The Story of Two Women

                Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

                And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down and taught them. 

                And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, “Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned:  but what sayest thou?” This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.

                But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”  And again, he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

                When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her,

“Woman, where are those thine accusers?  Hath no man condemned thee?”  She said, “no man, Lord.”

                And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

                                                                (The Gospel of John 8:1-12 KJV)

[there are some versions of the Koine Greek New Testament that omit this passage]

This passage of scripture found in the King James Version of the Bible, is helpful in showing the role of women and men in the first Century, in the time Jesus lived among men and women on this earth.  One of the first questions to be asked about this story is “Where is the man caught in adultery?”  Is he not equally guilty under Jewish law? 

The story immediately begs the question:  How did this group of Pharisaical men catch this woman, so that they could use her to test Jesus?  Did one of the Pharisees seduce her, so that she could be caught, “in the very act?”  Was one of the Pharisees questioning Jesus the man who seduced this woman?

The passage says, “Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground.”  It is possible Jesus was writing down the name of the man who seduced this woman and was perhaps in the group of the Pharisees questioning Jesus.  Perhaps, Jesus also wrote down the names of some of the other men who helped in this scheme.

Jesus invited those in the group who were without sin to cast the first stone at her.  But something happened in that moment.  From the eldest to the youngest man in the group (there are no other women here) they all left, leaving the woman standing alone with Jesus. Their consciences would not allow any to stone her.

Jesus asked the woman if there were any left to accuse her.  “No one, Lord,” she said.

Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee:  go, and sin no more.” (John 8: 12 KJV)

In a patriarchal society, of which the first Century Jewish society (and including many first Century Gentile societies), the role of the woman is considered subservient to the man (or male). Women in Judaism were under the authority of a man, such as a father, husband or male relative, if widowed.

Here are a woman’s responsibilities in the first century Jewish culture:

Maintaining the home

Raising children

Chores from sunrise to sundown.

Women were excluded from synagogue but were allowed to spectate.

In the Jewish temple they were not allowed beyond the Court of the Women.

They were not allowed to touch the Scriptures.

Men were discouraged from speaking with women in public or even with their wives.

Women had little access to property or inheritance.

Any money they earned belonged to their husbands.  (Generative AI)

However, the New Testament describes Jewish women roles in other areas of life:

Business ventures, especially textiles

As patrons of the early Jesus movement

Some women suffered from and were healed of various ailments by Jesus

Mary Magdalene followed Jesus wherever he went, including the foot of the cross, after he healed her from demons.                                                                                                             (Generative AI)

Apparently, Jesus treated women differently from the patriarchal Jewish society, as he allowed both women and men to be his disciples.  There are some interpreters of the New Testament who feel Mary Magdalene should be listed with the Apostles, as she is one of the first witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. (see Mark 16:1-9)

In another passage in the Gospel of John, chapter 4:1-30, Jesus has an encounter with a woman who came to draw water from a well In Sychar (Samaria).  Jesus broke Jewish customs by (1) talking  to her, a woman (2) a Samaritan woman and (3) engaging in a prolonged conversation with her, teaching her about the meaning of the type of worship which God desired.

In the course of Jesus’ conversation with this woman he invited her to “Go call thy husband and come hither” (John. 4:16).  The woman answered Jesus: “I have no husband.”

Jesus said unto her: “Thou hast well said, I have no husband: for thou hast five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saith thou truly.” (John 4:17-18)

It is obvious from this passage that Jesus chose how he wished to interact with women in this patriarchal society.  He was not afraid to break the normative cultural patterns of his day but chose instead to engage women and men in normal patterns as human beings.  It is obvious that Jesus had many women who were or became his disciples, presumably including this woman at the Samaritan well.  She witnessed to her village and according to John. Jesus tarried here for two days. During this two days, other persons came to believe in Jesus as the Christ of God!

What then is the point of this prolonged discourse?  If Jesus treated women as equals in the patriarchal Jewish society, allowing them to follow him and to also be his disciples, is there any reason the church today should exclude women from participation in the Christian church, with full rights to serve Christ without restrictions (other than self-imposed)?

In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, but you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28), according to the Apostle Paul.  The early church, after Jesus ascended into heaven to sit as Lord at God’s right hand had difficulty (and to this day) allowing women to serve in the same capacities and leadership roles as men.  This is incredibly short sighted.  Why should 50% of the human family be excluded by the patriarchal church from service in roles in the universal church of Christ the Lord?

The issue is dominant cultural patterns, and men’s need to have power over women.  We see this in the church, which is still patriarchal.  We see this in how societies organize themselves, to be sure women have fewer financial rewards than men, in how leadership roles of business are given mostly to men, and how political leadership is often given to men rather than women as “this is just the way things are.”  Incredibly, there are many women who will not serve in the church leadership roles as they prefer for a man to serve, even one less qualified than themselves.

The church of Christ has a long way to go to elevate the role of women as Jesus did.  These two passages cited today talk about a woman’s role in society.  In a patriarchal society, for a woman to have a place in society, she must be related in some way to a man.  Either as wife, mother or home maker or fulfilling the needs of her man in a healthy or unhealthy sexual way.  In a patriarchal society, a woman finds her place in one of these roles.  Apparently, Jesus saw women as more than a defined cultural role.  He conversed and related to women as human persons, who just happen also to be female.

Our society, and many western societies are in an intense struggle to define human sexuality and our cultural roles.  I have not touched on the other ways besides heterosexual in which persons are establishing relationships.  The church and society have yet to define what is called LGBTQ in a way which is healthy for the church and the larger community.  So, we are caught in a paralysis of body, mind and spirit.  I wrestle with these questions.  For our community, these questions need to be discussed.  Our patriarchal society has yet to deal with the extended role and full expression of women.  Jesus, being the only perfect and sinless human being who has ever lived on this earth may be able to help us as we seek to relate as women and men to each other.  I hope that we might consider asking Jesus Christ to help us in this journey.  I expect if we choose to listen, Jesus will have many words to say!

Bill Wilson, servant of God by God’s grace and mercies.

Let all of God’s people say, “Amen!”

“Amen!”  “We praise you, Lord Jesus Christ!”