Comments on: ‘And Many Other Women’ Part V http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/10/and-many-other-women-part-v/ Truth Will Prevail Tue, 22 May 2012 21:07:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Joe Spencer http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/10/and-many-other-women-part-v/#comment-26599 Joe Spencer Thu, 28 Oct 2004 18:36:35 +0000 /?p=1515#comment-26599 I'm interested in chapter 13, as suspended between these two sets of comparisons. It is certainly on how to be a disciple, if not on how to be a VERY FAITHFUL disciple, but it seems to be about more than that. I wonder how the content of chapter 13 relates to the incredible examples of the women on both its extremes. The text mentions no women as part of the crowd in 13, and in fact it seems clear that the audience was really only the four earliest disciples. Most of the content is awful prophecy of the impending doom in Jerusalem. This must have some bearing on the readings of the two stories concerning the women. It is interesting in this connection that the women give ridiculously. The widow's two mites are apparently all she had, leaving her without means for further living. The woman with the anointing oil was giving up something (as pointed out) of incredible value, but only to clean someone's feet (although it is given that that someone is Jesus Christ). The willingness emphasized here seems to be a willingness to give up everything, especially because of the impending circumstances (the woman anoints Jesus for His burial). Perhaps the near doom for Jesus' mortal life is connected to the near doom for the whole city. Are the apostles implicitly being instructed to give up everything because there remains no need for belongings? Very interesting points, Julie. I’m interested in chapter 13, as suspended between these two sets of comparisons. It is certainly on how to be a disciple, if not on how to be a VERY FAITHFUL disciple, but it seems to be about more than that. I wonder how the content of chapter 13 relates to the incredible examples of the women on both its extremes. The text mentions no women as part of the crowd in 13, and in fact it seems clear that the audience was really only the four earliest disciples. Most of the content is awful prophecy of the impending doom in Jerusalem. This must have some bearing on the readings of the two stories concerning the women.

It is interesting in this connection that the women give ridiculously. The widow’s two mites are apparently all she had, leaving her without means for further living. The woman with the anointing oil was giving up something (as pointed out) of incredible value, but only to clean someone’s feet (although it is given that that someone is Jesus Christ). The willingness emphasized here seems to be a willingness to give up everything, especially because of the impending circumstances (the woman anoints Jesus for His burial). Perhaps the near doom for Jesus’ mortal life is connected to the near doom for the whole city. Are the apostles implicitly being instructed to give up everything because there remains no need for belongings?

Very interesting points, Julie.

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