Invisible Influence

I have been working for a while on a project focusing on the unnamed women of the Bible who have had an impact on Faith. I would love to share a small portion of that to see if you are as touched by the lives of these namelss women as I am.

Below are three women from the biblical narrative, there are women whose names have been lost to time, yet whose actions have echoed through two millennia. They were outcasts, widows, and sinners, and undesirable according to their society, but to Jesus, they were the main characters. 

1. The Woman with the Issue of Blood (The Touch of Faith)

This story is a masterclass in persistence and breaking social taboos.

• Social Death: It’s important to note that her condition didn't just cause physical pain; under the laws of the time, she was "unclean," meaning she was socially and religiously isolated for 12 years. She was not allowed in the temple, which was her way to worship. She more than likely felt like she could not connect with her creator.

• The Silent Protest: Notice how she didn't ask for permission. Her faith was proactive—she believed that even the "fringe" of His presence (the tzitzit or tassels of His garment) was enough to heal her. I’ve heard it argued that it wasn’t her faith but her desperation that brought her to Jesus. My answer to that would be, yes! Sometimes, it’s in our most desperate moments that we realize He is the only thing that can save us from our sin and struggles.

• From "Subject" to "Daughter": When Jesus stops the crowd, He forces her out of the shadows. By calling her "Daughter," He gives her a familial identity and public restoration that a name alone couldn't provide. Imagine the feeling to not only be recognized by Jesus, but to be called his daughter. He could have said anything, “woman”, “human”, or “you” would have all been appropriate, but he chose daughter because she was his.

2. The Samaritan Woman at the Well (The First Evangelist)

This encounter is the longest recorded private conversation Jesus had with anyone. WOW!!!!!

• Breaking Three Barriers: She was a triple-outcast in that context: a woman, a Samaritan (ethnic/religious rival), and someone with a "reputation." Jesus broke every cultural "rule" just to speak with her. Come on people. Jesus has way of meeting people where they are right when they need him.

• The Theological Pivot: She is the first person Jesus explicitly reveals His identity to as the Messiah (Messiah=Christos). Just like God chose the shrphards in the fields to send the angels to revela the birth of Christ, just like they shepherd boy David God chose to become one of the greatest kings Isreal would ever know, he chose this highly unlikely woman at well, at the hottest point in the day. Side note * This is probably because she could not or would not go in the cool of the day with all the other women of the town because they treated her like she was , well, an undesirable.

• The Ripple Effect: She didn't just get a drink of water; she went back to the city that likely shunned her and became a missionary. Her testimony wasn’t built on a clean record but on changed heart, and because of that an entire town was changed.

3. The Widow’s Mite (The Radical Giver)

This story flips the script on how we measure "success" or "worth."

• Quality over Quantity: While the wealthy were making a show of their large donations, the widow dropped in two lepta (the smallest coins in circulation). We often fell like if we can’t give the most, then why give at all? Because, God doesn’t want the most, he wants your all.

• The Heart of Sacrifice: Jesus points out that the others gave out of their abundance (what they didn't need), but she gave out of her poverty. The others were giving in a way the congregation would see how much they were giving. The widow gave all she had for only God to see. Do we give because we want others to see our gift, or because we want God to see our hearts?

• Total Dependence: Her gift wasn't just a donation; it was an act of complete trust. By giving her "all," she was essentially putting her life in God's hands for her next meal. She believed, in the same way Jesus says to “believe in him” in John 3:16. A trust in and dependance on.

• The Eternal Observation: Though she remained anonymous to the Temple treasury, she became the eternal standard for generosity in the Christian tradition. We won’t know her name until we get to heaven, and even then, I imagine her sitting at the feet of God with her hands still open to him.

Why all this matters:

• Seen, Not Just Named: While we don’t the names of these women, the Gospel writers ensured their actions were never forgotten.

• The Power of the Margins: God consistently uses those at the bottom of the social hierarchy to teach the most profound spiritual truths.

• Your Name is Known: A concluding thought—just because the world (or history) doesn't know your name doesn't mean your contribution isn't monumental.

·    These women prove that you don't need a title to have a testimony, and you don't need to be known by the world to be seen by the Divine.