They Had Followed Him From Galilee: The Female Disciples -- By: Angela Ravin-Anderson
Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 28:2 (Spring 2014)
Article: They Had Followed Him From Galilee: The Female Disciples
Author: Angela Ravin-Anderson
PP 28:2 (Spring 2014) p. 5
They Had Followed Him From Galilee: The Female Disciples
Angela Ravin-Anderson, a native Texan, is an ordained minister who currently serves as the Chief Advancement Officer at Houston Graduate School of Theology. She is in the process of earning her Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral and Missional Leadership. She and her husband, Herbert Anderson, have been married for twenty-four years, and they have a fourteen-year-old daughter, Peyton Marie.
A popular question has been posed for a while now in contemporary American society: “What would Jesus do?” The theology behind the question suggests that, perhaps, in the absence of explicit teaching, or as further explanation thereof, if one were to discern how Jesus reacts or handles a situation, because of the utter consistency of Jesus’s character and mission, one might find instruction for how to do likewise in one’s own life. It is based on the simple call and invitation that Jesus gives to his disciples: “Follow me” (e.g., Matt 4:19; Mark 2:14; Luke 9:59; John 1:43). Jesus proclaims good news: the kingdom of God is at hand. And, with that, a new world order is established. Those who follow him are called to demonstrate and embody the values, tenets, and principles of the kingdom. His followers often represent those who, transformed by the healing and restorative ministry of Jesus, then choose to commit their own lives to faithful service of Jesus Christ. These followers are also known as disciples. They not only learn the teachings of Jesus, but also fully embrace his teachings by applying them in their daily walk.
Because Jesus provided no explicit teaching with regard to the roles of women in ministry, his position on the topic can best be ascertained by observing his actions and listening to his words as he interacts with the women in his world. No doubt, he was regarded as a radical nonconformist in his treatment and elevation of women. But, upon close inspection, we see that Jesus’s actions fully align with his message of liberation and equality (Isa 61:1– 3). In general, Jesus demonstrates fair and equitable treatment to women and men alike. He heals men and women alike. He delivers both women and men from spiritual bondage. And Jesus invites both men and women to serve in and actively participate as members of the kingdom of God being established here on earth. Historically, most of the attention has been placed on the Twelve, those men whom Jesus hand-selected and who came to be emblematic of the twelve tribes of Israel. But there is another group equal...
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