And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. John 4:27-39

Such long rooted prejudices remain in some believing quarters today. Let’s take the place of the woman in ministry. And I speak of the woman who has had a true encounter with Christ as this woman had. Note particularly verses 29-30. Yes she had a reputation as the discourse with the Lord revealed, yet that notoriety (that potential for men to be drawn to her) was turned to advantage in her witness that drew the men out of the city to come see Christ! 

Compare the testimony recorded here in John 4:29-30 with that written in Luke 2:38. Your past, repented of, and your life subjected to Christ in like manner is no hindrance to service, even in the five-fold ministry!

Remember Priscilla, her place in the ministry as the wife of a 1^st century Christian missionary, acknowledged by Paul in Romans 16:3-4 and Acts 18:26. Not only was she side by side with Aquila, she is thought by some to be the anonymous author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Phoebe was acknowledged by Paul in Romans 16:1-2, an example of a travelling minister!

The Lord lifted woman to her true position by the side of man. Women were His most faithful disciples. They:

• ministered unto Him of their substance;
• shared His miraculous healing, feeding, and teaching;
• anointed His feet and wept over his agony;
• followed Him to the cross;
• were early at the sepulcher;
• greeted Him as the risen Lord; and
• received the baptism of the Spirit.

In Christ there is neither male nor female. Both are one in Him. Don’t let prejudice hold you back, robbing the Master of the needed labour for this 11^th hour work (Matthew 9:38).

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:38.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash