In first century Palestine, the way Jesus treated women was considered Revolutionary.

When she became a teenager, her father made the arrangements.
This was the custom of the times.
Mary should be married to a carpenter, Joseph, the son of Heli.
From birth, Mary's role in life was set, for she was born female to a Jewish family.
Yet her role in history was to be extraordinary.
God chose her to be the mother of Jesus.

Women Of Courage..

When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, initially she was troubled by what the angel's appearance might mean.
The angel reassured her, explaining that she was the one chosen to be the mother of Jesus.

" How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, ' since I am a virgin?'

" The angel answered, " The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
For nothing is impossible with God.'

" I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered.
'May it be to me as you have said.
"Then the angel left her"
{Luke 1:34-38}

Though she knew she was faceing shame and humiliation,
Mary in faith, willingly submitted herself to God's will.
She understood that it was possible Joseph would not marry her.
She would be considered damaged goods.
Mary acted in great courage and in faith..

Though God protected her by showing Joseph in a dream that he should accept her in marriage..
in spite of her being pregnant.
The story of her pregnancy was out.

Yet Joseph faithfully married an already pregnant Mary.
A legacy of raised-eyebrow, finger pointing gossip would follow them and Jesus,
God in the flesh, throughout their lives.

Jesus Christ honored his mother throughout his life and at his crucifixion.
Mary was at the foot of the cross.

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby,
he said to his mother,' Dear women, here is your son,'
and to the disciple, Here is your mother.

' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."
{John 19:26-27}.

When Jesus saw her there, no doubt in shock at what she was witnessing,
he compassionately let her and John know how she would be cared for after his death and after his resurrection.

Jesus' honor and respect was not reserved simply for his mother.
It was extended to all women--an attitude largely unexpected and unknown in his culture and time.

Jesus, unlike the men of his generation and culture,
taught that women were equal to men in the sight of God.
Women could recieve God's forgiveness and grace.

Women, as well as men, could be among Christ's personal followers.
Women could be full participants in the Kingdom of God.
Jesus offered full discipleship to women.

Theses were revolutionary ideas.
Many of his contemporaries, included his disciples were shocked.
Women were overjoyed and grateful, of course, and many dedicated their lives to his service.
Let's take a look, from the historical narratives in Scripture, at a few of theses women of faith and how Jesus dealt with them.
In the early days of Jesus' ministry, one of the most unusual examples is the devoted following of Mary Magdalene.

Mary of Magdala

Among the group of women who traveled with Jesus and his 12 disciples was Mary of Magdala.
{Luke 8:2}

Mary is almost always mentioned first in a list of the female disciples of Jesus Christ.
She may have been one of the leaders of that group of women who followed Jesus from the outset of his ministry
in Galilee to his death and afterward.
The risen Jesus appeared to her first.

It's ironic that in a time when women could not be legal witnesses,
Jesus Christ chose women as the first witnesses of his resurrection.

As British writer Dorothy L. Sayers said: Perhaps it is no wonder that the women were first at the Cradle and last at the Cross.
They had never known a man like this Man-- there never has been such another.
A prophet and teacher who never nagged at them, never flattered or coaxed or patronised; who never made arch jokes about them...
who rebuked without querulousness and praised without condescension: who took their questions and arguments seriously"
Along with his mother and Mary Magdalene were two other close friends of Jesus, Mary and Martha.

Mary and Martha

Jesus Christ taught that women were just as responsible for growing in grace and knowledge as men when
it came to being one of his followers.
This is clearly expressed in Luke's account of Christ's visit to the home of Martha and Mary, who lived in Bethany,
a village about 2 miles from Jerusalem.

Martha had invited Jesus and his disciples to her home for a meal.
But while Martha was busily prepareing to serve her guests, her sister,
Mary, was listening to Jesus along with the rest of his disciples.

" As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a women named Martha opened her home to him.
"She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
She came to him and asked, " Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?
Tell her to help me!"
{ Luke 10:38-40}

Martha seems to have been the older sister and head of her own house.
Jesus didn't chastise Martha for being busy serving,
but he gently told her that her sister, Mary ,
was the one who actually had her priorities straight.

" Martha, Martha, " the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.
Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
{Verses 41-42}

Jesus expected women as well as men to learn from him.
Jesus did not feel that womens work or mens work, for the matter wasen't important.
He was not saying it is wrong to be diligent and careful about our responsiblities.
Christ was saying we should get our priorities straight.
Women were called to be disciples of Jesus, just as men were,
and women were expected to fulfill their spiritual responsibilites, just as men were.

A Daughter of Abraham

Another fascinating account is Luke's story of the healing of a disabled women-- on the Sabbath day,
in the synagogue, right in front of the synagogue ruler.
The healing not only shows Christ personally contrasting his new way of life with the old legalistic, pharisaical restrictions,
but it also shows his deep regard for women.

"On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,
and a women was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.

She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her.
'Women, you are set free from your infirmity.'
Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God"
{Luke 13:10-13}