The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him.
(John 4:25-30 ESV)
I read this passage a few days ago and didn’t see in it what I’m about to share. The passage that I included above is generally not what people teach and preach about. I, personally, have never heard it taught about. There are three reasons this maybe the case. The most probable reason is that, like me, I don’t think many people notice it. Another reason is that it’s dismissed as not important. The third reason is that it flies in the face of what many clergy (especially evangelical clergy) believe: that women are called to preach and teach the Gospel even to men.Before you read on, I encourage you to read all of John 4 and then read again the quoted passage above.
A person could write an entire book about all that Jesus shares in this story but I want to key on the a few facts. In this story we have a Jewish teacher speaking to a Samaritan woman at a well in mid-day. This situation is wrong a a number of levels. Jesus should not have been speaking to any woman like that let alone a Samaritan woman “living in sin”!
Yet Jesus knows what He’s doing and He speaks to her plainly, telling her who He is. And she believes and runs to town to tell others. And they believe and come to listen to Jesus.
Here’s the deal. Jesus calls who He calls and those called have authority and must be listened to. This is so obvious that not even Peter questions Jesus as He is speaking to this woman. The woman at the well as we like to call her was one Jesus’ first evangelists. She preached the Good News before the Church even existed. It’s an awesome responsibility to sit in judgement on another’s call from Christ because Christ Jesus doesn’t always call the ones who fit our personal mold.
Christopher
Christopher C. Randolph 
How could I not like any post about the woman at the well? In my opinion Jesus’ message to her was that it is never too late to turn your life over to God and live a blessed life, there is redemption even for the worst of us sinners. Yes she used her gift from Jesus to change the world and became a source of light for those who listened to her but you’re right I never really saw that as a ministry until you posted this, what a prophetic revelation. It is sad that women are looked on as not of the same authority as men, you are right again. _WATW
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WATW,
You are right about Jesus’ personal message to the woman, I think. I wonder what would happen if more people read the Bible for what IT says rather than for what they’ve been told it says or think or wish it says?
God Bless,
Christopher
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Oh the strongholds that would crumble if only people would…
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I thank you Christopher Randolp for standing up for God’s Truth, you are right when you point out God’s role for Woman … Men were created to be in Leadership and Woman to be their Helpmates Physically, Mentally, Emotionally and spiritually, this is a very high calling for woman and one they cannot achieve without God’s empowering them through the Holy Spirit the same as Men in their Leadership role and when both Men and Woman accept their roles as from the Lord they will find fulfilment and be content.
As you pointed out from the Scriptures Christopher there is a difference from a woman being an Evangelist and sharing God’s Truth, rubuking, correcting error or having the gift of prophsy under His Authority then her being an Ordained Preacher and in Authority over men. Sadly as you say God’s guidelines in this area are being ignored. Also when a women preaches she does not have God’s anointing because she is not obeying Him so her words have no power, only His Truth spoken in obedience, will not return to Him void and so she would be just rambling on or worse speaking error.
The Lord has lead me to share His Truth concerning Woman and Men’s roles but it has been rejected or ignored. I have even had to leave a few Churches because of woman being in leadership and in Authority over men.
One woman Preacher after I shared all the Scripture that confirms it is not a woman’ role, then asked me to forget the Scripture and tell her why wouldn’t God want her to preach. I explained to her that we can’t put aside God’s inspired word, if He tells us something we don’t question it, we accept and obey His directives, He knows what is best. I sent her the Power point that I created for woman about our role but was then accused of being Mentally ill or worse having a lying demon spirit.
We remember it is Jesus who is the Light but we reflect His goodness and shine like Stars.
Sorry for the length of this post Christopher, feel free to delete it if needed, I mainly wanted to support and encourage you .
Christian Love Anne.
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Hi Anne,
I admire your commitment and I am very glad that you came by. Perhaps, though, if you re-read my post and especially the Scripture above, you’ll see that it, in fact, refutes your stance on the issue of women preaching and teaching. As far as authority and the Scriptural roles of men and women as a principal, I think you are right on. I think, though, that authority when it comes to preaching and teaching remains with Christ or else there is no authority to the lesson. In the case of the woman at the well, she was an evangelist. She preached the Word to her commuity and because her message came directly from Christ Jesus, it had authority and power and people responded. Regardless of one’s gender, a lesson either has Christ’s authority behind it or it has no authority at all.
I know Beth Moore has struggled with this issue as well. I think that is a shame because she is annointed and anyone who refuses to listen to her teaching just because she is a woman is foolish.
I hope you will keep stopping by even if you and I disagree on this issue, Anne. In fact, I think it would be a good thing for you to present your reasons for believing as you do. Like I said a few posts back, I don’t want this blog to be just about me even if it does have my name on it.
God Bless,
Christopher
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Hi Christopher, respectfully, I feel you are the one who needs to read again the Scripture concerning the woman at the well with understanding, it was not her they believed, it was Jesus’ because He spoke Truth.
John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
I do very much believe that it is not God’s will that we agree to disagree Christopher because He tells us to bring our differences to Him and He will show who is in error He is a God of unity not division so I would be pleased to reason with you under God’s leading but not on a public forum …your choice.
Yet I would still be willing to share How God taught, lead and convicted me of His Truth concerning a women’s roles in Marriage and the Church and His Truth in other areas on your Blog..once again your choice.
