Him in this of service – neither should the New Testament church !!!

Let’s examine the New Testament Scriptures which have been used to restrict women from serving in the position of deacon.

1Ti 3:8-13 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Vs 8 the gender word of “men” is NOT in the original text – it is simply the Greek word for “acting with dignity or being honorable in action” – it is NOT a gender specific word. Thus the Greek reads as, “Deacons likewise dignity…”

Vs 10 the gender word of “men” is NOT in the original text. The Greek reads as, “These also …” No gender specific word is used for those who serve in the position of deacon.

Vs 11 The NASB correctly translates “gune” as women.

The word “likewise” was first used by Paul to tie the qualifications of Bishop to those who serve in the position of Deacon in Vs 8. Paul in Vs 11 now ties women by his use of the word “likewise” to the above qualifications of deacon. Paul is giving specific instructions to women who serve as deacons in the church.

Women who served as deacons were expected to “likewise” possess all the above qualities and to be dignified, not malicious gossips, temperate, and faithful in all things.

In Vs 12 Paul turns from giving specific instructions to the women who serve as deacons to give a specific instruction to the men who serve as deacons – husband of one wife.

Vs 13 Paul turns from speaking gender specific instructions. We see this as he uses a gender neutral word to speak of “those” who serve well as deacons.

Women were not excluded from serving as deacons. Paul specifically speaks qualifications for women who serve in this position.

Jesus did not exclude women from ministering to Him in this of service – neither should the New Testament church !!!

This brings us to Phoebe – a woman the Bible specifically names as serving as a “minister” to the church of Cenchrea in Romans 16:1.

Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;

It is important to note that Paul wrote “I commend to you our sister Phoebe.”

The Greek word translated as commend means “to approve, to introduce favorably, to stand near.” Paul by his use of the word commend gave his approval of Phoebe and her ministry to the church of Cenchrea as he made introduced her to the Corinthian church.

The Greek word Paul uses to describe Phoebe and translated as “servant” is the same word translated as deacon in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

Knowing that woman were included in the qualification given by Paul for the position of deacon Paul could be referring to Phoebe as a deacon in the church at Cenchrea.

I believe either gender bias or an incorrect doctrinal understanding which restricts the position of deacon to men alone caused the translators to translate this word as servant instead of deacon when used to describe Phoebe.

It is important for us to note that the chosen translation of this word by the translators is most likely NOT Paul’s true usage. When this word is used by Paul elsewhere it is translated as “deacon” and “minister” (1 Tim 3:8-13, Eph 3:7, Col 1:23).

When this term was used of Tychicus (Eph 6:21) – a male – the translators chose to translated it as minister.

It was only translated as “servant” when used of Phoebe. The translators chose to not translate this word according to how they translated Paul’s other usages of this word because of its association with a woman. Because of this word’s usage in association with a women they chose to use a word which held a lower connotation of her service and position in the church.

Paul uses this word to describe himself as a minister of the church.

Col 1:24-25 (KJV) … for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Paul used this same term to refer to Phoebe and her service in the church of Cenchrea.

What type of ministry did she perform in the church of Cenchrea? She ministered in the church with authority.

Romans 16:2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.

The Greek word translated as helper or succourer as used in the KJV is “protatis”, which is a feminine form of “proistemi.” “Proistemi” means “to stand before in rank, to preside, to be over, to rule, one who acts with authority.”

Paul described Phoebe as a minister who stands before others in rank, presides over, rules, and acts with authority. Phoebe acted with authority over the of Cenchrea.

Paul told the church at Corinth to give Phoebe aid in whatever matter she had need. Phoebe held a position of authority that caused others to be instructed to help her in whatsoever she asked.

At the very least Phoebe exercised authority in the church as deacon.

Personally, I agree with the Bible scholars who believe this word “minister” describes Phoebe as being more than a deacon and most likely a pastor because of the authority Paul associates with her position in the church of Cenchrea.

We find a precedent set by Jesus and the women He allowed to minister to Him – women freely fulfilling the duties of deacons in the church.

Women Disciples – Preach

While preaching this message Sunday several points which I did not emphasis in my writing stuck out to me. I want to share the points the Holy Spirit highlighted during the sermon.

1) Revelation Knowledge

In Mark 4:10, 34 Jesus explained the meaning of the parables to those He called His disciples.

In Matt 13:10-12 Jesus tells His disciples they were granted the privilege of knowing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. His disciples were given revelation knowledge.

