As a child, I developed some interesting theologies. I figured God created everything in the world except for yellowjackets and poison oak.
I also wondered if Jesus could truly relate to me because of my femaleness. After all, he never had periods, the bane of my twelve-year-old life.
It took some growing up to realize to my beautiful Savior is not hindered in any way from understanding and caring about women.
In a YouTube video series by Seminary Now, Dr. Cynthia Westfall explains a different approach in understanding what Jesus accomplished on the cross.
I’d always understood the phrase “It is finished” as referring to the atonement.
However, a closer look at Hebrews offers a different perspective.
“After [the Son] carried out the cleansing of people from their sins, he sat down at the right side of the highest majesty.” -Heb. 1:3b
“But Christ has appeared as the high priest of the good things that have happened. He passed through the greater and more perfect meeting tent, which isn’t made by human hands (that is, it’s not a part of this world). He entered the holy of holies once for all by his own blood, not by the blood of goats or calves, securing our deliverance for all time.” – Heb. 9:11-12
These passages indicate Jesus completed the work of atonement for sins after his resurrection and ascension.
If that’s the case, what did Jesus complete on the cross?
“Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way. This was so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, in order to wipe away the sins of the people. He’s able to help those who are being tempted, since he himself experienced suffering when he was tempted.” – Heb. 2:17-18
When Jesus took on flesh, his assignment was to live the full gamut of human experience so he could relate to us in every way.
Note he had to be “made like his brothers and sisters in every way.”
“It is finished” means at the moment of His death, Jesus completed his task of living the full human experience.
The God-man was conceived, developed in the womb of a woman, and was born.
He grew up physically, socially, and intellectually. He got hungry and dirty and exhausted. He felt physically weak. He became exasperated. He cried tears.
Finally, he died the most agonizing death possible for the sake of rescuing humanity.
Of course, Jesus didn’t go through every exact circumstance which every human has experienced.
But here’s the remarkable thing:
Although a biological male, Jesus proved himself a worthy representative of every kind of human hardship and limitation, including everything women have suffered throughout human history by virtue of their gender.
He knows what it is to be vulnerable and weak. To be misunderstood, marginalized and maligned.
Despite the patriarchal times in which he lived, Jesus did not ignore, reject, or exclude women as being of lesser importance than men. He displayed no hyper-vigilance about his own reputation as he related to them.
Women had no need to fear criticism, condescension, or suspicion from him, for he bore the brunt of such attitudes himself.
Every time Jesus encountered women, he dignified and elevated them. He took them seriously. He engaged in theological discussions with them. He challenged their faith. He invited them and included them.
When he walked the earth as the God-man, Jesus saw women.
He deemed them valuable, capable, and worthy of his attention.
He even trusted them as witnesses of his own resurrection, against the culture and law of the day.
No, Jesus didn’t experience all things females do. But I don’t need a Savior who suffered from monthly bleeding. I have a Savior who bled out on a cruel cross for all our sakes.
I can trust a Savior like that.
I can wholeheartedly worship and adore him—at Easter and all year long.
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Based on my master’s thesis, Prophesying Daughters: How Prophetic Ministry and Women in Leadership is NOW AVAILABLE.
Photo by CRISTIANO DE ASSUNÇÃO on Unsplash
Excellent article Susanne! I’ve been studying the book of John this year with BSF and learning so much about how much He loved and elevated women at different times of his life on earth. God Bless you and have a blessed Easter with your family!
Hope it was a good one for you, too, Linda! Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