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RUNNING HEAD: JESUS VIEWED AS EGALITARIAN

A. Johnson

 2008 Reyte On Publishing

WritersBlock-Aid.com
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Introduction

Jesus, the Savior or Christ defended and upheld women. He was acutely observant of

how women were treated over 2,000 years ago and cognizant of how they are treated

even today. He scorned those that attempted to attach a double-standard toward them and

appeared sincerely egalitarian according to Dr. Stanley Giannet, a clinical psychologist

and ministerial counselor (Giannet, 2000). Egalitarianism is defined as a proclivity

concept based on civil and at times political theory. Its premise is that humankind, male

and female are equitable in terms of their worth and morality (Stanford Encylopedia,

2002). Jesus shared in this view as related to women as demonstrated in several

encounters throughout the New Testament of the Bible.

How is this Counter-Cultural

Jesus being viewed as egalitarian goes against the culture of the leaders of that time.

However that is not to say that Jesus was an egalitarian. Jesus was much more than that.

He viewed people as individuals, each of us is recognized by the very hairs on our head

(KJV:Luke 12:7).

The Sanhedrin and Pharisees were the religious authorities in Jewish life. There were

many traditions of Judaism that were strictly followed pertaining to the lives of women.

The Roman government of the secular society of that time believed women to be mere

servants of men. Women roles were primarily regulated to the duties of family and home,

marriages were prearranged and even women of very young age were betrothed.

Therefore to see women as being equal to men in worth or morality was counter-cultural.

Woman at the Well

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Jesus was traveling to Samaria and when he arrived, being a bit tired took a rest at a well.

While resting at Jacob’s Well, as it was called, a woman came to the well to get water.

Not part of the In-crowd

Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water as she was drawing it. She replied

why are you asking me for a drink. You are a Jew and Jews have no relations with

Samaritans. In this exchange, it is clear that the Jews and Samaritans did not socialize

together in those times. The Orthodox Jews, to which Jesus was affiliated, openly

disdained the Samaritans and considered them as “mongrels or half-breeds” as they had

mixed races with many other nations of people (Meador, 1996). The Jewish nation split

after the death of Solomon. The northern tribes, called Israel would not accept Solomon’s

son, Rehoboam, to rule as King over them. Instead crowning Jeroboam as their King. The

Southern tribes accepted the true heir to the throne (Meador, 1996). The northern tribes

followed a less Orthodox Judaism and were called Samaritans. There was a great rift

within the Jewish nation that lasted 200 years. For Jesus to talk to and even ask a

Samaritan for water would be considered sacrilegious. Egalitarian was his willingness to

converse with her as another person equal to his own heritage.

Jesus replied that if the woman had known whom he was that asked for a drink of water,

he would give her living water to drink. She misunderstanding replied how can you give

me water, when you don’t have anything to gather it in as the well is very deep. She then

asked him if he was of more stature than her ancestor Jacob who built that well for his

people and their herds. Jesus responded by saying that the water, which she spoke of,

would leave you thirsty for more. But the water, which he spoke of, would quench your

thirst to the point of never being thirsty again. As this water would be a well springing up
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within you giving everlasting life. The woman then asked Jesus to give her this new

water so that she would not have to come to the well and draw it anymore.

Woman with Multiple Husbands and Relationships

Jesus then asked her to go and get her husband and return. She said she had no husband.

Jesus said she spoke the truth, but she has had five husbands. However, she lives with a

man now, that is not her husband. She then said you must be a prophet (KJV: John 4:5-

19). In this exchange Jesus again treats this woman morally as any other. Considering

from the Orthodox Jewish faith, a woman should have only one husband for her entire

life unless she is widowed. Jesus did not share the facts that he knew about her in a

scornful or ridiculing way. Instead he offered her a gift of everlasting life. Gave her

water that would quench her thirst (her true desire to be loved) forever.

Woman with the Issue of Blood

In another incident Jesus was healing and delivering many people from various diseases,

sicknesses and mental illnesses (KJV: Mark 5). He had traveled to a country called the

Gadarenes, which is in the Greco-Roman region of Gadara (Luz, 1999). After this, he

crossed a sea and many more people came to meet him to ask him to heal their sick.

There was one woman who was determined to just at the very least touch the hem of

Jesus garment.

