There are over 600 unnamed women in the entire Bible. Some of those unnamed women played a significant role in Jesus’ ministry. The writers of the New Testament included women who were healed, had suffered loss, were living in sin, and one who provided an example for the Jewish rulers.
All of these women serve as examples for us, which is why the writers of the Gospels included them. Though there are many questions about these women left unanswered, we can still benefit from their examples. We’ll look at four of these women this week and three more next week.
One of these unnamed women was Peter’s mother-in-law. This is the first indication that Peter was married. Scripture tells us that Jesus and others entered the house of Peter and Andrew, and they told Jesus that Peter’s mother-in-law had a fever. Jesus healed her; and immediately she got up and “ministered to them” (Mark 1:30-31). She had obviously been too sick to welcome her guests and provide for their needs as any Jewish woman would have done. Once Jesus healed her, she needed no recovery period. She was able to perform the duties of hosting this gathering of Jesus and His traveling companions.
In Mark 5, we read of the woman with the issue of blood. She had been bleeding for twelve years, and she had exhausted all of her money going to doctors. So far, the doctors had been unable to help her. When she heard about Jesus, she decided to make this one last effort to find relief. She believed that if she could only touch Jesus’ clothes, she would be healed. There were crowds surrounding Jesus, but she worked her way through them and got close enough to just touch the hem of His robe. She may have been crawling on her knees; but she was willing to do whatever was necessary to get to Him. Immediately upon touching the hem of Jesus’ robe, she was healed. Jesus proclaimed to the onlookers that her faith had healed her.
Two women shared feelings of loss because of their children. The first, found in Luke 7, is a widow from the city of Nain. Jesus met her as she was leaving the city to bury her only son. Her husband was gone, and now her only remaining source of family support was gone. When Jesus saw her and the funeral procession, and He felt compassion for her. His expression of sympathy was simple. “Weep not.” With that, He approached the funeral brier, told the young man to arise, and saw him sit up and speak. He then took the young man to his mother.
The loss of a child may not always happen in the form of death. Other things can separate us from our children, and such was the case with the Syrophenician woman. She was a Greek, a Gentile, one considered a “dog” by the Jews. Her little daughter was possessed by a demon, and the woman begged Jesus to cast it out. Jesus appeared to be rejecting her request by telling her, “Let the children first be filled.” His mission was to the Jews first, and she was not a Jew. Yet, her reaction was not one of anger but of desperation. She told Jesus that even the dogs were allowed to eat the crumbs. Because of her attitude and her persistence, Jesus told her to return home. Her daughter was healed.
In the case of Peter’s mother-in-law, there is no documentation that she requested healing. We have no information about her before or after this, but she teaches us an important lesson in living the Christian life. She served a purpose in the household of Peter and Andrew. She was a welcoming individual, willing to serve. Much like Martha, she saw her job as serving the Master and His companions. Once healed, she resumed her place immediately. She didn’t use her illness as an excuse to stay in bed. Neither should we. When we are able, we should do whatever we can to return to the Lord’s service.
The woman with the issue of blood is our example of faith and perseverance. Though she had exhausted all efforts for finding a cure for her illness, she was willing to make her way through the crowded streets to get to Jesus. We should be willing to push ourselves through trials, tribulations, sickness, storms, or whatever may be in our way to get to Jesus. Sometimes it takes real effort to attend worship or to perform some act of kindness; and sometimes we want to just stay in our comfortable place. We need to push ourselves, just like this woman.
The widow and the Syrophoenician woman both suffered emotionally because of the tragic events in their lives. Losing the only child or watching your child suffer and not being able to do anything can leave us feeling trapped and all alone. We are promised that there will always be comfort available through Jesus Christ. The road may not be easy, but it will be easier through prayer and trust in Him.
Sandra Oliver