Jesus totally rocked Feminism!

Hundreds and hundreds of years before Jesus, Greek philosophers (like Plato and Aristotle) taught that women were evil, they were mans punishment, they were a curse, subordinate and inferior to men, deformed males, less capable than men, lacking strength unable to reason, or demonstrate self-control*.

When the Roman Empire was established much of this thinking filtered through. Romans questioned whether women were really human, women had so little value they weren’t even given their own name, it was acceptable and legal to dispose of baby girls, and wives could be killed for adultery, but men were encouraged to have mistresses and sleep with prostitutes*.

By the time Jesus was born, Jewish culture and beliefs had been influenced by the Greeks and Romans. They thought women were more likely to sin, they were possessions to be used or avoided, in fact it was better to not even look at or speak to a woman. Women were denied entry to the temple and were segregated from men, they couldn’t fully engaged in worship and were deterred from reading and studying the Torah*.

ENTER JESUS!

In walks Jesus, to kick some mysogynous (fear or hatred of women) inequality in the butt! He ventures into this society poisoned with inequality, double standards and a culture that had strayed from Gods original intention and word. My Hero!

Jesus comes and revolutionises the way women are seen. He implements what it means to live counter-culturally. I LOVE HIS WORK!

He looks at women. He sees women for who they really are. He talks to women. He listens to their fears, and failings and responds to them with kindness and love. He involves women in his own ministry. He reveals to them their real place. He teaches them. He empowers them. He commissions them. He loves them.

There are so many stories of how Jesus spat in the face of inequality and the rules and regulations oppressing women in his day. A few of my favs...


He sits next to a woman at a well, and asks HER to give HIM water. He then enters a theological discussion with her, revealing to HER that he is the 'living water'. This revelation of who he is ... he gave to a woman first. He then commissioned her to go and share her experince of him, with others. As a result of this woman, many came to believe in Jesus.


A woman who has bled constantly for 12 years pushes through a crowd and touches his cloak, believing that just by touching him, she will be healed. Jesus stops, looks her in the face, calls her daughter, affirms her and indeed heals her from her infirmity. She reaches out to him, and he responds. He doesn't turn her away, look down on her ... but he embraces her with compassion and love.


Another women, caught in the act of adultery is surrounded by men. They hold stones, ready to throw, they shout at her with insults and condemnation. The man involved, is nowhere to be seen. Jesus breaks through the crowd and says "Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone." One by one the crowd dissipates. Jesus also challenged the view that women were the only guilty party in adultery and levelled the playing field.

Mary, who sits at the feet of Jesus, taking the typical position of a student or disciple.  She hangs on every word as he teaches. Her sister in the kitchen tries to call her to her 'proper place' in the kitchen, but Jesus affirms Mary, and encourages that she has chosen what is better. He enables and empowers her to learn.

Then there is Mary who Jesus first appeared to in the garden after his resurrection. He tasked her, commissioned her with going to tell others that he had risen. Jesus, asking a woman, Mary, to share the best news ever with a bunch of men. This has to be significant! He commissions and appoints her.

Jesus turned the way women were viewed upside down. He recognised their value, their potential and responded to their needs and desires. He acknowledged and affirmed them for who they really were, despite what society said about them. He wasn't afraid to challenge the beliefs of the day, and did this not only with his words, but with his actions. He called his followers to do the same. Jesus totally rocked feminism. (Boom, dropped the 'f' bomb!)

There is no room for inequality in those who follow Jesus.

Sadly, today, equality for Women is still a dream. All around the world women are oppressed by the beliefs, traditions and values of their societies, cultures and organisations.

Jesus longs to turn that upside down!

Today, on International Womens Day 2013, know this:

Jesus sees you, he values you, he recognises your value and worth, he calls you capable and competant. He responds when you reach out to him. He offers healing, freedom and forgiveness. Jesus desires for women to be freed from oppression and to be seen as and treated equal to their male counter-parts. He wants you living life to it's fullest, and fulfilling your potential. You have value. You have worth.

As followers of Jesus, it's up to us to join him, imitate his example, and kick inequality in the butt!

Stay tuned as I attempt to delve a little deeper into this stuff in coming weeks.

Comment below with your thoughts and opinions, maybe something you’d like some more info on. Maybe even share your own experience of inequality or how you’ve been kicking it in the butt and you’ll go in the draw to win a copy of “Fearless Daughters of the Bible” by J. Lee Grady.
Exciting, my first give-away! (if you’re comment is anonymous, you won’t be able to with the book). The book isn't just for women either ... both men and women will benefit from reading it.

Itsy. Bitsy!

P.S: If you wanna do more reading aroung this topic, check out the books on Equality at the bottom of this page. In particular "Why not women?" by Cunnigham and Hamilton. It gives the cultural context of Jesus day, surrounding influences and breaks down some of the tough passages of scripture regarding women.

*Reference: Cunningham and Hamilton "Why not Women"