He Sees You
How the Way of Jesus Includes a Way for Women
"The problem has never been their existence. The problem has been our ability to see them." —Beth Allison Barr.
I see you.
There is something powerful about those three words.
In a culture dominated by media and memes, we often mistake stares and shares for being seen.
It is not the same.
One is about what you have or can do, while the other is about who you are.
Unfortunately, this is not a new reality for women.
The ancient world of the New Testament was not much different from ours in that women were present, raising children, managing households, and contributing to community life, but were largely invisible in the public square and religious spaces.
Their value was often tied to what they could produce, not who they inherently were.
But then Jesus showed up.
And He saw them.
Not as props in someone else's story. Not as liabilities to be managed or voices to be silenced.
He saw them as full participants in the kingdom of God.
Image-bearers.
Disciples.
Witnesses.
I want to use this month's feature article to highlight three things Jesus did to make women feel seen. I'll conclude with a few parting words as a takeaway in the Work These Words section to help you put the words into practice.
1. He Spoke To Them In Public When Others Wouldn’t
In the first-century Jewish world, public interactions between men and women, especially those unrelated, were often limited or avoided altogether. Rabbis, in particular, were known for their reserve in this regard.
Respectability was maintained through distance.
But not with Jesus.
In John 4, Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman and engages her in the longest recorded one-on-one theological conversation in the Gospels.
He initiates the interaction.
He dignifies her intellect.
He doesn't flinch at her past.
Instead, He offers her living water and reveals His messianic identity, something He had not yet disclosed even to His male disciples.
2. He Welcomed Them As Disciples When Others Wouldn’t
To be a disciple in the first century was to be a student in the dust of your rabbi's feet, an apprentice absorbing their teachings and way of life. This space was typically reserved for men, as women were not formally included in rabbinic circles.
Yet in Luke 10, Mary of Bethany defies expectation by sitting at Jesus' feet, which is a posture of discipleship.
And Jesus defends her right to be there.
"Mary has chosen what is better," He says, "and it will not be taken from her." To me, that wasn't just a defense. It was a theological declaration.
Jesus redefined what it meant to be a disciple not by erasing distinctions but by expanding access.
In a culture that often said "know your place," Jesus offered a new one:
At His feet, in His company, on His mission.
3. He Entrusted Them With The Gospel When Others Wouldn’t
If the resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, then the first witnesses hold sacred weight.
And yet, in all four Gospel accounts, women first encounter the empty tomb.
In John's Gospel, Mary Magdalene stands weeping in the garden when the risen Jesus calls her by name.
She is the first to see Him, hear Him, and be commissioned: "Go to my brothers and tell them…" (John 20:17).
In a society where a woman's testimony wouldn't hold up in court, Jesus makes her the bearer of the most important news in history.
He does not wait for Peter or John. He chooses Mary. In doing so, He affirms her devotion and gives her authority.
Work These Words
Ladies, how do you put this into practice?
Since we believe that Jesus is our example, we aren't just called to admiration but to emulation.
Put another way, we must do for others what Jesus did for us.
You know what it's like to be seen; now see others.
Here are three simple things to help you get started.
1. Slow down enough to notice.
Busyness blinds us. Presence begins with margin. Make space in your day to look someone in the eyes, ask how she’s really doing, and wait for the answer.
2. Speak life where the world has spoken lies.
Affirm another woman’s calling, voice, or growth. Your words may be the mirror she didn’t know she needed. Say it out loud.
3. Share your story with courage.
When you speak honestly about what Jesus has done in your life, you invite others to believe it’s possible for them too. Don’t hide your healing.