Kvinderne i Jesu følge
I den følgende tid gik han fra by til by og fra landsby til landsby, og han prædikede og forkyndte evangeliet om Guds rige. Sammen med ham var de tolv og nogle kvinder, der var blevet helbredt for onde ånder og sygdomme. Det var Maria med tilnavnet Magdalene, som syv dæmoner var faret ud af, og Johanna, der var gift med Kuza, en embedsmand hos Herodes, og Susanna og mange andre. De sørgede for dem af deres egne midler.
Sådan står der i Lukas 8:1-3, og jeg har været nødt til at highlighte en lille del af teksten - nemlig De sørgede for dem af deres egne midler.
Det er ikke nogen hemmelighed at jeg er meget optaget af kvinder, kvinders historier, kvinders plads i Guds rige og ikke mindst den kærlighed, Gud nærer til kvinder. I min egen vandring med Gud er det meget inspirerende for mig at beskæftige mig med disse ting, og derfor betyder ovenstående skriftsted noget særligt for mig.
Det var nemlig sådan i jødisk kultur, at kvinder havde en helt anden plads og rolle i samfundet end mændende. Det kan næppe komme bag på nogen - sådan har det været i det meste af verden! Men der var noget særligt ved Jesus, noget, som var så usædvanligt, at både kvinder og mænd følte sig tilskyndet til at følge ham - de følte sig draget, som var han magnetisk og fuldstændig uimodståelig. Men forstå mig ret - vi taler ikke om Elvis Presley eller Beatles lignende hysteri. Folk fulgte ham, fordi han tilbød noget, ingen før havde tilbudt. Læser vi Bibelen ved vi, at han helbredte de syge. Han oprejste de døde (det skete faktisk et par gange i det nye testamente - mest kendt er vel Lazarus), og han satte folk fri for plagende dænoner. En af kvinderne i hans følge havde han smidt hele 7 dæmoner ud af! Der er ikke noget at sige til, at hun ønsker at holde sig tæt til Jesus - han var hendes befrier, hendes helbreder, han var den eneste, der havde kunnet give hende hendes værdighed tilbage igen.
Jesus var nemlig ikke optaget af loven, som hans samtids skriftkloge var det. Ingen tvivl om, at han kendte skrifterne - men ordet i sig selv, var ikke vigtigt for ham. Det var hjertet bag - mennesket bag traditionerne, reglerne og forskrifterne. Jesus havde oprigtig omsorg for de mennesker, han mødte. I Lukas 11 læser vi om Lazarus's død og den sorg, dette medførte. Jesus bliver så påvirket af den ulykkelighed, han ser og mærker, at han selv braser i gråd. Hvor fantastisk! Han føler med de sørgende, kender de smertendes smerte! Og han kalder Lazarus tibage til livet!
Jesus gjorde ikke forskel på folk. Han spiste med synderne - tolderne og de prostituerede, som ingen andre ønskede at blive set sammen med. Jesus var som den første i stand til at skelne imellem de handlinger, mennesker foretog, og så de hjerter, der bankede inde bagved.
Jeg er dybt fascineret af Jesus. Fascineret over hans evne og lyst til at vise nåde, til at sprede kærlighed, omsorg og ømhed. Hans styrke, når andre var svage. Hans villighed til at gå i døden, trods stor angst og smerte. Jeg er fascineret over den udstråling og påvirkning han har haft - så stærk, at kvinder, der blev regnet for mindre værd, af egen fri vilje, og for egne midler - resursestærke og med alle deres egne talenter og gaver, valgte at følge ham og ofre deres penge og tid på at være i hans nærvær.
Sådan vil jeg også gerne være.
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
So we read in Luke 8:1-3, and I've had to highlight a small portion of the text - namely These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
It's no secret that I am preoccupied with women, women's stories, women's place in God's kingdom and not least the love God has for women. In my own walk with God, I find it inspiring to learn more, and when I read the above scripture, I found it spoke to me. In Jewish culture, women had a completely different place and role in society than men. It can hardly come as a surprise to anyone - it has been like throughout most of the world! But there was something special about Jesus, something that was so unusual that both women and men felt encouraged to follow him - they were drawn, as if he were magnetic and completely irresistible. But please don't misunderstand me - we're not talking about Elvis Presley or Beatles hysteria. People followed him because he offered something no one had ever offered before. If we read the Bible, we know that he healed the sick. He raised the dead (it actually happens a couple of times in the New Testament - most well-known might be Lazarus), and he set people free from dreadful demons. He had actually freed one of the women in his entourage from 7 demons! No wonder that she wants to stay close to Jesus - he was her deliverer, her healer, he was the only one who had been able to give her dignity back. Jesus was not preoccupied with the law, like the contemporary experts of law were. No doubt that he knew the scriptures - but the word itself was not important to him. It was the heart behind - the person behind the traditions, rules and regulations. Jesus had genuine concern for the people he met. In Luke 11 we read of Lazarus's death and the grief this caused. Jesus is so influenced by the unhappiness he sees and experiences that he burst into tears. How fantastic! He sympathizes with the grieving, knows the pain of those in pain! And he calls Lazarus back to life! Jesus did not discriminate. He ate with sinners - tax collectors and the prostitutes that nobody else wanted to be seen with. Jesus was the first one ever to distinguish between the actions that people did, and the hearts beating within them. I am fascinated by Jesus. Fascinated by his ability and desire to show mercy, to spread love, care and tenderness. I am fascinated by his strength when others were weak, and his willingness to die, despite great anxiety and pain. I am fascinated by the charisma and influence he had - so strong that women who were considered inferior, of their own will and own funds - and with all their own talents and gifts, chose to follow him and sacrifice their money and time to be in his presence.
That's how I want to be.
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