Female Images of Jesus

In 1 Corinthians 1:24 we read these words: “...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” The word for “Wisdom” in Greek is σοφία (Sophia) - a common woman’s name.

Many scholars think that the beginning of the Gospel of John is another reference to Jesus as Wisdom. Note a couple of parallels:

• Both Wisdom and Jesus were both with God at the beginning of time

  I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. - Proverbs 8:1
  In the beginning was the Word... - John 1:1

• Both Wisdom and Jesus were involved with God in creation
  I was there when he set the heavens in place - Proverbs 8:27
  He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made - John 1:2

Wisdom was consistently a female figure in the Old Testament, and now in the new we see this same feminine image being used for Jesus Christ. This gives many people a certain freedom to approach Jesus in ways different than they were taught growing up, including even using female pronouns or other female images for Jesus. This doesn’t need to be the case for you, but it could be. What might the Spirit be saying to you in these insights today?

If you feel so led, reflect on this poem which is a response to seeing a sculpture of a female Jesus nailed to the cross.

O God,
through the image of a woman
crucified on a cross
I understand at last.

For over half my life
I have been ashamed
|of the scars I bear.
These scars tell an ugly story,
|a common story,
about a girl who is the victim
when a man acts out his fantasies.

In the warmth, peace and sunlight of your presence
I was able to uncurl the tightly clenched fists.
For the first time
I felt your suffering presence with me in that event.
I have known you as a vulnerable baby,
as a brother, and as a father.

Now I know you as a woman.
You were there with me
as the violated girl
caught in helpless suffering.

The chains of shame and fear
no longer bind my heart and body.
A slow fire of compassion and forgiveness is kindled.
My tears fall now
for man as well as for woman.

You were not ashamed of your wounds.
You showed them to Thomas
as marks of your ordeal and death.

I will no longer hide these wounds of mine.
I will bear them gracefully.
They tell a resurrection story.

Author unknown