Lost All of Her Livelihood, Destitute

This woman had been sick with a blood illness for twelve years. She had spent all her

living on doctors who took her money and were not able to help her. The doctors most

likely knew beforehand they could not help her, yet continued to take her money on false

premises until all her earnings for over twelve years had been spent (KJV: Mark 5:25).
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Considered Unclean

For a woman to be in public with such an illness was considered inappropriate or unclean

according to Orthodox Jewish tradition (KJV: Leviticus 15:19). Anyone else that touched

her also would be declared unclean and is supposed to stay out of public until evening.

This woman sought to reach Jesus in her weakened condition as a multitude of people

were calling out to him and surrounding him on every side. She eventually was able to

just reach out to Jesus and touch the hem of his garment. Jesus immediately recognized

that healing power had been released from himself to someone and asked who had

touched him. Peter, one of his disciples, looking bewildered said that everyone is

touching you in this great crowd of people. However, the woman afraid for her life, yet

being obedient came forward and told her story and how she had received the healing she

had been seeking for twelve years. Jesus did not reprimand her for being in public, which

would have been the culturally correct thing to do, but simply said her faith in him, had

made her whole. This moral act of egalitarian like acceptance toward a woman that was

considered unclean by her own people, due to an illness received, not only restoration of

her health and life, but her dignity through Jesus words (Johnson, 2008).

Woman accused of Adultery

Jesus was teaching in a temple when he was approached by the Jewish leaders in bringing

a they had witnessed committing the act of adultery. Adultery was condemned for both

men and women. Yet the Pharisee leaders had brought the women to Jesus. Egalitarian

thinking would see this as signifying that a double-standard existed. Where the man

involved was not brought to Jesus. This was not equal treatment for both men and
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women. Imagine the shame that must have been felt by this woman to be brought into the

religious temple and accused by those in positions of civil authority (Johnson, 2008).

Considered a Criminal

The act of adultery was criminal and punishable by death according to Leviticus Law

(KJV: Leviticus 20:10). However the law does state that both parties should be put to

death. This woman’s life was in the hands of Jesus and though she was guilty, Jesus

defended her. In the face of the scribes and Pharisees, he stood by her side.

The accusers called for her to be stoned to death and were about to carry out the act.

However, Jesus asked a question that caused them all to think about themselves and their

own shortcomings. Showing an egalitarian approach of a woman’s life being more

precious and valuable than the law.

Exonerated by Jesus

He asked that the one among them without sin should throw the first stone at this woman.

The accusers begin to leave the scene, one by one until only Jesus and the woman

remained. Jesus then asked her where were her accusers. Where were those that had

condemned her to death. She replied there were none. He then said neither do I condemn

you. You are free to go, but he then instructed her to not commit such an act again. Here

showing, not only mercy and forgiveness, but giving direction and hope for her future

(KJV: John 8:3-11).

Men of Equal Worth

Jesus did not condemn the men, nor the woman in this case. The men admitted that they

had sinned by their walking away. However Jesus did not call for them to stand trial for
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their transgression. Instead he treated all with respect and valued each of them as

individuals worthy of forgiveness and mercy (Johnson, 2008).

Conclusion

Jesus treated women with respect, dignity, and equality in each of these examples.

Presenting a egalitarian ethic in his attitude and actions toward women. Jesus was not

politically correct nor culturally correct, but willing to defend, heal, and set free anyone,

male and female.

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References

BibleGateway.net. (2008). King James Version (KJV). Retrieved from

Http://Biblegateway.net.

Giannet, S. (2002). The radical ethics of Jesus. The American Journal of Biblical
Theology.Retrieved October 15, 2008 from
http://www.biblicaltheology.com/Research/GiannetS02.html

Johnson A. (2008). Business Research Analysis. JcPublications.

MacArthur, John. (2008). The biblical portrait of women: setting the record straight
Retrieved October 15, 2008 from http://www.gty.org/Resources/articles/2118

Luz, M. (1999). History of gadara. Retrieved October 15, 2008 from

http://research.haifa.ac.il/~mluz/gadara.folder/gadara2.html

Summer, Sarah. (2008). The wounds of a friend: egalitarian. Christianity Today.

Retrieved October 15, 2008 from
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/june/28.41.html?start=2

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2002). Egalitarianism. Retrieved October 15, 2008

from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/egalitarianism/