Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Women
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About this ebook
Jesus was a revolutionary in the most noble sense of the word. One area in which this was strikingly evident was in his conversations with women. They were much more than small talk. Each conversation reveals meaningful truths Jesus wanted women and men to understand.
Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Women presents nine conversations Jesus had with women and the great truths they reveal about his special relationship with women and their place in the work of His kingdom. The author presents Jesus' conversations in dialog fashion, using fiction techniques to enliven the text while remaining true to the biblical account. The presentations take into account the cultural and political background of the period and places.
Following the account of each conversation are interactive learning exercises that can be completed individually or in a group setting. This book is a handy tool for group and individual Bible study.
Shirley Stephens
Shirley Stephens has written and edited over a period of thirty-plus years. She is a graduate of Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona, and Southwestern Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of eleven books and countless articles. Books to her credit: My Daughter Susan Smith, the story of a troubled young mother who sent her children to their deaths in a South Carolina lake; Under the SS Shadow, the true story of a former Hitler Youth and the son of an SS major; A New Testament View of Women, a detailed exegesis of all of the New Testament passages that deal specifically with the role of women; Breaking Crime's Vicious Cycle, the gripping, true-life story of hardened criminal Don Dennis and his conversion and transformation into a life of service to inmates; From the Cell to the Cross, an update of Breaking Crime's Vicious Cycle; Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Women presents, in dialog fashion, nine truths that Jesus taught women; Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Men presents, in dialog fashion, eleven truths that Jesus taught men; Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees presents, in dialog fashion ten truths that Jesus taught Pharisees; Great Truths from One Woman's Conversations With the Apostle Paul presents, in dialog fashion, nine teachings of Paul on the role of women in the home, church and society; Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With the Apostle Peter presents, in dialog fashion, nine truths that Jesus taught the Apostle Peter; Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With the Apostle John presents, in dialog fashion, Jesus' letters to the seven churches of Revelation.
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Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Women - Shirley Stephens
Great Truths from
Jesus’
Conversations
With
Women
Shirley Stephens
© Copyright 2003 by Shirley L. Stephens
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 0-9701076-8-4
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Printed in the United States of America
Authors Book Nook
P. O. Box 513
Brentwood, TN 37024-0513
Website: www.authorsbooknook.com
A note to the reader
The nine conversations in this book are based solidly on the biblical record. Some liberties have been taken to recreate the scene related to each conversation, such as likely responses of the persons involved and background information about the people and the locations where the conversations took place.
Following the account of each conversation are interactive exercises designed to delve into the truths to be learned and the life applications that can be made as a result of studying the conversation.
Subject and Scripture indices, along with a glossary of terms are provided to aid in study and understanding.
Contents
Prologue: Conversation—
A Revolutionary Idea
Conversation 1: Who Are You?
Reflection 1
Conversation 2: What Is Most Important?
Reflection 2
Conversation 3: Where Are Your Accusers?
Reflection 3
Conversation 4: What About Family Relationships?
Reflection 4
Conversation 5: What Makes a Person Great?
Reflection 5
Conversation 6: How About Leftovers
?
Reflection 6
Conversation 7: Why Weren’t You Here?
Reflection 7
Conversation 8: Woman, Behold Your Son!
Reflection 8
Conversation 9: Why Are You Weeping?
Reflection 9
The On-going Response
Scripture Index
Subject Index
Glossary of Terms
Prologue:
Conversation —
A Revolutionary Idea
Jesus was a revolutionary in the most noble sense of the word. One area in which this was strikingly evident was in his attitude toward women. By the way he related to women, what he said about women, and what he said to women, he demonstrated that he did not accept the demeaning status assigned to women in the society of his day. Through his teachings he made it quite clear that he considered women to be equal in value to men, a definite departure from prevalent first-century attitudes.
Like other Jewish religious teachers, Jesus gathered disciples around him, instructing them and preparing them to teach and train others in the principles and purposes of his kingdom. Unlike other Jewish teachers, though, Jesus accepted women as disciples or learners.
