Together in Christ: 'Women Who Supported Jesus' Ministry' — Luke 8:1-3

Over the years, whenever I have spoken on these verses and other similar passages, ^[1] many people are surprised to learn that a group of Galilean women supported Jesus' ministry financially and encouraged Him by their presence. ^[2] Several different women anointed Jesus, extravagantly honoring Him. ^[3] Jesus blessed many women by personally ministering to them. ^[4] A group of women remained faithful to Jesus during His horrific death and burial when the men abandoned, denied, and betrayed Him. ^[5] Both an angel and Jesus also gave some women the responsibility to be the first to declare His resurrection. ^[6] Some of these women were present as the disciples were praying at Pentecost when Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit. ^[7] Reminded of these examples, some have remarked: "Oh yes, I do remember these now!" So my question related to our relationships in Christ is this: Why do we not remember the vital role played by women in Jesus' ministry more readily, and why do we not encourage women to follow the example of those women today? Hmm!"

All four gospels stressed the presence of faithful women during the Lord's Passion. ^[8] Even when the men grew frightened, then abandoned Jesus and hid in a locked room, the women continued to follow Him and bore witness the horrific events of the cross. ^[8] As is typical of John, the fourth gospel emphasizes things in detail that the other gospels omit. In this case, John's gospel stresses the importance of women we don't find mentioned in the three other gospels — the Samaritan woman at the well, ^[9] the adulterous woman, ^[10] and the vital connection between Martha and Mary with their brother Lazarus and their faith in Jesus. ^[11]

What are we to make of this? I believe the New Testament stresses several realities of our Christian faith directly tied to women: ^[12]

• God values women and considers them equal in importance, value, and significance to men and has done so from the very beginning of creation. ^[13]
• In Christ, as disciples of Jesus, women are indispensable to men, and men are indispensable to women in the spiritual family of God. ^[14]
• Women played a vital role in the ministry of Jesus as partners and supporters of His ministry. ^[15]
• Women were treated with dignity and respect as Jesus served and ministered to them when they were often neglected in their culture and community. ^[16]
• Jesus emphasized that the importance He placed on women in ministry should not be taken from them. ^[17]

Amazingly, in the New Testament, Jesus is never accused by His critics of abusive or sexually immoral behavior with a woman. The Lord Jesus left us an example of non-sexualized and non-abusive friendship and ministry partnership with women in His family of believers.

As we journey ahead and look at healthy and proper relationships in God's family, the Lord's example must play a significant role in helping us know how to treat and value people of both genders, all backgrounds, and all ages. Godly men and women need each other to live productive lives while passionately displaying the Kingdom of God!