SUBSTANCE OF A WOMAN
by
Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (December 29, 2015)
“And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna, the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance” (St. Luke 8:2-3, King James Version [Women minister unto Christ).
Greetings In The Holy Name Of Jesus,
My sisters and brothers, in this Christmas season, as in each Christmas season you are called to know who you are in Christ Jesus. Truly amazing, indeed, to know that the women healed by Christ Jesus were catapulted out of dire circumstances to have substance enough to minister to Christ Jesus. Let us consider how Mary Magdalene was raised up from the sufferings of seven devils inside of her to become a follower of Christ Jesus to have enough substance to minister to Christ Jesus, just truly amazing, indeed (St. Luke 8:2-3, KJV [women minister unto Christ]). Mary Magdalene followed Christ Jesus from Galilee to the cross, ministering to him [“And many women were beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children” (St. Matthew 27:55-56, KJV, Christ's death and burial)]. Moreover, Christ Jesus firstly appeared to Mary Magdalene when he was risen early the first day of the week (St. Mark 16:9, KJV [The resurrection of Christ]).
Most importantly, Mary Magdalene became a woman of substance----able to minister to Christ Jesus, to tend to his needs while he was about his Father's business in his public ministry. Just thinking about how Mary Magdalene grew in faith in the ministry of Christ Jesus to become a woman of substance compelled us to think how Christ Jesus beheld the widow with the mites, another woman of substance even though it appeared she was just a poor widow:
”And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people
cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites,
which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and
saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath
cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For
all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did
cast in all that she had, even all her living” (St. Mark 12:41-44,
KJV [The widow's mites]).
More importantly, I know how it feels to give all that you have and to have all that you have looked upon by some folks as pithy---not of great substance but thank God for Christ Jesus whose eyes beheld the widow's two mites and highly valued her substance. If, it was not for Christ Jesus, then the widow's two mites would not have taught the disciples to see with the eyes of Christ Jesus---a valuable lesson, indeed. For there was a woman who found herself in terrible trouble, in need of much money to untangle herself out of the snare of the devil but the eyes of Christ Jesus looked upon her and provided daily prayer petitions to God on her behalf until Satan took his hands off her and she was loosed, free, indeed, for whomever Christ Jesus frees, is free, indeed----all the ministering was made possible as a vow with no scheduled payments. Thank you, Jesus for your eyes beholding the widow's mites. There was another woman who did not have the money she needed to buy Christmas gifts for her children. I do not remember how many children she had to provide for on Christmas Day so she tried to get a loan
2
but she did not qualify and the eyes of Christ Jesus looked upon her so much that the loan company that would not give her the loan called her and those folks at that loan company told her they purchased gifts for all her children and she could pick-up the gifts. Thank you Jesus. I know both of those women of substance pulled up from circumstances that held them bound did not want to give up---were thankful for the eyes of Christ Jesus, the Son of God. For it is not every day that neighbors are neighborly, bearing each others burdens and helping each other to carry the heavy load but God is a good God and took care.
In closing, my soul loves you Lord. Jesus saves. For when Jesus sat to eat meat in one of the Pharisees' house, a woman, a sinner---ministered to him, she washed his feet with her tears and wiped his feet with the hairs of her head, she kissed Jesus and kissed his feet, without ceasing and she anointed his head and his feet with the oil from her alabaster box of ointment. Jesus forgave her many
sins for she loved much---this time Jesus valued the much love given by the woman as substance enough to pay for her sins-- penance enough for her many sins and said “to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little”and the Pharisee could not believe Christ Jesus had the power and authority to forgive sins (St. Luke 7:36-39, 44-50, KJV [Women minister unto Christ]). Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.
The Lord be with us all. In the Name of Jesus. We continue in prayer. Amen.
