When Jesus Related to Women
Jesus with little one (Photo credit: freestone)
Jesus shocked the world with his relationships to women. He was without a doubt, the most surprising man when it came to his relationships with women. A case for his divine sonship could be made from his relationships to women alone. If you only looked only at his relationships to women you could prove he was the Son of God.
.
How do you spell scandalous?
.
Jesus traveled with women, and this was simply not done. Women stayed in the temple and ministered to the rabbis but they certainly did not sleep under the night sky with the men. In today’s terms, you never knew who was a tent-hoppin’. But not in the Jesus culture.
.
In my imagination somewhere, some traveler would slip into a woman’s tent. How she redirected him would be so protective of his masculine identity that the next day there would be no shame, no hiding. She would greet him with fondness, giving real love a chance to grow. In my imagination somewhere, a lovely woman would try to entice a fellow traveler into declaring his desire for her. But with the highest of regard, he would tell her, he wanted more in a relationship with her. Jesus could address all of this sexuality with love and guidance, and not play the co-dependant role of supreme tent watcher.
.
Jesus would not be the kind of man who would spark the fire of competition between the men. There was a notable absence of stupid accidents due to male posturing. No testosterone prone injuries occurred. Nor did Jesus need to be McDreamy, or McSteamy*, the most desirable male among all the women. I am certain that men and women alike would feel safe in His presence.
.
The disciple and author, Luke did all but called the women who traveled with them, apostles. They were a band of equals, each with their own gifts and talents to bring to the crew. Everyone chipped in to help. No chore was beneath a man, no task too much for a woman. Everyone with the road crew were treated with the same respect, men and women alike.
&
When you traveled with Jesus there was a sense of mission but they undoubtably had a lot of fun.
&
A culture of honor surrounded the Son of God.
.
Men and women could be friends, partners, and helpmates when they submitted to the spirit of honor. Women were equally part of the crew. They were there at the cross, the burial, and the resurrection.
&
Does anyone suppose these women found Jesus attractive? Yes, but for more than physical reasons. Jesus was physically strong, self controlled, confident, quiet, a powerful, charismatic speaker, playful, witty, engaging, and respectful of all people. He would not be the kind of man who would spark the fire of competition between the men, he had no need to assert his alpha male status.
&
*McDreamy wa
&
Follow Us!!!: