Have you ever wondered if Jesus really sees you?
Mary Magdalene, as a woman, did something extraordinary. In Luke 8:1–3 it states that she and some other women traveled with Jesus and the apostles. This was extraordinary because women were not permitted to sit at the feet of a rabbi to learn.
Rabbinic literature of the time placed women as inferior to men both socially and religiously. Here are a few of the restrictions Barbara J. MacHaffie highlights in Her Story: Women in Christian Tradition. Women were:
- Not spoken to by men in public.
- Seen as seducers of men, a temptation to be avoided.
- Not permitted to testify in a court of law.
- Not counted in the quorum for forming a synagogue or congregation.
- Not allowed past the outer court in the temple in Jerusalem.
- Seated separately in the synagogues.
- Not permitted to read aloud or take on a public position.
- Not permitted to study the Scriptures.
This same attitude is seen in Mark 16:9–11, when Magdalene rushes to the disciples to tell them she has seen the risen Christ. Verse 11 says, “But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.”
Jesus’s entire ministry involved challenging the status quo. He flipped tables, challenged religious leaders, and spent his time with sinners. He once walked through a field with the disciples, plucking heads of grain to eat, and even healed a man on the Sabbath, much to the dismay of the Pharisees (Mark 2:23–3:6).
In Luke 8:1–3 the women in the story are alongside the twelve Jesus teaches regularly. They travel with and provide for their material needs. Not only were they invited to the table with Jesus, they were financially making it possible for the men to be there as well. If the text here is not clear enough that women were permitted to sit at Jesus’s feet and learn, then another text shows this clearly.
In Luke 10:38–42 we find Jesus in the home of Martha and Mary. As we studied in week two, these women are the sisters of Lazarus. This Mary was revered for turning from her traditional role of service in the home and plopping herself down at the feet of the visiting rabbi to drink in all he has to teach. Be reminded of the words of Jesus to Martha, who argued that Mary’s place is in the kitchen: “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (v. 42). Martha did nothing wrong, but Mary didn’t either.
Jesus welcomed and encouraged women to sit at his feet and learn in a culture that told them they did not belong there. He did not value one sex over the other. He saw male and female as they were created, in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). He welcomed everyone to follow him. Just as he still does.
Teaching men.
The story of MM helps me to consider how much Jesus breaks boundaries. There are many ideas I have had that I have limited myself from doing because I don’t think they are places reserved for “someone like me”. This devotion reminds me that Jesus breaks human traditions and cultures making spaces for women where society has said it is not possible for us to occupy. Jesus is reminding me to stop counting myself out, if he has placed me somewhere, I’m able to learn from him how to navigate that position.
He even shows that there’s nothing preventing my relationship with him, MM was given special privilege of being the first to witness Jesus’s resurrection.
For a very long time the sense of belonging wasn’t much of my place. Partly coz i had a very low self esteem. Even when invited for a party, i would always feel out of place and you will find me in the kitchen cleaning up or just helping out with something. Never at the table!
God broke this and gave me a new identity and a sense of belonging. I endeavor at any given time to chose the right thing that cant be taken away from me; that is sitting at his feet, when He calls me to.
Jesus loves all. He ministers and teaches all. He uses and blesses all. He does not discriminate between male & female,young & old, rich & poor, smart & simple. He loves all.
We thank God that he doesn’t use extraordinary people but very ordinary people to give us hope that we all can be used by God and can have hope. Amen.
I love how God doesn’t value one sex over another.
Yes there was a time I had to go for an interview and the panelists was all males and I told them basically they needed to hire me because they needed a capable female in their team. It was a role I wasn’t qualified for but I told God if this role is for me I know you won’t leave me and I had a passion for it and God surprised me with that role. I thank God because it’s never about me but always about giving him all the honor and glory. Amen. By the way the panelists knew I was a woman who prayed!
If you have felt called to serve in your church then just keep praying God has you exactly where He wants you! God is surely using you in whatever role He leads you to. I pray you will feel His presence and trust His will completely in your life.
I do not think there was any challenge for me in a calling as I want to obey what God has put before me and I do not view it by male/female roles. I view myself as a daughter of God, and I follow Jesus’word as best I can, not as a woman, but as a saved believer
I can’t think of anything specific I shied away from because I didn’t believe it was my place as a woman. Overall, lessons one and two regarding Mary Magdalene have left me in awe! A woman possessed with many demons at one point became one of Jesus’ closest followers and she also was the first person he revealed he was risen! She is an instrumental part of Jesus’ legacy! Jesus adores women and are still using us to do amazing things in the kingdom! He loves both women and men and will save and redeem all who seek him!
I felt that God called me to be able to help people become more in tuned with themselves and work through their feelings, emotions, trauma, strengths , weaknesses etc. I also feel feel I am called to be the light in a dismal day for one.Mary’s story confirm my views of womanhood because it highlights her boldness and strength to gain more knowledge despite the culture norms /man-made restrictions.
I am apart of a team and being part of team is helping, working, and providing for your teammates. Within a team needs a leader someone who can be a positive impact or role model to teach and guide and lately I have felt that struggle. I feel that I am called to be a leader but shy away from it because of fear & judgement. Mary Magdalene didn’t shy away from her calling or her beliefs~ she followed and shared the faith of Jesus. She wasn’t scared, I shouldn’t either. I need to be that role model, be that positive impact, lead with Christ, and love like Jesus!
Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your struggle Abigail. As I was reading your words, I was reminded that one, I can relate. I think, especially as women, we not only have very loud inner critics but comparison becomes far too close a companion. Which is why I think two things are critical, if we want to lead as women of faith and courage, whether it’s on the softball field or simply in our homes:
-Time with Jesus, in the Word, prayer, song, and other sisters who build us up in truth and love,
-Time away from social media and any life-draining people / places…in order to be filled with Joy, so I can be strong, steadfast, and ready to pour out again.
I was also reminded of Ephesians 2:10, “ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
If God has called us to us, He will equip us for it! Praying brave over you! You have nothing to prove, just do your next right thing in love and faith. And honestly, that’s the best kind of leadership! ♥️