Women as Disciples of Christ

If Christ commanded that all His people should make disciples until His
return (Matthew 28:18-20) than one must acknowledge that women are a part of
God’s elaborate plan to make disciples. Many times when one thinks of a disciple of
Christ, their mind does not scan across the women of God that are spread
throughout the Bible. Tabitha (or Dorcas) in Acts 9:36 is referred to as matheria
meaning that she was a “female disciple.” Once the Early Church was set, they
tended to shift in their language. This means that a “disciple” would have been
referred to by using similar terms like saints, believers, and at times church.
Biblically speaking, women were referred to 4x’s more than any other
character except Jesus. It was women followers of Christ that were found at His
cross and tomb, while the other 12 had deserted Him. They were also the first to
witness Christ’s resurrection as well. What later became known as the good news (or
Gospel) was sent first through a woman; as Mary Magdalene was the first to be left
with the mandate to share the risen Christ with others (John 20:17).Finally, in Acts
1:13-14 we hear that in the Upper Room, women were praying earnestly and in
unity. It was such devout prayer that led to the Pentecost.
When searching the Bible we can see that women are given an important role
in the genealogy of Christ. It was Sarah who gave birth to the generations that were
later known as “Israel.” Then it was Ruth who was “weaved” into the Jewish circle
due to her heart for God. Then in the book of Luke we see that there is a focus on
the women in Christ’s life. It was Elizabeth who was godly and blessed in her old
age with a prophet known as John the Baptist (Luke 1). Then a young woman of
faith named Mary gets pregnant with the Messiah (Luke 1, 2, and 24). Then there
was Anna (the prophetess) who waited in prayer and fasting and praised God at the
news of the Messiah (Luke 2:36-38).
Later we see Mary Magdalene who humbled herself at the feet of Jesus and
later found a new purpose in life (Luke 8:1-3, 23:49, 24:10). Joanna and Susanna
followed Jesus and supported him financially from their own money (Luke 8:1-3).
Mary of Bethany sat at the feet of Jesus to receive from Him, while Martha of
Bethany served Him with food (Luke 10:38-42). The Samaritan Woman (John 4)
searched the words of Jesus and found salvation. Lydia and Priscilla who were
defiantly disciples of Christ (Acts 16:14-15, 40 and Acts 18:1-3, 24-28). In Romans
16, Paul expressed that some women in Rome were women of God and condoned
them for their examples. Timothy’s mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5) became a model
for family discipleship as Timothy was inspired by her faith. Overall, there are
many women in the Bible whose examples were worth mentioning and even
elaborating on. Through dedication, compassion, serving and giving these women
set examples of what it means to US to be a woman and a disciple of Christ!