25 April 2024
Bailey notes that, since Jesus allowed women to be His disciples, we would expect His message to include them. It's only natural that some of His parables would feature imagery peculiar to their experiences, and significant women in history, alongside a similar mention of men.
In Luke's Gospel we find the following:
1. The Widow of Zarephath and Naaman, Gentiles of faith
2. The task of mending garments and making wine
3. The penitent woman at His feet in Simon's house and the penitent publican story
4. A woman struggling with a recalcitrant judge and a friend asking for bread at night, illustrating God will answer prayer.
5. Jesus talks about how families will be divided over His message; either side can choose to embrace Him.
6. The woman kneading bread and (men) planting mustard seed
7. Spiritual loyalty eclipses families ties, both male and female.
8. Lost sheep and lost coin
9. Jesus affirms that in the Resurrection, gender won't matter.
10. The Widow's Mite over rich men's loose change
In Mark's account of the burial of Jesus (15:40-47), we have the format ABCDCBA:
A. Women looking on from afar
B. Joseph of Arimathea
C. Requesting the body from Pilate
D. Centurion confirms death
C. Pilate grants corpse
B. Joseph uses linen shroud
A. Two Marys see where He is laid
Joseph of Arimathea is the central figure, while the women are in the background. Mark's further account of the Resurrection (16:1-8) is similar, but this time the women are central:
0. Setting: the women bought spices
A. The women go to the grave Sunday morning uncertain about the stone
B. They check inside the tomb afraid
C. Angels mention seeking Jesus
D. "He's not here"
C. Tell His disciples "go to Galilee"
B. Fled the tomb trembling
A. Return afraid
Comments
Jay DiNitto
Leave it to retarded evangelicals to notice this analysis and say, "Jesus was the first feminist!"
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