Today’s message is entitled “Jesus and Women.” I trust that this message will speak to mothers, as well as all women. The Old Testament has many great things to say about God’s plan and purpose for women.
Exodus 20:12 (ESV) “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
This commandment with a wonderful promise tells us to honor our mothers. Through God’s grace, a mother carried each one of us and brought us into the world. There are many examples of godly women and mothers in the Old Testament. We read of Eve, the mother of all humanity. Sarah, Abraham’s wife was a mother of faith. Jochebed, Moses/ mother who hid him by faith. Rahab, who hid the Israelite spies. Deborah, judge of Israel, Ruth, Hannah, Esther and many more.
Proverbs 31:10 (ESV) An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
This verse speaks of the great value of women and wives.
Proverbs 31:30 (ESV) Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
A woman’s worth is not measured by her beauty or outward appearance, but by her love for and fear of the Lord. Yet, despite all these examples in the Old Testament and many more, women in Jesus’ day were considered second class citizens. Yet, Jesus broke the stereotypes of his day and showed, love, care and honor for women.
Luke 8:1b-3a (ESV) And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, … and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
As Jesus travelled throughout Israel, preaching the Gospel, He as not just accompanied by the twelve apostles. There were also a group of women who had been healed and who provided finances for the ministry. Today, Jesus wants to encourage all the women and mothers listening to this message. We’re going to learn how much Jesus cares about you.