Archive for the ‘Jesus on Women’ Category

Jesus on Women – Part 3

October 18, 2012

References to Women in Family Roles

This week we will take a look at Jesus’ references to women in the variety of roles we play in our families—mothers, daughters, wives, and sisters. 

Not surprisingly, Jesus reaffirmed the Old Testament commandment, “Honor your father and mother.” He specifically quoted this command along with several others in his discussion with the rich young ruler:

…As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.  You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 
(Mark 10:17-19; also in Matthew 19:18-19 and Luke 18:20)

Jesus had referred to this commandment and a related one in an earlier discussion with some Pharisees and teachers of the law: (Read More)

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Jesus on Women – Part 2

October 11, 2012

Featuring Widows

In Part 1 of my series ” Jesus on Women” last week, we looked at several times in the Gospels when Jesus used women as the subjects of his parables and illustrations. Today, in Part 2 we will begin with one more parable of Jesus. It’s about a widow, which is a significant enough topic in scripture to focus on all by itself. We’ll be camping out mostly in the Gospel of Luke for this study.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)

(Read More)

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Jesus on Women – Part 1 – New Six-Week Series

October 5, 2012

The Gospels are not filled with teachings about women, I’ll grant you that. You can read through a lot of crimson ink in your red-letter edition of the Gospels without finding a female reference. Clearly, Jesus and the four men who chronicled his ministry considered other messages to be of prime importance—like the coming kingdom and God’s true nature—so those topics received much broader coverage.

Yet women do show up in the Gospels from time to time. A survey of the ways Jesus spoke to and about women gives us important insights into God’s views of women and his expectations for us as valued disciples. If you’ve read any of my prior posts or heard me speak, you know that I have thoroughly (but not yet exhaustively!) explored Jesus’ interactions with women during his ministry.

I decided it was time to broaden my own horizons and look beyond what Jesus said to women and discover more of what he said about women. For six weeks beginning today, I’ll share with you some things I’m learning. (Read More)

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Interview on Zoe Elmore’s Blog

September 28, 2012

Today, Christian speaker Zoe Elmore of Charlotte, NC, has graciously posted an interview with me on her blog Living with Purpose and Passion. At the end there’s a chance to win a free copy of my book and a bracelet Zoe is giving away.

 

 

Lynn, what message has the Lord put in your heart for women?

Women really matter to God.

We all know that when Jesus came to earth as a man, his main purpose was to reveal God more clearly, usher in His Kingdom, and offer himself as a sacrifice for sin. I find it so exciting that this mission frequently brought Jesus into contact with many different kinds of women.

 He healed women with diseases, disabilities, and demon possession. He allowed them to travel with him in his ministry, accepted their financial support, taught them Truth, commended their faith, noticed their tears, forgave their sins, defended them against criticism, and granted their requests. He unfailingly treated every woman he encountered with compassion and respect. He demonstrated clearly that he valued these women and wanted to empower them for Kingdom living.

Knowing all this about Jesus increases my confidence in God’s love for me. Even more, though, it has changed my perspective toward all the women in my life. I want to make sure that I follow the example of Jesus in the way I care about women in financial need, the way I reach out to women who are lonely, the way I communicate acceptance to women whose lifestyles are different from mine, even the way I partner with other women who are devoted disciples. I want to make sure that when they look into my eyes, their value to God is crystal clear.

Read the rest of the interview on Zoe Elmore’s blog Living with Purpose and Passion.

Answer the following question at the end of the post and every answer will be entered in a random drawing for a copy of The Gentle Savior and a silver-tone stretchy heart & cross bracelet:  What is challenging you right now?

Winner to be announced on Tuesday, October 2

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Q and A: An Interview with Author Lynn Bell

December 21, 2011

How did you come by the title “The Gentle Savior”? 

I chose this title because it describes the way the women who met Jesus must have perceived him. I looked in the Gospels at the way Jesus treated women, what he said to them and about them and even the things he didn’t say. He was kind to women in every situation, whether they suffered physical or emotional pain or were trapped by sin or were being condemned and criticized by other men. In a society where women were mostly treated as property—and at the least, were considered inferior beings—the respect Jesus showed to women was truly remarkable. I don’t believe he was kind because he viewed women as weak or pitiable, but I think he considered the kind of life women had to endure. He also knew what they were capable of, if they were given the chance.  Read more of this interview at New Christian Books: An Online Magazine.

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