Is it only men who can represent Jesus?
Some Christians believe that, because Jesus was (and is) a man, only men can represent Jesus. Many of these same Christians also believe that church leaders somehow represent Jesus to the congregation; and so, because Jesus was male, women cannot be church leaders. This article looks at some of the flaws in these beliefs, and it answers the question: Is it only men who can represent Jesus?
Jesus Christ as a Human Being
Jesus left heaven and came to earth as a human being – a male human being. However Jesus’ maleness and masculinity are not emphasised in the New Testament as being comprehensively significant.[1] In fact, many verses which speak about Jesus’ salvation ministry emphasise his humanity without specifically referring to his gender. Unfortunately this emphasis on Jesus’ humanity is lost in many English translations which translate the Greek word anthrōpos (which means a “person” or “human being”) into the English word “man”, thus creating a masculine bias. Romans 5:15; 1 Corinthians 15:47; Philippians 2:7-8 and 1 Timothy 2:5 are just a few of many verses about Jesus where anthrōpos is translated into English as “man” instead of “person”.
The message of the New Testament is that Jesus became the Saviour of humanity primarily because he became human, and died for our sins; not because he became a male human.[2] Jesus is just as much the Saviour and Redeemer of women as he is of men. Sadly, this fact is sometimes obscured in English translations of New Testament verses which use the word “man” unnecessarily.[3]
Jesus’ Gender-inclusive Example
Jesus is also the teacher of women as he is of men. Jesus did not make gender distinctions in his teaching. When he taught the crowds, he did not give certain instructions to men and different instructions to women. In fact, nowhere in the New Testament does it state that some of Jesus’ teachings and virtues are more appropriate for men, and others for women. Nor is the example of Jesus’ life and ministry somehow more applicable to men just because Jesus was male.
Both men and women are called to follow Jesus and attain to the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13). As a Christian woman, my greatest desire is to follow Jesus closely and have Christ fully formed in me (Gal 4:19). Jesus is my Lord, my Saviour, my Teacher and my role model.
Do Church Leaders Represent Jesus Christ?
Some Christian churches believe that the person officiating at Communion services represents Jesus Christ; and, because Jesus Christ was male, the person officiating must also be male. These churches believe that Communion is a kind of re-enactment of the Last Supper and the person officiating at Communion is taking the part of Jesus.[4] (Does this mean that the other people in the congregation, who take part in Communion, are playing the part of the Apostles?)
Rather than a literal re-enactment, Communion is a commemoration or memorial of the Last Supper which reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice and of the New Covenant which he instituted.
Jesus led the first Communion meal, however I cannot see that a person officiating at subsequent Communion meals needs to represent Jesus Christ. The notion of a church leader representing Jesus is especially problematic for denominations, such as Roman Catholicism, which teach that the emblems of the body and blood of Jesus turn into the actual body and blood of Jesus. Why have a person represent Jesus when Jesus’ actual body and blood is present? Other denominations believe that Jesus is present during Communion in a spiritual way. If Jesus is truly present at Communion why do we need someone else to represent him? This doesn’t make sense. Moreover, as someone who has a relationship with the real Jesus, why do I need anybody else to represent him to me?
Christians who know the real Jesus, the ultimate High Priest and mediator, do not need someone else to play the part of a priestly mediator. It is not Christians who need someone to represent Jesus to them; it is non-Christians. And this is something that both men and women can do.[5] Christian men and women are called to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ to non-believers, and bring them to God (2 Cor 5:19b-20a).
Conclusion
Christ-likeness has nothing to do with gender. All Christians should be demonstrating the virtues of Jesus, emulating his Christ-like qualities.[6] Both men and women should be imitators of Christ and endeavouring to live up to his teachings; while encouraging others to do the same by example. As Christians, however, we do not need another person to represent Jesus to us or act as some sort of priestly, mediatory figure. We do not need someone acting as an imitation when we have the real Jesus.
Endnotes
[1] Masculinity covers a wide spectrum of personalities, attitudes, values and behaviours. While it is difficult to define what comprises masculinity, some Hierarchical Complementarians state that the main masculine qualities are courage, honour and duty.
Perhaps men are more concerned with honour than women. (Jesus certainly was not concerned with honour. Php 2:7.) However, many women have proven that courage and duty are not tied to masculinity.
I have suggested reasons why Jesus came to earth as a male towards the end of my article entitled, “Is God Male or Masculine?” here.
[2] Jesus had to be male to become the ultimate Passover Lamb (John 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19).
[3] The salvation of women is obscure in the King James Version of 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature . . .” This masculine bias is unwarranted as 2 Corinthians 5:17 is completely gender neutral (or gender-inclusive) in the Greek.
[4] The Last Supper is recorded in Luke 22:7-20; cf Matthew 26:17, 26-29; Mark 14:22-25. See also 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:20-34.
[5] I am aware that I represent Jesus in certain situations. For instance, when I go into public schools (where only few students and teachers have a genuine knowledge of Jesus Christ and Christianity), I know that how non-believers regard me has a bearing on how they regard the church and its leader – Jesus Christ.
[6] It is beyond the scope of this article to define or list Christ-like qualities; however any list of Christ-like qualities would include the qualities, or the fruit, of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).
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Tags: ambassadors of Christ, Communion, gender-inclusive Bible translations, priests, the fullness of Christ, women in ministry debate
This entry was posted on Monday, January 2nd, 2012 at 8:23 pm and is filed under Equality and Gender Issues, Equality in Ministry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
There's been 4 comments so far...
It so helps me to think of Jesus as a person. Thanks for this and many other important truths — Once again, great work.
Good points– especially about communion. But even when not participating in communion, Jesus is right there with us whenever we gather. Jesus said, “wherever two or more are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of you,” so we don’t need anyone to represent Him to us in any church gathering, since we have Him right there!
Melody, I guess I do think of Jesus a person who is male, but I see his saving work as FULLY available to all humanity – applicable to all men and women equally. I do not think this is apparent when anthropos is continually translated as “man”. And in fact, some churches have taught, perhaps some still do, that the wife is saved through her husband. I think it’s called Covenantal Representation. I personally know of a Christian woman who was told by her minister that she was “saved” through her non-Christian husband.
Kristen, I completely agree. We do not need anyone to represent Jesus to us in any context, because he is with us and within us.
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