Women

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)

For the sake of my sanity, I've been trying to consume less and less world news but somehow I always find myself informed, whether it's by social media or some other internet source. I recently learned something terribly saddening and normally I would say, "That's exactly why I don't watch or read the news," but in this case, even though it breaks my heart, I am glad I was made aware of it.

Through social media I heard a story about a young woman named Mahsa Amini that was suspiciously killed in Iran. It's strongly suspected that she died as a result of being beaten by Iranian law enforcement for not complying with hijab laws. If you're not familiar with hijabs, they are the religious head coverings worn by some Muslim women. In Iran, it has become part of their governmental law that women and girls over the age of 9 must wear one in public.

This news story broke my heart because not only did a young woman lose her life, but others have died and been injured in the many protests that followed her death on September 16th, 2022. In fact, just days ago, a 16-year-old girl was beaten and killed in her classroom for refusing to sing a pro-regime song. Just a quick Google search on what is happening in Iran will tell you all about the women cutting their hair in public and discarding their hijabs in protest over these horrific events.

I don't know how this news makes you feel, but for me, it just makes me sad and a little angry. Sad for Mahsa. Sad for all the other terrified and overlooked women in Iran. Angry that there are men that think this is OK. And it's not just Iran where women still face adversity like this, it's happening all over the world, especially in African nations and other parts of the Middle East.

I'm not one to back into any patriotism and revel in how great America is. Rather, when I'm sad and angry about something happening in the world, I consider what my God alone would do. I wonder how Jesus would respond to this? How would Jesus respond to these acts of aggression towards women? How would He respond to the oppression and inequity they face in their culture? What was or is Jesus' "stance" on women's rights? Did He have one?

The Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) have long been accused of bigotry and sexism. What their religious texts declare about women as it relates to their purpose, role, and position has been hotly debated for centuries. But I want to take out the magnifying glass and look directly at Jesus Christ, whom I believe is the Son of God, and His interaction with women.

Jesus cared for women

Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” (John 4:27)

On His way to Galilee, Jesus encountered an outcast woman in Samaria drawing water from a well at a very odd time of day (avoiding her peers). Recognizing the rejection this woman felt by her community, Jesus talked with her and revealed Himself to be the Messiah to her. Just as the Bible verse above indicates, His disciples were surprised Jesus even took the time to see this woman. After all, she was just a woman performing an ordinary chore and in the context of their culture, she was a nobody doing what a nobody would do. But Jesus went out of His way to care for her and mend her aching heart. He saw her and He gave her the greatest gift anyone could ever receive - hope and faith in their Savior.

Jesus protected women

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, the religious leaders brought a woman forward that, according to law, should be punished by death for being caught in the act of adultery (side note: it is commonly taught that this woman was Mary Magdalene but the Bible does not state that). Rather than be trapped up in their request, Jesus confronted the men and demonstrated to them that they too were guilty of such a fate. His infamous words, "He who is without sin be the first to cast a stone at her," likely echoed in their minds as they all left with their heads down in shame. Jesus spared the woman. When I read this passage, I can practically hear the love in His voice as He tells the woman, "Then neither do I condemn you - now go and leave your life of sin." The religious leaders wouldn't have lost any sleep over murdering this woman, after all, she was caught red-handed. Instead, this woman walked away knowing she serves a God who protects and gently redirects us.

Jesus invested in women

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. (Luke 10:39)

Jesus came to the home of two women, Martha and Mary. Martha was busy serving while Mary stopped to listen to Jesus' teaching. It's subtle, but this passage speaks volumes of Jesus' "stance" on women's rights. To contextualize, Jewish girls were not educated like boys would be. They wouldn't have grown up studying Torah in school or learning how to be priests/rabbis. They were expected to bear and raise children, plain and simple. In fact, Jewish men would often start their day by praying to God and thanking Him that they weren't born female (I'm not saying they still do). That being said, the fact that Jesus celebrated Mary's decision to sit at His feet and encouraged Martha to do the same is revolutionary for this time in human history. Jesus invested not only in making disciples out of men, but also women. Martha had reverted to what her society expected her to do - to wait on Jesus with food and drink. But Jesus changed the narrative for the women He encountered.

Jesus empowered women

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)

After Jesus died, the disciples, including His female disciples, would come visit the tomb where He was laid. Upon His resurrection, Jesus chose to reveal Himself first to a woman - Mary Magdalene. Is this coincidence, happenstance, or intentional? Well, I think it's intentional for many reasons. Little known fact - some sources believe, based on archaeological and historical evidence of the time, that the first shepherds to visit Jesus when He was born were indeed female - specifically, teenage girls. Could it be that God, the Creator of the whole universe, would choose to reveal Himself again at His resurrection to those in society who were considered the least? That is, women. The Bible does declare (Matt 19:30) that the last shall be first. By seeing God in the flesh first, this also empowered women. You see, back in those days, only the testimony of a man was seen as credible. Therefore, if the Gospel writers were looking to fabricate a story and have their writing taken seriously by society, they should have said a male would have been the first to see Jesus alive. But by first appearing to women, the Gospel gains even greater credibility than it would have if Peter or John had been the first to see Him alive.

Jesus models how husbands should treat their wives

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25)

The apostle Paul reveals a great mystery in writing a letter to the Ephesian church. He discussed in Chapter 5 how Christ and the church are like a man and woman who get married. He states that Christ gave up His life for the church and that husbands too, must love their wives the same way. As a man and a husband, this challenges me to love my wife sacrificially, go all out in protecting her, and spare no effort in ensuring she is kept out of the enemy's hands. The roles that He gave men and women might be different, but He certainly doesn't make one more or less than the other.

As I think about Mahsa's death and the other women fighting for their rights in Iran and other parts of the world, I pray that their men would step up and defend them. I pray that their voices would be heard by the world and that justice would be realized. I pray that the Holy Spirit would invade the situation and bring life, hope and freedom to the women being oppressed. I pray that Christ would reveal Himself to both victim and oppressor, female and male alike.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)