I’m going out now, but will be back later
Christian Love Anne.
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Oh the strongholds that would crumble if only people would….like I said before, and God has sent the Point to be made , ironic isn’t it? God Bless Christopher, thank you for shining light on this for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.-WATW
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Great post. I need to do some thinking and studying on it, but I think you make a great point. We try to put God’s moving in a box. God does not fit in our boxes. He made our boxes. We can try to compartmentalize who He may call, but it won’t work. He, I think, will always be just outside of constraints we try to put on Him. This is one of the reasons we have so many denominations. People try to restrain God, but he always seems to escape.
Jesus clearly was okay with the woman evangelizing. He was okay with her teaching men about him. What do we do with this? I am not sure, but it does mean that maybe our boxes are to small. There are many other examples of woman leadership throughout the New Testament (and in the Old Testament). I think the Church needs to see the Bible and the Spirit on the views of the roles of women in the Church.
Thanks again for the thought provoking post.
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joe,
thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you were stimulated to think.
God Bless,
Christopher
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1 Timothy 2:11-13
King James Version (KJV)
11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
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Yes that’s the oft quoted passage used to subjugate women. Paul is giving his personal advice to Timothy. Notice how he says “I suffer not…” And like I have said, it is best in most cases that a leader be a man because men are in general hard-wired to lead. Women are hard-wired to serve in other, yet equally important ways. In view of Paul’s attention and honor of women who were leaders in the early Church as well as Jesus’ behavior toward the Woman at the Well, we can see that women are not forbidden from preaching and teaching. Jesus calls who He calls. It’s foolish of anyone to say otherwise based simply upon one passage taken out of context. God’s Word bears out what I am saying.
In context of the passage, would you have ignored the message simply because the messenger was a woman? Would you respond differently if the messenger was a rock like Jesus said he could provide?
I mean no disrespect. I’m just saying.
God Bless,
Christopher
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1 Timothy 2:11-13 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp Authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1 Timothy 6:3-4 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.
God said it!
I Believe it!
That settles it!
What you choose to believe and do you will be accountable for.
Kind regards Anne.
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In the context of our discussion and topic a better verse to read is John 4:34. The 1 timothy passage that seems to apply to the conversation is a particular incident and in the face of other passages also written by Paul and the story that we are discussing, doesn’t appear to hold the weight that some wish it does. Scripture interprets Scripture after all. A key element is that in the applicable 1Tim quote, Paul begins by saying “I”. I’ll have to take a close look at 1 Timothy I’m thinking that this is significant to understanding what Paul is speaking about.
God Bless,
Christopher
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Christopher as I shared before if you want to have more understanding so you can finish the work God has sent you to do then stop listening to the wrong voices and please contact me.There are many Scriptures that confirm that woman should not be in Leadership over men but believe me I do not in anyway find this a put down but a blessing .
Christian Love Anne
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John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
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Anne,
There are a number of issues that you are confusing together in this. Culturally, the Jews were male oriented, that is true. Biblically, husbands are to execise Christ-like authority in their families and yes that means being leaders for their wives and wives being under their authority. That much is true.
Even though there is the 1Timothy passage that you quoted, in light of other passages, it must not be a mandate against women playing leadership roles. Women were leaders in the early church according to the Bible. Jesus’ ministry was largely supplied and sustained by women of substance. And the woman at the well was clearly one of the first evangelists for Christ. According to the Bible, anyway.
As to the authority question in regards to preaching and teaching, I suggest that authority does not rest on the shoulders of the teacher or the preacher but solidly on the shoulders of Jesus Christ. Or not. In other words, gender is irrelevent concerning this issue except in the eyes of some religious persons. All that matters is whether or not the message or lesson comes from God.
That being said, I welcome any references etc. that you wish to bring to the table, Anne. But the purpose of the conversation is for all to be enlightened and to be able to discuss such important issues in the open light. Anything else is unfair, unChristian, and not in keeping with the stated purpose of this blog. I have no fear of being proven wrong on this or any other issue. In fact, if I am wrong, I want to know so that I may change. The operative word is “proven”, though, and by that I mean Biblically.
I hope to hear from you soon.
God Bless,
Christopher
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My Pastor is actually a woman, but her head Pastor, from the other congregation is a man. I believe it is ok for a woman to be a Pastor, but it is better if she is submitted to someone as a spiritual elder, who is a man. I don’t know if that always is the case, but I believe that God can use man and woman alike for reaching the world. Look at Joyce Meyer and Kathryn Kuhlman. They had remarkable ministries, and had not heeded the voice of God to call them on their lives who knows how many lives wouldn’t have changed for the better. It is great if both husband and wife can be Pastors. Didn’t Jesus say that in heaven, there is no male or female, but we are like angels? As long as we have Christ as the head and the bridegroom, then we are all the body of Christ, and the bride….so we all are submitted to Christ. Great Post.
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Excellent thoughts on the matter. I think that you hit on an important point when you said that it is “better” to be subitted to a spirtual elder who is a man”. As a rule I think this is true. I just don’t think that being a man makes one a spiritual elder, or that being a woman makes one No a spiritual elder. This is where spiritual discernment is of great importance.
Thanks for coming by. Hope to see you back here, as well.
God Bless,
Christopher
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