1. Part of a daily Jewish Prayer (by men):
"Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of the Universe, for not having made me a Gentile."
"Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of the Universe, for not having made me a slave."
“Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of the Universe, for not having made me a woman."
• At first blush this seems to be condescending towards women
• Actually it deals with the domestic distractions and monthly cycle of women
• Men were required to do certain things according to the teachings of Moses
• Women had options and a different set of priorities – domestic duties trumped religious ones; women could do as much as they wanted
• Men did not want to be distracted from GETTING to serve God
2. Women had a big teaching/serving role at home:
My mom taught me so many things, like…
*Spiritual habits - “You’d better pray that comes out of the carpet.”
*How to appreciate a job well done – “If you and your brothers are going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”
*Logic – “Because I said so, that’s why!”
*More logic – “If you fall out of that tree and break your neck, you won’t be going to the mall with me.”
*Justice – “One day you’ll have kids and I hope they turn out just like you!”
3. Think of how often in scripture it is the woman who is the vehicle for ministry.
• Who prompted Jesus to perform His first miracle? A Woman!
• Who ministered to Christ during His public ministry? The women!
• Who anointed the body of Jesus? The women!
• Who stayed with Jesus throughout his trial and crucifixion? The women!
• Who were the first witnesses to the resurrected Savior? The women!
• Who makes up the majority of the population of most churches today? The women!
4. In the final chapter of Romans, Paul sends greetings to numerous people in Rome. Among those are at least 6 women (depending upon translating the names) – Note from Romans 16.1-16
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
I. God’s Esteem for People
A. Dignity Through Design
1. Created in the Image of God – Genesis 1.27; Matthew 19.4
2. Created Male and Female
B. Dignity Through Demonstration
1. God’s Love for Us – Romans 5.8
2. Our Love for Him
3. Our Love for One Another
II. Jesus’ Regard for Women
A. Yeshua (Jesus) is Inclusive by Nature
1. He did not come to exclude but to save – Luke 19.10
2. This included men and women
B. Yeshua (Jesus) Honors Women:
3. He Addressed Women in Public
a. Unusual – “Bleeding Shoulder Pharisees” covered their eyes so they would not lust after women and ran into walls
b. Samaritan Woman – John 4
c. Woman in Adultery – John 8
d. Widow of Nain – Luke 7
14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
e. Woman with Issue of Blood – Luke 8
48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
f. Included women as part of his teaching – Queen of the South – Matthew 12.42
42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Widow and the Judge (Persistence in Prayer) – Luke 18.1ff
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
Woman Leavening the Loaf – Matthew 13.33
He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
Woman with Lost Coin – Luke 15
4. He Held Women Accountable for their Sins
• Level of equality with men – no excusing
• Samaritan Woman – Not your Husband
• Woman in Adultery – Sin no more
5. He Ministered TO Women
Healed Peter’s Mother-in-Law – Matthew 8.14-15
14 And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.
Raised the Widow’s Son and gave him back to her (Luke 7)
Jairus’ Daughter – Luke 8
54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.
Mary and Martha at Lazarus’ Tomb – John 11
6. He Received Ministry FROM Women
Financial Support – Luke 8.1-3
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
Anointing His Feet – Luke 7
37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
Anointing His Head – Mark 14
3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.
III. Paul’s Respect for Women
[Rabbi-Disciple
The story is told of a missionary to China who was in language school. The very first day of class the teacher entered the room and, without saying a word, walked down every row of students. Finally, still without saying a word, she walked around the room again. Then she came back and addressed the class.
“Did you notice anything special about me?” she asked. Nobody could think of anything in particular. One student finally raised her hand. “I noticed that you had on a very lovely perfume,” she said. The class chuckled. But the teacher said, “That was exactly my point.
You see, it will be a long time before any of you will be able to speak Chinese well enough to share the gospel with anyone in China. But even before you are able to do that, you can minister the sweet fragrance of Christ to these people by the quality of your lives. It is your lifestyle, lived out among the Chinese people, that will minister Christ to them long before you are able to say one word to them about personal faith in Jesus.”
Paul has a bad rap – not a male chauvinist – Romans 16.1-16
A. Phoebe (Single Lady?) – 16.1-2
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
B. Priscilla (Wife) – Teacher – 16.3-5
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house.
Seems to have led in teaching Apollos; more spiritual?
A man once told his wife that he never wanted to live in a vegetative state dependent upon a machine. He said, “If I ever get in that shape, I want you to pull the plug.” She got up and unplugged the television.
C. Rufus’ Mother (a Mom) – 16.13
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.
Simon of Cyrene had two sons, Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15.21) – this may have been the wife of the man who carried the cross of Yeshua (Jesus)
[When my mom was looking for a car after my dad died, we went to my friend, Ken Pence, who was the Sales Manager at a Lincoln-Mercury dealer in Jacksonville, FL. I was not asking him for any ‘extra-special’ deal, just to treat my mom fairly. He said, “I will treat your mom as if she was my mom.”
Mothers in Yeshua (Jesus) – Matthew 10.29-30
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
Conclusion
The story is told that when Napoleon was making plans to invade England, he was told that an American wanted to see him. "I can give him two minutes," Napoleon said. But two minutes was not long enough to understand the revolutionary idea of a ship propelled by steam. Had Napoleon listened longer to Robert Fulton the history of the world might have been altered.
What is God telling us that we should stop and listen today? Maybe it is:
Applications:
1. Acknowledge and build relationships with co-laborers in Christ – Male and Female
2. Women – Do not forget your place – YOU ARE KEY SERVANTS OF YESHUA (JESUS)
3. Men – Serve and fan the flame for our ladies to excel in Ministry
4. Remember, we are not a faceless sea of people but a community of individuals making up the body of Christ, each in his or her own place
5. Whenever we experience a lack of appreciation, remember, God sees and rewards.
