Jesus and Women

One of the reasons I love the New Testament so much is that is shows women actively participating in the gospel of Jesus Christ in important ways. It is stunning to think about the fact that Mary was the first mortal being to know that the Messiah was about to be born and Elizabeth was also among the first to know.

While traveling through Samaria, Jesus stopped at a well at noontime and asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. He then proceeded to tell her that He could give her the living water spoken of by Old Testament prophets such as Jeremiah (Jer. 2:13) and Isaiah (Isaiah 8:6). During this discussion Jesus proclaimed for the first time recorded in the New Testament that He is the Messiah, the great I Am of the Old Testament.

There are more examples of women being among the first, but the most significant is that Mary Magdalene is the first mortal to witness the resurrected Christ. Women aren’t just a part of the life of the Savior, they are an important part of His life. 

Isn't it great to be a woman!

Sometimes It's The Feeling That Teaches

Today in my New Testament class we began with an incident that happened just before the last week of the Savior's life when Mary anointed the Savior’s feet with costly spikenard. I have always loved this story and the fact that Mary anoints the Savior. She doesn’t just apply oil or spread salve—she anoints. One of the dictionary definitions of the word anoint is “to designate as if by a ritual anointment.”

The Savior goes on to chastise the disciples who have criticized her because they consider it a waste of valuable ointment. He says to them, “Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.”

To me this means that the definition cited above is Mary’s motive. Through this anointing she is designating Jesus Christ the Messiah and specifically her Messiah. She has made an enormous sacrifice in using this costly spikenard on the Savior. By that she demonstrates her love and her righteousness. Kings and Priests were anointed in that day and she is anointing Him as her King and her Priest.

This also speaks to me of the value the Savior had for women. It isn’t Peter who anoints him—it is Mary. I often get the feeling when I read this that I do not understand all that is going on in this story. But at the same time, I get the feeling that someday I will understand and it is going to be a glorious insight.