THE BIBLE WOMEN WE LOVE THE MOST, PART 6

We are exploring your favourite Bible women in the NT today!

The following accounts highlight the faith, devotion, and significant roles of some of your choices in the New Testament narrative that bring profound lessons of faith, forgiveness and the inclusivity of Jesus’ ministry.

1. The Woman at the Well

John 4:1-42

Joan Histon chose the Woman at the Well: “This poor lady seems to have had  such a complicated past with men and feels so embarrassed about it that she tends to ignore her neighbours by coming to the well at noon, when the sun is at its hottest, rather than have to face the whispered asides when she passes the other women.  But one encounter with Jesus, her shame has gone and her confidence has grown. A lovely story of how God didn’t use the mayor, the rabbis or the important people in the village, but a woman who had very little self-worth.

(Note from Bobbie: A possible alternative interpretation of this woman’s circumstances is that she was plagued with a series of successive husbands who died, leaving her penniless and forcing her to become a burden on a male relative.)

The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

John 4:15

Story Summary:

• Context: Jesus travels through Samaria and stops at Jacob’s well.
• Encounter: A Samaritan woman comes to draw water, and Jesus asks her for a drink.
• Dialogue: Jesus offers her “living water” that will eternally quench her thirst, revealing His knowledge of her five previous husbands and the man she is currently with, who is not her husband.
• Revelation: The woman recognizes Jesus as a prophet and discusses the proper place of worship with Him.
• Declaration: Jesus reveals Himself to her as the Messiah.
• Impact: The woman spreads the news about Jesus in her town, leading many Samaritans to believe in Him.

2. Joanna, Wife of Chuza

Reference: Luke 8:1-3; Luke 24:10

Steve Feist says, “My favourite Is Joanna Chuza. I wrote about her in one of my short stories. I think she channelled banquet leftovers from under Herod’s nose, sending them out to wherever Jesus was. This was after John was beheaded, but before she found out, which was after the mule pack has left and she took John his breakfast in prison.”

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Luke 24:9-11

Luke 24:9-11

Story Summary:

• Context: Joanna is mentioned as one of the women who were healed by Jesus and who supported His ministry.
• Background: She is the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household.
• Role: Joanna, along with other women like Mary Magdalene and Susanna, provided for Jesus and His disciples out of their own means.
• Resurrection Witness: Joanna is also listed among the women who discovered the empty tomb and reported Jesus’ resurrection to the apostles.

3. The Woman with a Discharge of Blood

Reference: Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48; Matthew 9:20-22

Vicki Cottingham has written movingly about the healing of the biblical woman with a discharge of blood. She says, “I chose her because I could relate to her as I also live with a chronic illness. I love that her story is one of transformation and hope when she encounters Jesus.”

“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” Mark 5:31

Mark 5:31

Story Summary:

• Context: This woman had suffered from a bleeding disorder for twelve years, spending all she had on doctors without finding a cure.
• Healing: Hearing about Jesus, she believes that touching His cloak will heal her. She touches Jesus’ garment in a crowd, and immediately, her bleeding stops.
• Recognition: Jesus feels power leaving Him and asks who touched Him. The woman comes forward, trembling, and explains her action.
• Response: Jesus tells her that her faith has healed her and to go in peace, freed from her suffering.

4. The Woman Who Wiped Her Tears on Jesus’ Feet

Reference: Luke 7:36-50

Sophia Anwanyu says: “I  am fascinated by the sinful woman who dried our Lord Jesus’ feet with her hair as her tears fell fast in torrents. She is the prostitute who finds salvation at the feet of Jesus at a party. She is beautiful, wealthy but did not know Jesus. What finally convinces her to meet with the Lord Jesus and be so brazenly bold to do what she did to Him before a gathering of guests? I have used Midrash to write her redemption story in The Captive’s Crown. I admire her courage, boldness and bravery to seek what she considers the most important thing in the world.

 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

Luke 7:40

Story Summary:

• Context: Jesus is invited to dine at the house of a Pharisee named Simon.
• Act of Devotion: A woman known to be a sinner brings an alabaster jar of perfume, weeps at Jesus’ feet, wets them with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with the perfume.
• Pharisee’s Reaction: Simon is critical, thinking if Jesus were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman is touching Him.
• Parable: Jesus tells a parable about two debtors forgiven by a moneylender, one owing much more than the other, and asks which debtor would love the lender more.
• Lesson: Simon correctly answers that the one forgiven more would love more. Jesus then highlights the woman’s actions compared to Simon’s lack of hospitality.
• Forgiveness: Jesus forgives the woman’s sins, declaring her faith has saved her and telling her to go in peace.

Next time: Cultivating Community & Deepening Devotion Among Women: Insights with Bible Teacher Kabwe Benaya

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