Early in Jesus’ public ministry, a group of women were numbered among his disciples, first joining him in his ministry in Galilee. At least twice, the Gospel writer Luke referred to this group as the women,
thus identifying them as a distinct group of followers (see Luke 23:49; Acts 1:14). It is also from Luke that we learn about the involvement of these women in Jesus’ ministry. He reported that they provided for Jesus and the disciples of their substance
(8:3). In other words, they gave financial support to Jesus’ public ministry. These women faithfully followed Jesus throughout Galilee and stayed near him all the way to the cross (Matt. 27:55). It was women from this group of faithful disciples that the angel engaged in conversation at the empty tomb after Jesus had risen from the grave.
On many occasions, Jesus carried on meaningful conversations with women in the same way that he talked to men. The New Testament contains a number of conversations between Jesus and women. The women he engaged in conversation came from all classes of first-century society and from various ethnic groups that inhabited Palestine. These conversations tell us much about the way he related to women and how he valued them as followers and active participants in the work of his kingdom.
Jesus’ conversations with women were much more than small talk, to be sure. Each one had a specific purpose. They reveal meaningful truths Jesus wanted women and men to understand and, in turn, to communicate to others.
The nine conversations included in this book contain messages that have informed and encouraged and comforted countless individuals — both men and women — down through the centuries.
Conversation 1
Who Are You?
John 4:5-42
She is popularly known as the Woman of Samaria.
Otherwise, she remains nameless. So let’s call her Leah, just to give her a good Old Testament name. After all, the Samaritans¹ lived by the first five books of the Old Testament.
Leah’s life was all messed up. She just couldn’t make marriage work, even though she had gone into all of her marriages with the hope that they would last for life. One time after another, the relationship ended in divorce. After five failures, Leah didn’t bother with a ceremony. She and her children just moved in with number six.
Although Leah didn’t accept all the blame for the marriage failures, she still felt guilty. Guilty, because she knew things weren’t supposed to be that way. Her parents had taught her how to live according to God’s commandments. Friends told her she was ruining her life by the way she lived. But she just couldn’t seem to live right, despite her periodic resolutions to be a better person. Besides, life wasn’t treating her too badly, she told herself from time to time. She had a lot of nice things, more than most of her friends who criticized the way she lived.
Still, no matter how much she tried to convince herself that things were okay, Leah was self-conscious about her lifestyle. And she thought everyone in town knew about her sin. Her decent friends didn’t come around anymore. And she didn’t want to embarrass them with a visit. They had good reputations to protect. She still had feelings, though. So, she made sure she didn’t get into a situation where people could pass judgment on her lifestyle — by words or insinuating looks.
One strategy Leah used to protect herself was the way she carried out her daily chore of hauling water. Most women went to the community well in groups, but not Leah. She went alone. And women generally took care of this chore early in the morning or in the cool of the evening. Not Leah. She went at high noon — the hottest time of the day. That way she could be sure she wouldn’t run into anyone she knew.
Each day, before she went out to take care of the water-drawing chore, Leah gave special attention to her appearance. From the dressing table, she picked up a beautiful bronze mirror, a gift from husband number three. Looking at her reflection, she mused about her past life. She had been through a lot of emotional turmoil but had managed to keep her looks. That made her feel good.
With wide strokes Leah combed her long, black hair. Next she applied makeup, making sure her eyes were outlined for the best effect. She then put on her full-length, bright blue dress. To complete her outfit, she arranged a long scarf on her head. No respectable married woman went out in public without her head covered.
Putting the oldest child in charge of the household, Leah picked up her water pot, balanced it on her head, and left for Jacob’s Well, an ancient water supply. She pulled up the long scarf on her head so that it would partially cover her face, stood up straight, and strode down the narrow street in front of her home. Her confident walk masked the turmoil within.
When Leah left home, Jesus was already at Jacob’s Well, waiting for the noon-time visitor. He had just arrived from Jerusalem. Tired, weary, and thirsty from his journey, he sat on the edge of the well to rest while his disciples went to nearby Sychar to buy food. He hoped someone would come by so he could get a drink of water. The deep well had an ample supply of water, but he had no vessel to draw it.
Looking in the direction of the town, Jesus spotted Leah moving toward the well at a quick pace. With interest, he watched her come closer and closer to her intended objective. Finally arriving at the well, she proceeded to carry out her chore as if she were alone. She didn’t acknowledge Jesus’ presence in any way. In fact, she didn’t even look in his direction. She just took the water pot off her head, set it on the edge of the well, and deliberately turned to make sure her back was to him. She then lowered her vessel into the well and filled it with water.