Welcome to the watering hole, a place for meeting Jesus, where the water of life revives thirsting souls, where there’s restoration for crushed people, and lives are made whole by Jesus’ transforming love and grounded in grace! Where Jesus’ love really does come to life!
Let’s meet some of the women who met Jesus, trampled women whose lives were transformed by this meeting. These crushed women may very well align with your needs as a disciple of Jesus for recognition, acceptance, healing and transformation opening up a way forward for YOU!
The first woman we meet is the woman caught in adultery. (John7:53-8:11) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees pounced on this woman, dragging her off, kicking and screaming, to see what Jesus would do or say. Jesus’ message in the sand, his wise and compassionate words caused her accusers to slink off, recognising their own weak and sinful state, rendering them unable to condemn the woman. Jesus, in grace-laced words offers hope and potential, encouraging her to change her lifestyle. So many people, mainly women and children are victims of domestic violence, bullying, sexual abuse, and the scourge of pornography. Women feel disappointment and heartache as slammed doors, serial rejection, and multiple failure by synods to resolve the ordination issue continue. Who will best help the most vulnerable people in their uncomfortable, often life-threatening situation? Would not a woman who has the heart and compassion of Jesus be better qualified and more emotionally adept, to safely reach out to comfort another woman.
While we ponder this woman’s forgiven, Jesus’- empowered identity, let’s introduce the next needy woman leading a less than desirable lifestyle, one used by men who pay handsomely for the services that have her trapped in every way. Her story is in Luke 7:36-50. Jesus rewards her love for him, shown in her extravagant appreciation and grounded in his grace. Simon’s home is where this scenario unfolds. Jesus takes Simon to task for his lack of hospitality, his lack of compassion to teach him a valuable lesson. Prostitution of women, child prostitution and other sexual sins rob so many of their dignity, ruining relationships and isolating them from friends and family. Here is a missional ministry well suited to a woman with a support team. ‘Go!’ is the mission direction given by Jesus prior to his ascension. The gifts of women called to ordained ministry have the undergirding of Jesus’ loving, gracious power and potential to bring hope and healing to other women, as well as to men and children. The understanding and empathy of woman-to-woman for transformation is an important part of the God-given make-up of a woman’s gifts. I doubt Jesus would deny the gifts given to the women he has created and especially in the women he has recreated who have tasted the water of life.
In John 4:1-42 we meet the nameless woman at the well. Here is a woman culturally marginalised, misunderstood, misjudged, totally crushed by her life circumstances, the poor soul! Her lifestyle is one that might cause us to jump to conclusions if we take it at face value. I believe Jesus would have us go deeper into our assessment of her, used and abused, alienated by her fellow citizens, but transformed by Jesus’ love. Her response was to go and tell others about the grace, forgiveness and love of Jesus.’ That became her calling as a forgiven and dearly loved child of God, as it has become yours!
The dear woman with a constant flow of blood, Matthew 9:20-22, decided after all the medical practitioners had failed leaving her out of pocket that Jesus was the one to heal and transform her life, body and spirit. Jesus said, ‘Yes!’ Bleeding, wounded of heart by the rejection and isolation of her situation and culture, she finds acceptance, healing and wholeness in Jesus. ‘Take heart,’ is Jesus’ comforting word to her. A woman seems to be in a better position to minister to another woman, to speak Jesus ‘yes’ to a needy sister. ‘Yes’ is Jesus’ word to you too, dear sister in Christ, you who feel the call from God to ordination, a call to minister to all people in the name of Jesus.
Jesus’ friends, Martha and Mary, welcomed him, and his disciples into their home and hearts. Their home was a place for Jesus and his disciples to rest and relax, away from the prying eyes of the religious gatekeepers, a place of joy and freedom! Mary learned to sit at Jesus’ feet, choosing the good part, THAT WOULD NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER, Jesus rock-solid promise! For Mary, living in a male dominated society, there was lots of learning, discussions, praying and soul-searching. Something very real in your experience, you who know God’s call on your life. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I join my prayers to yours for the transformation needed for all the wounded, trampled hearts and minds, those of you who seek to serve the church as an ordained pastor and those who support you.
I believe God wants to do a new thing for and through women in the church. This call is a recognition of the role God has for women called to preach the Gospel through the powerful Holy Spirit to strengthen the church for the needed cultural changes instituted by Jesus himself. Is God’s favour only for the male of the species? True acceptance for women comes from Jesus alone, as it does for men. Women have a story to tell, that of their own restoration through Jesus but above all women called and compelled by the renewing power of the Gospel.
Take heart, dear sisters and brothers from The One, Jesus, who alone can take you from trampled to transformed, Jesus who has you grounded in grace preparing your hearts and minds for a brand-new, refreshing start! Come to the watering hole where Jesus makes you feel blessedly encouraged and alive!