While preaching Sunday I was reminded of the women to whom Jesus gave revelation knowledge.

If Jesus gives revelation knowledge to all who follow Him as His disciples why would He then “shut the mouths” of the very women to whom He gave His revelation knowledge.

He would not !!

Jesus did not “shut the mouth” of the Samaritan woman when she received revelation knowledge that He was the Messiah. Jesus did not shut her mouth as she ran to her village and reported to all the revelation knowledge she had received from Him.

Jesus did not “shut the mouth” of Mary Magdalene or the women with her when they received the revelation knowledge that He had risen from the dead. Jesus did not shut the mouths of these women – He commanded them to go and tell. He commanded them to SPEAK the revelation knowledge they had received – to proclaim to the other disciples what had been revealed to them.

Jesus DOES NOT shut the mouths of the women He imparts with His revelation knowledge.

2) Powerful and Effective Witnesses

While expounding on Acts 9:1 where Paul seeks to bring both men and women of the Way back to Jerusalem I was impacted by the reason WHY his quest included women. Paul’s quest included women because they were powerful and effective witnesses and preachers of the good news of the gospel of Christ. Paul’s quest included women because he wanted to silence them from preaching the gospel.

We know women were witnesses and preachers of the good news from Acts 13: 31-32 which says “all those who had come down with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem were His witnesses and these preach the good news.” Women were among those had accompanied Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem. ( Matt 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41, and Luke 23:49)

Paul sought to silence the men and women of the Way because they were powerful and effective witnesses as they preached the good news of the gospel.

Women were such powerful and effective preachers of the Way Saul sought to shut them up by imprisoning them !!!

We have so missed the truth of these women who went forth preaching the good news of the gospel — who did so powerfully and effectively.

The Disciples of Jesus

Bible stories and Christian movies of the life of Jesus have greatly influenced the image we see when we read the word “disciple”. We often incorrectly assume these words “His disciples” and “the disciples” to mean only the 12 whom Jesus chose and called apostles (Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.)

Yet, many times when these words are used they DO NOT mean just these 12 but include ALL who followed Him throughout His 3 years of ministry.

We know that not only did these disciples follow Jesus but multitudes also followed Him.

Matt 4:25 Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

Jesus said of these multitudes in Matt 9:36 that they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. In verses 37-38 Jesus tells His disciples the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few and to beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest.

Just WHO are these disciples to whom Jesus spoke? Was it only the 12 or was it spoken to ALL who followed Him as His disciples?

There is no mention of the 12 disciples as a separate group in the gospel of Matthew until Matthew 10: 1-3 where Jesus summoned them and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

Jesus sent the 12 as workers into the fields which were ripe for harvest. Yet, these 12 were NOT alone in being sent by Jesus to perform this great work. In Luke 10:1 we read of 70 disciples Jesus sent out by twos in the same authority He had given to the 12. We know the 70 appointed ones possessed the same authority as the 12 from verse 17 where they return and say, ” Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Jesus sent out not only the 12 but he also appointed and sent out the 70. Those whom scripture calls Jesus’ disciples and were appointed and sent by Jesus was not limited to the 12.

In Matthew 5:1 we find the first use of the word disciple in the gospel of Matthew.

Matt 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John would almost certainly be among those who came to Jesus on the mountain. We read of their call as “fishers of men” in Matthew 4:22-23 and Mark 1:16-20. But this group of people called His disciples were not just made up of the 12 – they had to consist of all those who followed Jesus because the 12 had not yet been chosen from the midst of all His disciples.

The 12 were chosen from out of those who followed Him – they were taken from the midst of the many disciples who followed Jesus.

Mark 3:13-15 And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach,15 and to have authority to cast out the demons.

Luke 6:12-13 It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles:

After praying all night on the mountain Jesus summoned all His disciples to Himself and chose from their midst 12 whom He also named as apostles.

We need to broaden our understanding of whom the word disciples refers. We need to cease to limit this word to referring to the 12 and see the bigger picture which includes all who followed Jesus as His disciples.

In Matthew 8:21 we have an unnamed disciple of Jesus who after Jesus gave orders to depart to the other side asked to first bury his father before getting into the boat to continue to follow Jesus as His disciple.

Clearly Jesus had other disciples who followed Him – those who followed Him and He expected to go with Him to the other side did not just consist of the 12.

Matt 8:23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.

Mark 4:36 tells us that “other boats were with Him.”

