0.8 2.4 the life and teaching of jesus  (Page 2/5)

Jesus had other public encounters with women, sometimes to the bewilderment or disapproval of his companions. One such conversation was held with a Samaritan woman at a well (John 4:5-30). When Jesus asked her for a drink, she expressed amazement that he spoke to her, despised for her half-breed race as well as her sex. He then proceeded to give her two of his most eloquent lessons, one on spiritual sustenance, or "living water," and another on the transcendent life of his kingdom, characterized by a worship beyond boundaries of place and ancestry. When his disciples came upon the scene, they "marvelled that he talked with the woman."

In another well-known incident of the Pharisees' testing Jesus, an adulteress, caught in the act, was brought before him (John 8:2-11). "Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?" her accusers asked.

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 heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and 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. (John 8:6-11).

Again, Jesus dealt with this woman and interpreted Jewish law in an irregular manner.

One story that is repeated in all four gospels is that of the woman who anointed Jesus' feet with expensive perfumed ointment from an alabaster box (Matt. 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50, John 12:1-8). Then, weeping, she wiped his feet with her hair. In Luke the woman is identified as a "sinner" and the event was a dinner at the home of a Pharisee named Simon. John records a similar story involving Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, but the details of all four are much the same. In Matthew, Mark, and John, the woman is criticized by some for having wasted expensive perfume when it could have been sold and the profits given to the poor. Jesus asked the critics to leave the woman alone; she was anointing his body for burial. "For ye have the poor always with you," he explained, "but me ye have not always." Jesus' host, according to Luke's account, questioned Jesus' religious credentials because he allowed the sinful woman to touch him (some traditions claim she was Mary Magdalene). Jesus responded with a parable about a creditor who forgave both large debts and small. Then he turned to the Pharisee with a question: "Seest thou this woman?" The intent was to mirror the contrast between the righteous host who was stingy with common courtesies and an outcast woman who displayed genuine love.

Jesus healed women, spoke with them, touched them and allowed them to touch him; there is evidence he numbered some among his friends and intellectual companions. Two women from Bethany named Mary and Martha seemed to fall into this category. A well-known passage from Luke 10:38-42 describes a visit Jesus made to their home. Mary sat and spoke with Jesus, while Martha "was cumbered about with much serving."