Women have been an integral part of the expression, development and life of all religious traditions. During the early years of the life of Christianity and Judaism, women have made a contribution that has influenced their respective tradition’s expression. In this essay two important women Deborah and Mary Magdalene will be explored thoroughly with a concise analysis on how these two women responded to their founder or made choices that affected the lived expression of their tradition.
The importance of Deborah and Mary Magdalene in their respective faiths is…
Deborah was a prophetess and the fourth Judge and only female Judge of pre-monarchic Israel in the Old Testament. Her moral authority was regarded as appointed by the Lord, and her judgement was greatly sought and highly trusted. It was through Deborah’s knowledge she was able to grant advice to people. Her leadership was also what granted Barak the ability to go to war. It was in this way that she was able to protect and continue the religious traditions. The fact that she did not rely on her husband or male relatives also made her an example for contemporary Jewish women today.
During the time of Deborah’s rule, the nation of Israel had been under domination by the Canaanites for twenty years. They had suffered terrible atrocities and finally began to cry out to God for deliverance from this enemy. (Judges 4:3) God heard their cries and so He sent forth Deborah to lead the Israelites against Jabin, King of Canaan (Judges 4 and 5).
The Essay on Communication Between Men And Women
As everyone knows by now, there is a difference between a man and a womans outer appearance. What some people do not realize is that a man and a woman are also different in communication techniques. Generally speaking, men and women fall into two categories when dealing with communication techniques. When men talk, it is for giving information. Deborah Tannen says this informative speaking is ...
She encouraged her general Barak although outnumbered in strength to attack the enemy while the river was in full flood. The Canaanites were incapacitated by their iron chariots and the Israelites won a famous victory through God.
Deborah became a legendary figure because of her faith in God and her charismatic inspirational leadership. She is seen in the Book of Judges 4-5 as one who is obedient to the Lord and who had an immense faith in Him. Her courage, humility and faith reinforced a great deal how the Jewish followers should serve God.
Deborah’s song of triumph (Judges 5) is thought to be one of the earliest Hebrew poems in existence and is considered one of the few pieces of inspired writing unequalled by men, showing her faith in God. In the ‘song of triumph’ Deborah sings to the Lord with thanks and praise for delivering the Israelites from the Canaanites. Deborah does not consider her position for the times and the success of the battle but instead gives all the glory to God and also recounts the miracles He has performed.
Deborah’s courage and humility are a model to all Jewish people as she kept her eyes focused on God and not the circumstances around her. She gave God the glory for the victory and she thanked Him specifically for what He did for her and her country. She is a key reminder to the Jewish people that they have the potential to do great things through God if they only listened, trusted and obeyed Him.
Mary Magdalene, on the other hand, is interpreted differently in the three Christian variants of Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran but the importance of her story is evident and how the various interpreters receive and live out her message. Mary Magdalene had a leadership role within the early Christian community. This was even to the extent that entire communities grew up around her and her ministry and developed a strong relationship with her.
It is clear from the Gospels that Mary Magdalene had a great love for Jesus. She had been freed by him from possession by seven devils, had followed him as a disciple, ministering to him from her means (Luke 8:2-3), and had been with Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the other women when Jesus was crucified (Mark 15:40-41).
Mary Magdalene also felt it her role to support Jesus. Her undying support and allegiance to Jesus is echoed in John 20:11-18, which asserts that Mary Magdalene was so loyal to Jesus that it was her, above all others, that he decided to reveal himself to and who was entrusted with the responsibility of pronouncing his resurrection to the rest of the ancient world.
The Essay on Angel: Mary Magdalene
Si Maria Magdalena o Maria ng Magdala ay isang santo ng Romano Katoliko. Matutunghayan siya sa Bagong Tipan ng Bibliyabilang isang babaeng pinagaling ni Hesus mula sa mga sumasanib na masasamang espiritu. Naging isa siyang debotong tagasunod ni Hesus. Naroroon siya nang ipako sa krus si Hesus. Pinaniniwalaang siya rin ang makasalanang babaeng kinaawaan ni Hesus, kaya’t naging kasingkahulugan ...
Mary Magdalene is seen as an important figure in the various denominations of Christianity but her response to the founder and her choices that affected the lived expression of the tradition varies from one denomination to the other.
The Roman Catholic Church has traditionally considered Mary Magdalene to be the sinner Mary of Luke 7:36-50, “In that town was a woman who lived a sinful life”, the infamous repentant prostitute who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and dried them with her hair. Also the sister of Martha and the resurrected Lazarus, of Luke 10:38-42 and John 11. Mary Magdalene has been made a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church and is known as the Queen of Penitents. In terms of lived tradition, the Catholic variant emulate Mary Magdalene as the sinner who changed her ways, and when a Catholic turns from sin they should be like Mary and be truly repentant and change.
On the other hand the Protestants in remembrance of Mary Magdalene’s faithfulness to Jesus are encouraged to learn to give thanks to God for the mercy he showed Mary and the mercy he continues to show the Christian people. The Protestant variant interprets Mary Magdalene through her actions; and believes she shows them way to the crucified and risen Lord, being the first person to tell others of Jesus’ resurrection.
The Eastern Orthodox again emphasises a different version of Mary Magdalene in their lived tradition. The Orthodox Church rejects the tainted view concerning the life of Mary Magdalene which is herald to be a more westernised view of events. She is believed to be a woman of wealth and social status. Following Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, she used her position to gain an invitation to a banquet given by Emperor Tiberius Caesar. When she met him, she held a plain egg in her hand and exclaimed “Christ is risen!” Caesar laughed, and said that Christ rising from the dead was as likely as the egg in her hand turning red while she held it. Before he finished speaking, the egg in her hand turned a bright red, and she continued proclaiming the Gospel to the entire imperial house. To the Eastern Orthodox followers Mary’s courage in proclaiming the Good News of the Lord to a Roman emperor would have been a quality to incorporate into their own lives. The Orthodox Christians strongly believe in the proclamation and celebration of the resurrection which they have derived from the actions of Mary. The Orthodox variant also believe Mary Magdalene travelled to Ephesus to teach, and was valued by the Orthodox Church as a great leader, teacher and follower of Christ. In their own lives Orthodox followers use Mary as an example to teach, lead and follow the words of Christ.
The Essay on Mary Magdalene Sculpture Jesus Life
The first sculpture that I observed was Mary Magdalene. This was a sculpture from the thirteenth century, made from limestone and polychrome. Mary Magdalene was a Jewish girl from a gentile town called Magdalene, which gave her the name of Mary of Magdalene. Mary was a sinner and many were surprised when Jesus let her touch him. When Jesus touched her he said, "Many sins are forgiver her, because ...
Deborah is important in the Jewish faith for her actions and the humility, faith and obedience that she displayed. Though Christianity has differing interpretations of how Mary Magdalene is instructive for lived tradition they all value aspects of Mary that are important to the daily lives of people in the Christian faith. Whether it be the Lutheran interpretation of being a good and committed disciple, the Catholic concept of the truly penitent sinner of the Orthodox emphasis on the proclaiming the Good news of resurrection, all are instructive and useful to the different variants on how a Christian should conduct themselves, encouraging in all ways a good form of behaviour.