Again Bible stories and movies of the life of Jesus have caused us to incorrectly see just one boat which contains Jesus and the12 disciples. There were other boats filled with His disciples who obeyed Jesus’ orders to go to the other side.

(The gender specific words when used of His disciples in these verses is actually a gender neutral word meaning “human being, whether male or female”.)

We also do not know who was in the boat with Jesus – these disciples are unnamed – they could be the 12 – we read of Jesus appointing them to be with Him in Mark 3:13-19 and Luke 6:13-16 – but no one knows for certain the specific disciples who were with Jesus in His boat.

Mark 2: 15-16, Mark 3:7, 9 also speak of disciples who were with Jesus before the 12 were chosen from their midst.

Mark 2:15 And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.

It is hard to distinguish in this verse just “who” the many were who followed Jesus. Is it the tax collectors and sinners or does it refer to many who followed Jesus as His disciples. After reading many different Bible translations and commentaries I don’t believe any of us can know for absolutely certain to whom this refers. We know only for certain that multitudes followed Him and many disciples also followed Him.

I personally agree with the Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible that these words are speaking of the many disciples who had left everything and followed Jesus.

In Mark 4:10, 34 we again see that more than the 12 followed Jesus and these followers are called His disciples.

Mark 4:10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.

Mark 4:34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

Those who followed Jesus and the twelve asked Him to explain the parables to them. Verse 34 tells us that these to whom he explained everything were His own disciples.

Matt 13:10-12 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

Matt 13:16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

To His disciples was granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said, “Whoever (gender neutral) has been granted to know these mysteries even more shall be given, in fact they will have an abundance.” (the gender specific words of he and him are added words by the translators and do not exist in the original text.) Jesus said His disciples eyes and ears were blessed because they had been given the privilege to see and to hear.

Let’s look at Matt 14 and the feeding of the 5000 plus the women and children by the disciples. If the 12 alone did this task as is depicted in Bible stories and movies of Jesus’ life this task of dispersing the food and then collecting the remains would have taken a HUGE amount of time. (As one who has waitressed in her past I find it mind boggling to imagine the amount of time it would have taken 12 to complete this task.)

It was already evening, the hour was already late, when the disciples came to Jesus with their petition to send the crowd away to go buy food – the amount of time it would have taken the 12 by themselves to complete this task did not exist.

I do not believe it was just the 12 who dispersed and collected the food that day. The many disciples who followed Jesus labored together in this work.

We must change the image we create when we read the words “the disciples” or “His disciples” to correctly interpret the Word of God. We must cease to see these words as only applying to the 12 who were called into close association with Him.

In John 6 when Jesus speaks that He is the bread of life and unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves MANY of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” and as a result MANY of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.

Even when these many disciples withdrew from following Him there were still other disciples along with the 12 who continued to follow and walk with Him.

We clearly see from scripture itself that the 12 were not alone in following and walking with Jesus. Many had followed and walked with Him as His disciples.

We must no longer allow Children’s Bible stories and movies on the life of Jesus to pervert the image we see when we read the word “disciple”. We must allow this image to expand to include all who followed and walked with Him as His disciples.

Again, who followed Jesus? The multitudes and His disciples followed Him. These disciples who followed Him included not only men, women also followed Him as His disciple.

Jesus did not limit or restrict who could be His disciple by gender – all were welcome to follow Him and be His disciple.

The word “disciple” means to be a follower of a teacher. I think the fact that the word disciple is usually seen as portraying the male gender has caused women and their contribution to the ministry of Jesus to be overlooked.

Jesus’ disciples were those who sat to listen to his teaching and who followed him as He traveled from city to city.

Mary of Bethany chose the place of a disciple – sitting at his feet to listen and learn from Him – and was not rebuked nor was she removed for doing so.

Matt 27:55-56 Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. 56 Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Mark 15:40-41 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

Mary Magdalene called Jesus Rabboni – Teacher – which named her as His disciple. She and many other women went with Him as He traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem as His disciples. These women disciples not only followed Him, they also minister to Him on the way.

Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

The 12, some women who Jesus had healed of evil spirits, and many others were with Jesus as He went for one city and village to another proclaiming the kingdom of God. These women and many others were with Him and they were contributing support out of their private means.

The Greek word translated here as “ministering” in Matt 27:55, Mark 15:41, and “contributing support” in Luke 8:3 is “diakoneō” and one of its many meanings is “who administer the office of a deacon and in Christian churches to serve as deacons.”

These women and many others served the ministry of Jesus in the very way that later became the service performed by those in the office of deacon. Jesus did not exclude women from this position – neither should the New Testament church !!!

