Did you know that in the Christmas narrative, there are several women involved, not just Jesus’ mother? Let’s spend a moment this Christmas season learning about the women of Christmas.
As Christmastime approaches it is easy to get caught up in the gifts, wrapping, and decorations. Even if we have those things on our minds, we often see the Christmas story as one with three characters, Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus. We might set out a Nativity and go to church each Sunday in December. We might watch plays about the shepherds or the wise men. Did you know that in the Christmas narrative, there are several women involved, not just Jesus’ mother?
Let’s spend a moment this Christmas season learning about the women of Christmas. Today we are going to look at six women in the Bible who were connected to Jesus’ birth. Some of these women will be familiar, but some might be the unnamed women and characters you might not remember. These are women who not only were there for Jesus’ birth but lived thousands of years before His birth, pointing to aspects of Jesus. These ancestors are important and vital to understanding the importance of Christmas.
Tamer
In Matthew 1:3 we read the name Tamer. To find her story we go to Genesis 38. In the middle of Joseph’s story, we have this chapter about Joseph’s brother Judah and a woman named Tamer. Tamer was Judah’s daughter-in-law (Genesis 38:6). After a series of acts of disobedience on the part of Judah’s sons, Tamer finds herself widowed three times and cast out by Judah. Through a series of events found in Genesis 38, we see Tamer show Judah that righteousness means more than following the law, but comes from a heart for the poor.
Tamer shows us that Jesus cares for the poor and the cast out. Tamer was cast aside by Judah, but ultimately God created a place for her in the very lineage of Christ! Tamer is mentioned in Matthew but also in 2 Chronicles 2:4 being in the line of David. Tamer was a woman rejected but ultimately accepted by a loving God. Jesus, our Savior, was rejected by men (Psalm 118:22) but would eventually be above all men and reign with compassion (Philippians 2:9).
Rahab
The next name we read in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus is also the name of a foreigner. Rahab is a prostitute in the city of Jericho. She has heard of the God of Israel and all of the plagues unleashed on Egypt. Her people have whispered about a God who could part the waters, but they lock the Israelites out. Not Rahab, she is said to open the physical door of her home to the spies who were about to be captured (Joshua 2:1). This physical door points to a spiritual door opening.
Rahab believes this God (Joshua 2:8-9) and asks the spies to spare her and her family when they come to take the city. The men do and she ends up marrying one of the spies (Matthew 1:5). Her faith is praised, not only in the Old Testament but in Hebrews as well! Hebrews 11:31 says, “By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.” What a beautiful picture of faith for us to trust in Jesus, the Messiah today!
Ruth
The next woman we see is also found in Matthew, but in the Old Testament, her story has its own book. Ruth is also in the lineage of Christ; in fact, her story follows that of Tamer and Rahab. Like them, Ruth was a foreigner whom God used in a mighty way. Don’t you love that God uses all people and anyone who wants to come to Him He doesn’t cast out?
Ruth left Moab with her mother-in-law. Both were widows and poor. God orchestrates a chance meeting with a wealthy landowner. Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi form a friendship and love that brings about salvation for Naomi’s family. In turn, Ruth becomes the great-grandmother to Kind David, which means Ruth also is in the lineage of Christ! Ruth’s love and ultimately redemption reminds us of her many-great grandson’s ministry to redeem all of mankind. Jesus is the redeemer we see in the book of Ruth.
Bathsheba
The next woman who is listed in Matthew’s list of names is one that we might want to shy over. Her part in this story doesn’t start with the best circumstances. Sin is involved and in her world, she is a victim in a lot of ways. You can read the details of her story here. In her story, she reminds us that sin can’t thwart God’s plan and sometimes sorrow is a part of the process of finding God.
God is never the author of evil, but God can turn even the hardest seasons of our lives into something good. Bathsheba would lose her firstborn to death but her second son, Solomon, would be king and ultimately, she is listed in the lineage of Christ. Her life reminds us that Christ has come to rid this world of sin and sorrow and His true Kingship will last forever.
Elizabeth
We’ve finally made it to the New Testament. In the story of Jesus, we see the miraculous birth of John the Baptist. John’s mother was Elizabeth. She and Mary were cousins. We read about the events surrounding John’s birth in Luke 1:5-24. Elizabeth gets pregnant in her old age. I find it interesting that she hid her pregnancy (after years of infertility) for five months. Her life reminds us that Jesus spent thirty years of His earthly life hidden away and unknown. His public ministry only lasted 3 years. It is in the quiet times that God works to develop and grow us.
Elizabeth is a great reminder that God works in the hidden season, that sometimes God does answer our prayers, and in the end, our joy is made full when God does all of the work!
Mary
The mother of Jesus is a figure who has been written about for centuries. Many church traditions place her in great importance. Surely she is a vital part of the story of Jesus, especially at Christmas time. As we reflect a little on her life, let’s remember first she was a real person.
Mary wasn’t perfect nor did she live a perfect, sinless life. A young girl, growing up in the Palestine area and part of a persecuted people she probably never thought she would be the chosen one to bring the Savior into this world. She wasn’t seeking it and humbly took on this burden with grace. Her life reminds us that God can use the ordinary person, who is humble and willing to be used by God. Ultimately it is her Son who saves the world, but she played a vital role in God’s redemption plan. We just don’t know how our actions and choices will help God’s plan of redemption along in the heart of someone else!
Which of these characters did you most resonate with? Was it Ruth, Tamer, Elizabeth, or Mary? One of the most comforting aspects of studying characters in the Bible is that they remind us we aren’t alone. Whether we feel, lost, hidden, and ordinary this Christmas, God understands! God sees us and can use us in His great plan of redemption.
Related: Listen to our podcast, The Characters of Christmas with Dan Darling. You can find all of our episodes at LifeAudio.com. Here's Episode 1:
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