What do you think it means to be a friend to Jesus?
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Have you ever considered that Jesus wants your friendship?
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
John 21:12-17 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" (ARE YOU MY FRIEND?) Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
Simon, are you my friend?
Friendship means emotional involvement
Look at a few scriptures: Luke 10:38-41 / John 11 / Luke 24
Concerning friendship with Mary and Martha and their inclusion as fellow workers, look at some characteristics of friendship with Jesus:
Invited Jesus over to the house (the book “If Jesus Came to my House”)
Shared meals
Really listening/ wanting to know him
In her living room
Said what she really felt / was “real” with him…Martha….she’s not helping me…Mary…if you had been here this would not have happened
Cried together
Told everyone around about him
Why was Jesus’ friendship with women so significant?
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Historical background of Jesus and women:
Jesus changed the woman’s world. He crossed cultural and traditional norms in his view of women.
How did Jesus think of women and address them? Think of Jesus’ interactions with women. Over and over he made the counter-cultural point that women did count, were needed and made a difference. In the gospels we see a significant difference between the thinking of that day and Jesus posture and view toward women.
Do we understand from the Gospels what Jesus did for women in his speaking to and of them and his interactions with them? Sometimes we can see these just seen as “Biblical accounts” without understanding the deep significance of these accounts. Consider the woman at the well…(Jesus chose her, a woman to first tell who he really was)…he held up a “sinful woman” to teach a group of men in John 8. Mary and Martha were engaged in the ministry of Jesus…group of women after Jesus’ death were mentioned and were who our resurrected Jesus first appeared to…
We see in the New Covenant, as revealed in Acts and the letters, the new place for women in the church as opposed to the synagogue?
Galatians 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
How were women viewed culturally during this time?
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Women were mentioned as workers in ministry throughout the New Testament. In Acts 2:17 and in Acts 18 (Priscilla with Aquilla), the prophesying daughters were spoken of in Acts 21. Women were seen as co-workers through the spreading of the gospel. Consider Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3) whom Paul spoke of as fellow workers who contended at his side for the cause of the gospel. (They obviously had influence in the assembly as they were in disagreement with each other likely causing dissension in the assembly given Paul’s public appeal to them and previous reference and appeal to unity) Many other women traveled with the apostles. Romans 16 lists a number of women who were considered ministers, or servants, in particular churches.
Romans 16:1-4 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. Greet Priscilla and
Romans 16:6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
Romans 16:12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Examples of women who served in the church, perhaps even paid by the church, of the first century, show that it is acceptable. The need for specific tasks or roles as determined by a leadership is a matter of wisdom, depending on the makeup of the congregation and the needs*
*From commentary:
16:1-2. Phoebe (which means “bright, radiant”) was Paul’s emissary to deliver this letter, so he wrote officially, I commend to you our sister Phoebe. The relationship mentioned is spiritual, not familial. Phoebe was a servant of the church in Cenchrea, a seaport a few miles east of
What is the difference between a worker and a fellow worker?
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Read the following:
Romans 16:3 Greet Priscilla and
Romans 16:9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
2 Corinthians 6:1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.
2 Corinthians 8:23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ.
Philip. 2:25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.
Philip. 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
1 Thes. 3:2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
What kind of work does Jesus need done?
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John 4:34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
John 5:36 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.
Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
2 Corinthians 8:11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
Who did Jesus leave the unfinished work to?
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Acts 14:26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
Acts 15:38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 16:10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.
Philip. 2:30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
What difference does it really make that I join with Jesus in his work, as his fellow worker?
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What would be the result if women were not viewed as coworkers of Jesus?
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Fewer women in this lost world would be converted. Without Jesus, the “prominent Greek women” of our day most often would use their gifts and talents in their careers. Fellow moms, work associates, women neighbors are left without the truth. They need to see Christianity “with flesh on it” as it is lived out by women. Women need further teaching and training to effectively refute the lies of this world that most women believe and help other women be effective in teaching the lost that they interact with to be better equipped to fulfill scripture like Mt. 28:18-20
If men primarily reached out to women, and also counseled and taught them, the temptation for unhealthy attachment and sexual sins would greatly increase. Women need to be trained to know how to counsel and teach one another.
Roots of bitterness (so tempting to women) were often left unaddressed and grew up and defiled many. Patterns emerged (these temptations…to slander, gossip, be busybodies) that are specifically mentioned and directed in connection with women in the scriptures that we see lived out again and again. Often at the root of discord is slander and gossip. Men were not often included in these conversations so were often uninformed of their presence.
What decisions do I need to make to be a better friend to Jesus? His fellow worker?
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Links to all the Designed on Purpose class notes can be found in the Introductory article.
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