Luke 23:49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

The scripture is clear – women accompanied Him – women followed and walked with Him as one of His disciples.

Matt 12:49-50 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus through action and word says in Matt 12:49-50 that His disciples are those who do the will of His Father who is in heaven and those who are His disciples have become His family – mother, brother and sisters.

What powerful words Jesus spoke to a society that did not value women. Jesus’ words lifted women to an equal position as His disciple if they did the will of the Father. Jesus’ words lifted women to an equal membership in the family of God.

In Matt 7:21 Jesus said “Not everyone (gender neutral) who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he (added word) who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”

Being Jesus’ disciple and entering the kingdom of heaven was not based upon gender – it was based on doing the will of the Father !!!

Matt 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Jesus expects ALL who hear His words to act on them. He did not limit those who could hear and then act upon His word to the male gender alone. Jesus said everyone who hears and acts is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Hearing and acting of the word was not limited to the men alone while Jesus was on earth, neither is it limited to men alone after His resurrection and ascension.

Paul said in Acts 13: 31-32 that all those who had come down with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem were His witnesses and these preach the good news. As seen in Matt 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41, and Luke 23:49 women were among those had accompanied Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem.

Jesus expects His disciples – men and women – to hear and act upon His Word. These actions include going forth as His witnesses preaching the good news of the gospel.

John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

Discipleship was not limited to men alone while Jesus was on the earth, neither is it limited to men alone after His resurrection and ascension. Discipleship was not based on gender, it was based on continuing in His word.

We must no longer allow Children’s Bible stories and movies on the life of Jesus to pervert the image we see when we read the word “disciple”. We must allow this image to expand to include all the men and women who followed and walked with Him as His disciples.

These women disciples are part of the “whoever” in Matt 13:10-12 Jesus said had been granted to know the mysteries of God. They are part of those who would be given even more revelation knowledge, in fact all His disciples – men and women – will have an abundance of revelation knowledge.”

Women were known as members of Jesus’ disciples while He was on the earth. Women continued to be known as His disciples in the New Testament Church.

Act 9:1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, Act 9:2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Act 9:36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

We see Saul breathing threats and murder against the disciples of Jesus who belonged to the Way – these disciples included men and women.

We see in the city of Joppa a woman disciple named Tabitha/Dorcas.

When we read the word “disciple” we must cease to see only the 12 and we must cease to see only those who are of male gender. Many followed and walked with Jesus as His disciples – this many included both men and women.

Men and women are still serving Jesus as His disciples in the earth today.

Expand and broaden the image you see as you read this word.

Full Inclusion – the Canaanite Woman

The Canaanite Woman

Matt 15:22 -28 And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” 23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

The first thing I noticed when beginning the story of this woman’s encounter with Jesus is that she called Him Lord and Son of David. “Son of David” is a term which represented Jesus as being the promised and long waited for Messiah.

This Canaanite woman – a woman from the wrong side of the tracks – recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah of God.

The disciples did not have compassion for her or her need. When they saw Jesus not answer her or give heed to her cries they asked Him to send her away.

Could Jesus’ silence have been a test to see what was in the heart of His disciples? Could He have been silent in the hope that they would implore Him to give aid to this woman based upon her recognition of Him as Messiah?

Scripture does not give us the answer to my question, it does tell us that Jesus DID NOT send her away as asked by His disciples – instead he begins to speak to her.

I like how verse 24 says it, “But he answered and said”. The disciples implored Him to send her away BUT instead of sending her away He answered her cries for help.

Jesus reply to her was in answer to her recognition of Him as the Messiah. He replied, “I am sent to lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

This fact – He, the Messiah, was sent only to the house of Israel – did not dissuade her or stop her. She bowed herself before Him as an act of worship and said, “Lord, help me!”

KJV of verse 26 says, “Then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me.”

The Greek word translated as worship means “to prostrate oneself in reverence, to adore, to worship.”

This Canaanite woman bowed herself down and worshipped Jesus as the Messiah and called Him Lord.

Jesus answered her, “it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

A common name used by the Jews for the heathens was dogs. Jesus was not calling this woman a dog as in one of no value or worth, rather he referred to her as being a gentile and as such separate from the covenant and promises of God.

The Canaanite woman responded, “the dogs – the gentiles who are separated from the covenant and promises of God – feed upon the scraps that fall from the Master’s table.”

