“Blessed are you, LORD our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has not made me a woman.” This shocking prayer was developed by Israeli rabbis 2000 years ago for Israeli men to pray every morning. It was preceded by praising God that a man was not a gentile or a slave. Jesus probably heard this prayer many times during His traverse on this earth. For thousands of years prior, Jewish women were incredibly devalued by men to the point of being property. Misogyny is the term today for any man who thinks he is superior to a woman.
Jesus shook the Jewish world by decimating misogyny, demonstrating that women are equally loved and valued by Him. All of the following interactions would have been considered scandalous then. He spent time at Mary and Martha’s home teaching them. (Luke 10:24-27) Several women who had been freed from demons and sicknesses, followed Jesus and the twelve disciples, funding their missionary work. They were: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others. (Luke 8:1-3) Jesus spoke with and explained that He was the Messiah with a Samaritan (half Jew, half gentile) woman who told all the men about Him. She was the first woman evangelist. (John 4:1-42) After His resurrection, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
Jesus continued to exalt women when He spoke and wrote through the Apostle Paul. He mentions numerous women who were involved in ministry in different ways. Prisca and her, husband Aquilla, were traveling missionaries with Paul. (Romans 16:3) Phoebe was a respected leader and servant whom Paul trusted to deliver his letter to the churches in Rome. (Romans 16:1-2) And there are many more!
Jesus wrote this Scripture though Paul in Galatians 3:28 which is a beautiful undoing of the prayers mentioned at the beginning of this blog. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Do you see it? In Christ Jesus, Gentiles are equal to Jews. Slaves (indentured servants – employees in those days) are equal to those who are free. Women are equal to men. Jesus loves and values each person equally, lives in each person equally, and bestows the same identity equally such that we are all one in Him. No one is superior or inferior.
We are very blessed that we have incredibly gifted women at Grace Life International who lead different areas of our ministry with great effectiveness. We are a powerful ministry since they lead our semiannual training, coordinate twelve or more conferences each year, coordinating, oversee our office operations weekly, and more. Others are terrific counselors and gifted speakers.
We are very grateful to God for His gospel of grace that exalts women equally with men – in Christ. In fact, we have a specific ministry we offer to women each year that we do not yet offer to men. It is our Women of Grace (Advanced Discipleship Training for women only). It starts each fall with a four-week intro. Then continues with a several month teaching, training and time of fellowship once a week that is amazing. Hundreds of women have attended. Check out more info here or on our website under Training and sign up today for the intro.
In Christ Alone,
Mark Maulding
President and Founder
