Jesus: Counter-Cultural in His Honour for Women
In first-century Middle Eastern society, women were often excluded from theological dialogue, religious instruction, and public leadership. Yet, Jesus consistently broke cultural barriers: The Samaritan Woman (John 4): Jesus engages her in the longest recorded theological conversation in the Gospels, revealing His messiahship first to her, not to His male disciples. Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38-42): She takes the posture of a disciple at His feet, and Jesus affirms her right to learn, saying she has “chosen the good portion.” The Witnesses of the Resurrection (John 20:11-18): In a culture where a woman’s testimony was not considered legally valid, Jesus entrusts the news of His resurrection to women first. These are not accidental moments. They are deliberate signs that in the kingdom of God, the new creation, women are trusted bearers of truth and co-labourers in the gospel. Paul: Champion of the New Creation Ethos Paul is often misunderstood as restrictive toward women, yet when we...