Although change is part of life and to be expected, the one thing that remains constant is our need for God’s grace in every area of our lives. This is especially true when it comes to gender equality. The world has become accustomed to inequalities between men and women, but this was never God’s original plan. As we kick off another year, we need to re-affirm the basics that Jesus established for our relationships with each other.
Despite the progress made over the years, patriarchal domination still exists; it’s significant that there’s a corresponding lack of knowledge of Jesus and His nature. During His ministry, Jesus made a point of treating men and women as equals. During a time when men didn’t talk to women, the longest recorded conversation Jesus had was with an outcast Samaritan woman drawing water from a well.
Jesus showed favor to less-than-perfect people. He gave the gift of no condemnation to the woman caught in adultery, and wasn’t put off by a woman considered unclean who approached Him to wash His feet, dry them with her hair, and anoint them with expensive ointment from an alabaster box. Neither did He mind when Mary, Martha’s sister, sat at His feet with the men to hear Him teach. Jesus also had plenty of female disciples, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna the wife of Chuza, and Susanna.
After His death and resurrection, He worked through Paul, who spread the message of biblical equality throughout the early church. Paul wrote to the Galatians that there is neither male nor female because we’re all one in Christ Jesus. This message still applies today. In an unequal world, preaching the Gospel of Grace goes a long way in reminding people of what God wants for all of us.
Prayer:
Lord, You love both men and women equally, with no distinction. When Your Son came to earth, He powerfully demonstrated that. Thank You for what You did through Him in restoring the balance to male-female relationships. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
John 4:4-29
John 8:3-11
Luke 7:36-50
Luke 10:39-42
Luke 8:2, 3
Galatians 3:28