As mentioned in last week's "Monday Message", we are studying the 12 disciples in Sunday School. This week we looked at the women that followed Jesus. Women were not treated equally as men in those days if you remember. They were considered 'unclean' and the men were to keep away from them as so to not be distracted with sexual thoughts, etc... Women were not allowed to sit anywhere in synagogues for worship, they had to sit at the back to hear what the rabbi would have to say on the Sabbath, while the men were able to sit in the front. The men did not speak to other women either because they were unclean. Imagine how these women must have felt, so unworthy and discriminated against.
When a lady named Rhoda who had been crippled for more than 18 years heard that Jesus was going to be teaching in the synagogue she knew she had to go to hear him. Her back twisted and crippled, bent down for all these years with only a stick in her hand to help her walk she shuffled her way to the synagogue that day. Imagine her not being able to look people in the eye, being made fun of because her back was twisted, and having to walk very slow and hunched over as she entered for worship. The synagogue is filled that day because everyone has come to hear what Jesus has to say. She cannot find a place to sit and as she shuffles around she hears Jesus he calls for her to come forward to the front. He then says "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Remember, men did not touch women, much less one that was crippled and considered useless and unclean. But next the bible tells us "he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God." Luke 13:13. Imagine all of the rules that were broken that Sabbath by the Savior, he was healing, he put his hands on her (remember men did not do this), and she was set free. The crowd became indigent because of the miracle He had performed on the Sabbath. He pointed out to the crowd as he called them hypocrites, that she was not just any person, it was okay that she was a women, that she was even crippled and he called her a 'daughter of Abraham'. Even though the villagers saw her as a worthless crippled old lady Jesus saw her as someone whom he cared about and she was just as important as everyone else worshiping that day. Jesus always dealt, with the sick, afflicted, poor and outcast of people. What does that tell you? What should we do?
Luke 13:10-17 10On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." 13Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
14Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath."
15The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"
17When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
The disciples followed Jesus and listened to his teachings and preachings and helped perform miracles. The women of the bible had a lot to loose though. Some left their husbands, they followed Jesus and Jesus mingled and associated himself with these women which was unheard of in those days. These women (Mary and Martha) welcomed him into their homes and anointed him with oils and soaked up all of his teachings. Jesus held their hearts in the palm of his hands because he did not discriminate against them and treat them as though they were unclean. In fact, remember when Mary stood at the empty tomb of Jesus and wailed for Him because his body was gone and all the remained were his grave clothes. Then in John 20:16, Jesus said to her "Mary" and she turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic "Rabboni", which means 'my teacher'. Is He your teacher?
When you feel down and out or discriminated against, crippled physically or mentally, struggling financially or whatever your case may be, remember, Jesus is always there. His teachings are in the Bible that can help us get through any trial we may be going through. We do not face anywhere close to the persecution that these women faced to follow Jesus and yet we still sometimes make the choice not to because we want to do things on our own or we don't want to stick out and be different. Yet it is the people that stuck out the most that Jesus spoke to or helped and was tender hearted towards (the women at the well, the prostitute, the lepers, Rhoda the crippled lady). Have you sold out to Christ and are your following him like the women in the bible? Is He your Rabboni?
We all have days we feel crippled like Rhoda but we must remember, Jesus is calling us to come forward and be set free from our infirmities....but we must come. He will not drag us, it's our choice, do we want to be set free or not?
If you are interested in other stories of women in the Bible that are brought to life like the story of Rhoda this book, The Magdalene Gospel (What if Women Had Written the Gospels?) by Mary Ellen Ashcroft is a good one. You can find this book online at
http://www.amazon.com/.
While I am happy to see the leaves change colors and the holidays just around the corner this time of the year always seems to be the hardest. 
