Female disciples of Jesus? Did Jesus have female disciples? Well, this week's lesson explores this idea. The first item of note and interest, in this regards, is the statement in Luke 8:1-3 that says women accompanied Jesus on his missionary tour. It even names them. Yet, Luke is not alone in this admission. Both Matthew and Mark do the same thing, though they tuck theirs away in the events that transpired while Jesus was on the way to the cross, giving it only a passing reference. See Matthew 27:55-56 and Mark 15:40-41. One must remember that following implies discipleship.
Second, contemporary disciples can learn much from Mary, the mother of Jesus. As a matter of fact, she can be a model for contemporary discipleship. Her Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55, makes powerful statements about social justice and identifies at least three revolutions--moral, social, and economic--that God's actions will bring about. Her words are instructive for discipleship. I would encourage us to study them and learn from them. She seemed to have understood some things that some of us still have not yet learned 2000 years later.
Luke 10:38-42 presents two more female disciples--Mary and Martha. Here we will only look at the former. She is said to have sat at the feet of Jesus. This is not an insignificant statement and must be understood against the background that in those days learners/disciples sat at the feet of their masters, either on the floor or on lower stools than his. When the text says Mary sat at Jesus' feet, it is inviting us to understand that she was a learner/disciple of Jesus. This notion is further reinforced by the fact that the text says she was listening to His words. Yet, the most powerful statement regarding the meaning of this text is found in Acts 22:3 where Paul says he sat at the feet of Gamaliel in Jerusalem. I am sure none of us have a problem accepting that he was a student/disciple of Gamaliel. Should we then doubt the discipleship of Mary?
One final note is helpful. The first proclaimer of the resurrection and therefore of the Gospel was a woman--Mary Magdalene. She discovered the empty tomb while the men were in hiding for fear of the Jews. She proclaimed it to the men who went to verify the information. Yet, the point is that the first Christian proclaimer of the gospel was a woman. Will we follow her in proclaiming the good news to those around us? God is depending on us. Walk good my friend!
Monday, January 28, 2008
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14 comments:
It is significant, I believe, that Jesus did not choose a female as an apostle. Some will argue, I suppose, it was because of the culture. If Christ thought a female should be in a quasi pastoral position I'm sure He would have selected a female.
The fact that He didn't indicates that the General Conference was quite correct in denying ordination to women.
I certainly agree that it is significant that Jesus did not choose a female apostle. I happen to believe that in the culture he did the right thing in terms of the effect it would have had on the young church. Yet, in these lessons we are dealing neither with choice of apostles nor with ordination of women. We are dealing with discipleship and Jesus' example is there for us to see. I will not enter the latter debate in these lessons.
Some have seen this week's lesson as a rather subtle effort to "soften" opposition to female pastors. Only you know whether you may have had that in the back of your mind. thanks for your comments.
Would you wish to comment on a comment to the lesson?
http://tinyurl.com/2jazo2
Reviewing OT practices from the Garden of Eden through to the Pauline statements regarding headship, why would Jesus consider culture when appointing disciples? It would be going against His very home and institutional set up.
If we consider culture, what do we do with Paul’s statement: Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
I acknowledge your statement of not wishing to get into a debate of women’s ordination and that is not my intent either; however, headship has been in place since the beginning. Cultural relevance does not change the biblical truth of the matter. Heaven has its divine pecking order and all the while we are spiritual equals, God has set forth differing roles for men and women.
If only we had more women who were interested in becoming a Dorcus! Talk about a disciple!
Elder: In lesson 6 you tell of a gospel missionary drinking a potion that includes blood to prove his worthiness to be among potential converts. The option was to be eaten by them. So the missionary drank. He could have chosen to leave given his situation.
Are we told to do ANYTHING to win souls to Christ? Absolutely not! Do we sin in order to spread the gospel or "win some?" How far do we go? How far did Paul go?
Genesis 9:4 "But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat."
Leviticus 7:26, 27 "Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people."
Leviticus 17:10-14 "And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off."
Respectfully, Elder, I question why you would include such an example to be published world-wide and further yet, how did this get by the editors of the SS lesson? This is blatant biblical error.