What a statement of faith by this woman!! She knew that God – the Master – feeds the just and the unjust!! She knew that God – the Master – caused rain (His goodness and His provision) to fall upon the just and the unjust!!!

Her faith kept her pressing in to receive. Her faith kept her from being dissuaded.

Jesus said this Canaanite woman’s faith was great – of huge amount and proportion!

She believed that Jesus was the Messiah – the sent one of God. She believed that she a gentile could indeed receive the crumbs of goodness and provision which fell from the Master’s table.

Believing she could receive, she received what she asked of Him.

Again, we have a story of inclusion of one who was separated by birth from the covenant and promises of God. Separation is not the end of the story, through persevering faith she received what she asked of Him.

We, who by birth are born in the gender of a woman and once excluded in the OT from the priesthood, through faith receive full inclusion and full membership in the priesthood of all believers.

These two women’s stories are examples of the full inclusion of women.

Through persevering faith let us press in to possess the full inclusion the cross purchased for us.

Full Inclusion – the woman with the hemorrhage of blood

The story of the woman with hemorrhage of blood for twelve years is found in Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:24-34; Luke 8:42-48.

The gospel of Mark says this woman had endured much at the hands of the physicians, had spent all she had, and was not helped at all – in fact instead of being helped she had grown worse. According to the gospel of Luke this woman’s hemorrhage was not able to be healed by anyone.

This woman had no hope of being healed and released from the torment of her infirmity until she had an encounter with Jesus!

The torment she endured due to her infirmity was not just the infirmity itself; she also suffered the torment of being “unclean” and thus cut off from association and contact with others. She suffered the torment of being a social outcast. Great was the suffering of this woman.

Desperation drove her to perform an unlawful act of entering the midst of the crowd that surrounded Jesus. Desperation for healing drove her to plunge herself into the crowd.

Plunging herself into the crowd this woman did not come “face to face” to Jesus to ask Him for her healing – no, instead, she came up behind him and touched the fringe of His garment. Her faith said, “If I only touch His garment, I shall get well.”

Matt 9:21-22 for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.”
22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.

Jesus turned to her, seeing her, and called her daughter.

She who would not seek Him face to face in her need but came up behind Him in order to just touch the fringe of His garment Jesus turned to see and seeing her He called her daughter.

I see so much love in Jesus’ actions – Jesus turned to see – Jesus turned to see face to face – one who was so ashamed to be seen she came up behind Him. I see Jesus eyes meeting hers and His eyes truly seeing her – not merely looking at her but truly seeing her as no one had for a very long time.

She who was unclean, separated and cast out for twelve long years Jesus called daughter. What a word of healing to this cast out woman – a word which included her in and no longer cast out from among the people – a word which counted her in among the people of God and no longer cut off and separate.

Mark 5:28-33 For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”
29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” 31 And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 32 And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.

Combining the accounts from Matthew with Mark we see Jesus turn, look around Him, see the woman, and call her daughter. The woman then falls down before Him in fear and trembling.

I can see their eyes meeting and this woman who had been shunned, rejected, and disdained to be looked upon feels Jesus’ eyes really look at her and truly see her.

Then He says most astonishing thing of all when He calls her daughter. I can feel the woman’s heart leap for joy – “He’s including me among the people – He’s not speaking to me as one cast out and cut off from among the people of God.”

Jesus could have called her “woman” as He did His own mother many times. He purposely chose to call her daughter – He purposely chose to use a word which would include her in among God’s people.

Jesus did not rebuke her for breaking the law and being in the midst of the crowd – He instead lovingly called her daughter. He purposely brought her out of separation and brought her into the position of rightful membership in the crowd.

I believe we also find one more reason why Jesus purposely called her daughter in Luke 8:47.

Luke 8:47 When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed.

The fact that she, an unclean woman had unlawfully come into the midst of the crowd that surrounded Jesus, had not escaped the notice of those in the crowd. Jesus called her daughter – which spoke her inclusion as a member – in order to keep certain indignant members of the crowd from stoning her for her commission of an unlawful act.

What does this story have to do with women serving in positions of leadership in the church? We who once were lawfully separated in the OT from these positions of leadership Jesus has turned to us, seen us, and called us His daughters. As His daughters we are now included as full members and as full members we freely serve Him as priests.

No longer are we cast off, cut off, or separated. We now possess full membership in the priesthood of all believers.

