How does Jesus, the Son of God, view women? In his earthly ministry, did Jesus encourage, teach, and empower only men to carry on his work? After his ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit (comforter, intercessor, the presence of God) was given to all believers, women, as well as men (Acts 2:4). What can we learn from the scriptural accounts of Jesus’s interactions with women? To answer these questions, let’s consider three Bible stories.
This piece was first published at Fathommag.com. Rise, Church. Reclaim your daughter’s worth. “Be a Daniel, not an Esther.” With papercut precision, the church elder’s words sliced to my core. “Unlike Daniel,” he explained, “Esther discredited herself because she hid her faith.” The elder’s criticism of Esther stung with familiarity. Indeed, Esther—the young girl ripped from her home and forced into a king’s harem—exemplified courageous faith despite a huge power differential. Relying on prayer, Esther used her wits and death-defying…