Week 3

The Little Church with the BIG Heart

R EV . L ISA W ILLIAMS , Pastor | 109 Roslyn Road, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 | (516) 484-9362

TRAVELING WITH JESUS: 6 WOMEN TOUCHED BY HIM

As we journey through the text leading up to Jesus crucifixion let us continue to examine the lives of the
many He touched by His love, compassion and power. Remembering one key aspect of the miracles was
to point to Jesus as the Messiah and so …that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that believing you may have life in His name John 20:30-31.

Jewish Women in the 1st Century were completely separated from their husbands in the Temple. Herod’s
Temple, the one Jesus frequented, was specifically built for the separation of women and gentiles from
men.

Although Herod’s temple was completely segregated, the evidence indicates that segregation was a later
development. Neither Solomon’s temple, built in the tenth century B.C., nor Zerubabbel’s temple, built in
the sixth century B.C., had these separate courts. According to the historian Josephus, the women entered
the first court, the court of the gentiles, and went to the court directly above that, the women’s court. It
was five steps above the gentile court but still fifteen steps below the men’s court.

At the beginning of the Common Era, Jewish women weren’t active participants in the synagogue or
Temple services; they were spectators and listeners. Rabbi Eliezer said, “Whoever teaches his daughter
the Torah is like one who teaches her obscenity”. Rabbi Eliezer also said, “Rather should the words of the
Torah be burned than entrusted to a woman.” (Trombley, Charles, Who Said Women Can't Teach?
pgs. 7 & 41)

A STORY WITHIN A STORY (MATTHEW 9:18-26; MARK 5:21-43; LUKE 8:41-56)

Jarius, a Synagogue ruler, approaches Jesus to request healing for his daughter who is very ill. As Jesus
begins to accompany Jarius to his home to heal the daughter, their trip is interrupted by an unnamed
woman with an issue of blood who touches the hem of Jesus garment to receiver her healing. This
woman, based on Jewish law, would be an outcast in society, perpetually unclean due to circumstances
outside of her control. But Jesus did not mind touching the marginalized of society, the ones all others
throw away. Based on your understanding of the role of women and the laws of cleanliness, what do you
think was going through Jarius mind at this time when his help is put on hold?
After Jesus attends to the woman, Jarius is informed that it’s too late, His daughter is already dead. Jesus
hearing, turns to Jairus and says “Do not be afraid; only believe…” Luke 8:50
FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real) always invites worry which negates our faith.

MARY AND MARTHA WORSHIP AND SERVE (LUKE 10:38-42)

At this time in history women are not given religious instruction and gender roles are traditionally
defined. But again, Jesus breaks cultural rules by allowing Mary to sit at His feet. He then goes further
by commending her for taking what was culturally considered a male role, while Martha who was
performing in the typical woman's function, was gently chastised for having her priorities out of order.
THE WOMAN BENT OVER (LUKE 13:10-17)
This woman had been bent over for 18 years, but as a daughter of Abraham, firmly believing her faith
(Judaism), she faithfully went to temple on the Sabbath. It was in going to temple (church), despite her
predicament that Jesus saw her, called her, and healed her by speaking the words WOMAN THOU ART
LOOSED. Her immediate response was to stand straight and Glorify God.

The Pharisees were displeased with this show of power, and used the Sabbath laws as a “just” cause why
it should not have happened. Jesus, however, immediately put them in their place, teaching the difference
between the letter and spirit of a law.

MARY MAGDALENE (LUKE 8:1–3)

At this time, a woman, especially a woman with such a common name as Mary, was referred to in relation
to her husband—for example, “Mary wife of Cleopas” or her children “Mary the mother of James and
Joseph”. However, this Mary was called Mary Magdalene as in Mary of Magdala1, a city on the shore of
Galilee. What that also suggests is that this Mary controlled her own property and funds. She was her
own woman. Indeed, in Luke 8:2–3 we are told that the Magdalene was among those who provided for
Jesus and his disciples “out of their [own] resources.”

From scripture we know Mary Magdalene was delivered of 7 demons, but she is also referred to culturally
as a woman delivered from prostitution. This story emerged in the 6th century Pope Gregory the Great,
preached of her being a model repentant sinner and linked her with the stories of two unnamed sinner
women in the bible; the one who anoints Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. His teaching stuck and
was passed down throughout Christendom without any historical backing that can be found. There is no
biblical basis for identifying Mary as the reformed prostitute.

SALOME (MATTHEW 20:20-28)

Also known as wife of Zebedee, the mother of James and John. She asked Jesus to “Grant that these two
sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom”. She wanted to
secure prominent positions of power for her sons when Jesus Kingdom was fully come; further proof that
they all still did not understand that the Kingdom was not earthly but spiritual.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
• Read Luke 10:38-42 –When do you look at what others are doing instead of looking at your own
heart?
• Read Luke 13:10-17 – When God makes your crooked ways straight, do you immediately stand up
and give Him glory?
• In pondering Mary Magdalene’s story, do you define yourself by what others say about you? Or by
what God says about you?
• Read the story of 1 of the women we discussed (see chapter references above). As you reflect on her
story and think of your own, what is your takeaway?

1
Magdala means “tower” or “castle,” and in the time of Christ was a thriving, populous town on the coast of Galilee about
three miles from Capernaum...The Jewish Talmud affirms that Magdala had an unsavory reputation, and because of the
harlotry practiced there was destroyed. Doubtless it was from this tradition, and from the fact that Luke’s first reference to her
follows the story of the sinful woman, that the idea developed that Mary was a prostitute, but there is not an iota of genuine
evidence to suggest such a bad reputation. (https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Mary-Magdalene)