“White Washed Feminism”

Because I home school I receive many curriculum catalogs. I just received a new home school catalog in which is a section that displays curriculum and books by Vision Forum. Out of curiosity I stopped to read the sale copy on one of their books, “Passionate Housewives Desperate for God”. I know – stupid me !! I was quickly confronted by these words “exposing the dangers of white washed feminism”.

I wonder if those who espouse such thinking – dangers of white washed feminism – have ever truly looked at or studied the foundation of the feminist movement — before Margaret Sanger, NOW, and their ilk. Feminism has become a cuss word in their mouths – in doing so they have cussed the many dedicated Christian women who founded this movement in their fight to get children out of the sweat shops and to secure women the right to vote.

I wonder if they know that women whom they laud actually fought for the equality of women – women such as Lottie Moon and Catherine Booth.

It continues to amaze me that the SBC holds a Lottie Moon Missionary fund raisers each year — and never confronts the truth that she wrote many letters crying out for the equality of women in the church. One SBC pastor called the this cover up concerning Lottie Moon “the SBC’s dirty little secret.”

I wonder if they know that Catherine Booth’s son-in-law in his eulogy praised her as a “unfailing, unflinching, uncompromising champion of women’s rights.”

“Exposing the dangers of white washed feminism” — NEVER – let us expose the truth of the women of God who fought bravely for the equality of all under God — let us sing the praises of these women who courageously pioneered the way for us.

I’m proud to be counted among such a great cloud of witnesses named as the “white washed feminists”.

Revelation Knowledge

Jesus gives to anyone He wills revelation knowledge.

Matt 11:25-27 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 “Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

The great truths Jesus spoke were revealed to babes (the unlearned). These “babes” were anyone to whom the Son willed to give revelation.

Jesus gave revelation knowledge to anyone – male or female. Why would He “shut the mouths” of the women to whom He gave His revelation knowledge.

Jesus did not “shut the mouth” of the Samaritan woman when she received revelation knowledge that He was the Messiah. Jesus did not shut her mouth as she ran to her village and reported/proclaimed she had met the Messiah and for them to come and see.

Jesus did not “shut the mouth” of Mary Magdalene after she received revelation knowledge that He had risen from the dead. NO, indeed He did not! Instead Jesus commanded her to go and tell – to proclaim to the other disciples what had been revealed to her.

The prophetess Anna’s mouth was not shut when she received revelation knowledge that the babe in Mary’s arms was the awaited for Messiah. She went forth proclaiming to all who would listen that the awaited for Messiah had come.

Why would Jesus command the mouths of women filled with His revelation knowledge to be shut just because they step inside a building called a church or because they step behind a stand called a pulpit? He would not!!!

As we look at the example of Jesus we see that He did not / does not shut the mouths of women who are filled with His revelation knowledge.

Women Disciples

The word “disciple” means to be a follower of a teacher. I think the fact that the word disciple is usually seen as portraying the male gender has caused women and their contribution to the ministry of Jesus to be overlooked.

Jesus’ disciples were those who sat to listen to his teaching and who followed him as He traveled from city to city.

Mary of Bethany chose the place of a disciple – sitting at his feet to listen and learn from Him – and was not rebuked nor was she removed for doing so.

Mary Magdalene called Jesus Rabboni – Teacher – which named her as His disciple. She went with Him as He traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem. She (and other unnamed women) supported Jesus and His ministry from their personal finances. Jesus instructed Mary (and the women with her) to go and tell his other disciples that He had risen from the dead.

When we read the word disciple we must understand this word represents women as well as men who followed, served, and ministered to Jesus.

Why the 12?

As I was pondering the often asked question concerning “why Jesus chose 12 male disciples” the Lord brought several things to my heart.

The first is that there were both male and female disciples of Jesus and the twelve were chosen out of the midst of His disciples and named as His apostles. I think the fact that the word disciple is usually seen as portraying the male gender has caused women and their contribution to the ministry of Jesus to be overlooked.

The other thing the Lord brought to my heart as I considered the 12 male apostles question was the fact that only ONE tribe – the Levites – could serve in the house of God(2 Chr 29:11). In Jesus’ choosing of 12 apostles who represented the 12 tribes of Israel I saw God showing a new day manifested in Christ – all twelve tribes through Jesus able to freely serve in God’s house. No longer would only one tribe have access to God’s service but in Christ all would have access to serving Him.

I saw in the 12 apostles God showing a new way established through Jesus. I saw God showing forth Jesus as the high priest in a new temple made up of living stones and with a priesthood of all believers. I saw a new and living way being exampled before Israel and established through the death and resurrection of Jesus.