A Woman Jesus Can Teach: Lessons from New Testament Women Help You Make Today's Choices

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Summary: New Testament Focus
Review: Whenever I have studied the women in the Bible, I have learned about Sarah and Hannah,etc., but in this small, but impressive book they aren't included. Author and teacher Alice Mathews brings to life named and unnamed women in the New Testament by exploring how and why Jesus responded to them in the ways he chose to. In the preface she wrote: "But as we moved into Jesus' earthly life and ministry, I felt less and less at ease with the Jesus I met in John's gospel. I wanted the collegiants in my class to worship this Jesus and give their lives to Him. But He said and did strange things. He sounded rude to his mother." In this way she examines some of the bewildering ways of Jesus, and joins us in pondering the gospels. For me, this is a slow read, with 4 questions for either personal reflection or group discussion at the end of each chapter. When I hope to be teachable in my faith, I open "A Woman Jesus Can Teach" and savor one chapter at a time. In the chapter about the Canaanite woman, Mathews writes: "Take heart. A little bit of faith is still faith. A drop of water is water every bit as much as a reservoir of water." Later in that chapter she concludes: "A nameless Canaanite woman...reminds us that in our crisis experiences, we can hang on and trust God because He is the only one who is trustworthy." The study group I participated in opted not to use this book, as for many it seemed too much work. They wished for light, quick reading. But for my personal study, I am glad it has a place on my shelf.