With the Easter holiday upon us, I wanted to write about something very special. I wanted to write about Jesus, and His heart for women.
As a woman, it’s so beautiful and heartwarming to know that the Son of God, the Savior of the world, cares about the ones who are often marginalized, often seen as secondary, if seen at all.
If you’re at all familiar with the bible you’ve probably heard a great deal about Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, the Disciples, the Apostles, and many other men. And with great reason. These were great men of God, whom He used in mighty ways. But you may not be as familiar with the women of the bible.
But their stories matter too, and there is much to learn through them as well. And the wonderful thing about Jesus is, He doesn’t just love and extend His goodness to women who are doing everything right, But He took notice of, cared for, and extended his grace, love, and goodness to prostitutes, adulterers, women considered unclean, women who were demon possessed, hurt, afraid, and on and on He extended.
And what I hope you come to realize today is, the same love He had for all of those women, He has for you and me, no matter where we currently find ourselves in life. You don’t have to be perfect to step into a relationship with Jesus. The bible shows us He is more than willing to take us just as we are.
The Women of the Bible
I won’t highlight every woman in the bible, just a select few. But my hope, is that this small view into the lives of the women who lived many years before us, will encourage you to continue learning about them, and the many others. It is also my hope that you come to see yourself in many ways in the lives of these women, and ultimately, in the way Christ loves you.
Hagar
Hagar was the servant of Sarai (whose name later becomes Sarah), Abram’s (whose name later becomes Abraham) wife.
At some point, God told Abram that he was going to have a son. This was at a time when he and his wife Sarai were already advanced in age and had no children. God also told him that he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 15:1-5).
Sarai however grew impatient waiting on God and decided to take matters into her own hands. She gave her servant Hagar to her husband, so that she could conceive a son through her (Genesis 16:1-4).
Once Hagar became pregnant, Sarai began to feel as if Hagar was treating her disrespectfully, and she began to deal harshly with her servant, causing her servant Hagar to run away from her (Genesis 16:4-6).
It was on Hagar’s journey of running away from Sarai, that she encounters Jesus.
Jesus, who is often referenced as, the angel of the Lord, in the Old Testament, ultimately tells her that she needs to go back to Sarai and submit to her. He tells her that He will increase her descendants, in essence, making her a mother of many nations, as well. (Genesis 16:9-10).
But take a look at what Jesus, also said to Hagar:
“You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery…” (Genesis 16:11).
In response, verse 13 tells us that Hagar gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
The name Ishmael means, God hears.
How awesome is that!
Jesus wanted Hagar, the servant, to know that although her son was not the son God spoke to Abram about, and nor would His covenant be established through her son. He still wanted to bless her and her son. He saw her misery. He cared. And she walked away from that encounter knowing He sees her.
Rahab
I love the story of Rahab. In case you aren’t familiar with Rahab’s story, she was a prostitute in the land of Jericho (Joshua 2:1).
As you will get a glimpse of, Rahab was very wise. Sometimes, we can look at someone’s life, where they currently are, and completely discount them as a person. Assuming that who they are, is all they’ve ever been, or all they’ll ever be. Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t do that.
In the second chapter of Joshua, Joshua sends two spies to go spy out the land of Jericho, as he is preparing to take the land. By the grace of God, these two men end up at Rahab’s house (Joshua 2:1).
When the king of Jericho is informed that there are two Israelite men there to spy out the land, he sends a message to Rahab to bring out the spies (Joshua 2:2-3).
But Rahab, who clearly has heard the rumors circulating around that God is with the Israelites, and is giving them the land of Jericho, decides to make a bold move, and hide the two men, and then help them escape, ultimately aligning herself with God, and securing her and her family’s safety (Joshua 2:4-7).
Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two king of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” (Joshua 2:8-11).
Rahab then goes on to ask that when they do come in to take the land, will they show her and her family kindness, just as she has done for them (Joshua 2:12-14).
Although the Bible doesn’t share that Rahab had contact with Jesus, the angel of the Lord, what’s really awesome is, not only was Rahab and her family kept safe and grafted into God’s covenant with Israel; but she, a former prostitute, also ends up in the direct lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
Proving once again, that all are welcome to come to Jesus.
The Woman with the Issue of Blood
I think going forward, I’d prefer to identify this woman as, the woman of extraordinary faith.
The bible tells us in Mark chapter 5, that there was a woman, who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. And that this woman had suffered, and continued to suffer even after seeing many doctors, and spending all she had (v. 24-26).
Wrap your mind around this. A period that had lasted for twelve years. This woman was certainly in a desperate situation.
Just imagine all of the things she couldn’t do because of this illness. Not to mention that in those days, if you were on your Menstrual Cycle, you were considered unclean (Leviticus 15:19-25).
Being unclean for seven days, is far different from being unclean for twelve long years. One can only imagine the shame and loneliness she must have felt.
But then this desperate woman hears that Jesus is in town, and that life changing faith, that faith that gets the attention of the Lord, kicks in.
When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.
Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:27-34).
This woman was unclean, she wasn’t supposed to be touching anyone. This is why many believe she only touched His cloak, as to not make Him unclean as well.
Either way, that didn’t seem to be Jesus’ concern.
Though she fell at His feet trembling in fear. With love and compassion He calls her daughter, and permits her to go in peace.
Through the story of the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus shows us that faith-filled encounters with Him, always results in our freedom and peace.
This Easter season, I encourage you to continue reading about the women in the bible and their life changing experiences with Jesus. As you read, be mindful of the truth, that Jesus has a heart for you too.
Happy Easter!
Peace be with you, today and always.
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