Dear anonymous:
God is the One who knows motives. He also knows what your true motives are on this issue. All I want to say on this matter has already been said in the Bible Study Guide. Let God be the judge of my motives. In the mean time, let us all be about the task of discipleship to which He has called us. God bless!
Dear Sybil:
In respect to your comments on women in ministry, please note what I have said above to anonymous. Additionally, while I will not enter a debate since that is beyond the scope of the Sabbath School lessons, I will say that on this an all issues, my mind is always open for the leading and guidance God's Holy Spirit.
Sybil 2
Dear Sybil:
Regarding your comments about the missionary, what we have here is an illustration and illustrations are always imperfect conveyors of truth. All illustrations break down at some point. What is most significant in an illustration is the point it makes and not the details. It is a vehicle of truth and not truth itself (SDABC 204).
Let's examine this position in Jesus' use of illustrations. Are we to believe that the dead can communicate with Abraham and actually live in his bossom? Must we also believe that Lazarus is in heaven and that hell is in close proximity to hell? Didn't Jesus imply that much in His illustration/parable about the Rich man and Lazarus?
We know that Jesus did not intend to teach that those who die are conscious and can speak. Rather, He was teaching that the time to prepare for eternity is in this life--NOW--and we must make best use of it. Similarly, my emphasis was not on the minute details of the story. I wanted to note the limits to which the missionary was willing to go to present God to some for whom Christ died. Are we willing to go to the limits to follow Jesus or to present Him to those for whom He died? Let's never forget that Jesus went to the ultimate limits--He died to save us from sin! What a wonderful Savior!
Thank you, dear brother, for your kind responses. Do you subscribe to Adventists Affirm? Samuel Pipim, PhD., et al, published the book "Prove All Things." http://www.adventistsaffirm.org/sitemap.php
A better book on the subject cannot be found. Sincere brothers and sisters giving biblical answers to a contemporary church dilemma. Most of the book is online at the above address. Approach it, if you will, with an open mind.
Regarding the blood-drinking missionary, I will make no further comment. Thank you. May God help us all in these closing hours of earth's history.
Sybil
I am totally amazed how anyone could inject the matter of headship and the ordination of women in this subject of discipleship!
This confirms what I thought all along: Ordination for most people is a symbol of elevation, status, prestige, rank. It is about power, control, and who is in charge around here. It is certainly not about self-sacrifice, service, and humility! Otherwise, this debate would have been over a long time ago. For no one fights to obtain the lowly place of a servant.
We have so integrated the hierarchical business model of "leadership" that as a church, we have misrepresented the intent of God in calling human beings to follow Him and do the great work of saving souls for Him and with Him.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:7
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20: 25 to 28)
"I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." (John 13:16)
Friends, this is the true meaning of biblical "headship" and "leadership."
Discipleship is not a call to pre-eminence. It is a call to self-renunciation, self-abnegation; a call to surrender self to Jesus and let Him work His will in us.
Go and do likewise.
Dear Dumbfounded:
I say AMEN! Jesus calls each of us to discipleship and each of us must be willing to accept His call and follow His bidding. It appears that some of us are so concerned about others and being sure they are doing and saying what we think is right that we neglect our own discipleship.
However, let us not forget what happened on the beach the morning when Jesus reinstated Peter. Peter saw John and asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus' response is instructive, "What is that to you? As for you, follow Me." Remembering that a call to follow is a call to discipleship, this is a reminder that we must allow others to pursue their disciple-ship as God directs and dictates and concentrate on our own. Walk good my friend!
It is my opinion that there is too much emphasis on male leadership or what some call masculine leadership. We need an alternative view of leadership and relationship. What must we alway have the "headship" or "in charge" approach or view. Why can't we talk more about partnership and co-leadership when it comes to men and women. Then we would have an argument if Jesus and female disciples.
Dear Barrington:
I agree that we often tend to think in "either/or" categories instead of "both/and." Jesus set an example that some of us are missing. Though living in a culture that excluded women, he included them. While it was unheard of, in his times, for Rabbis to have female disciples, and to teach women, he had female disciples and he taught women. I think we should be where Jesus was and be inclusive. There is a place in discipleship for both genders. Pauls insight in Gal 3:29 is instructive. He said, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for we are all one in Christ Jesus."
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