Talking about women, I had mentionable encounters with a few:

(a) Mary gave birth to me. She was a very simple and poor woman betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter when an angel appeared to her and disclosed to her that she would be with child even before she would come together with Joseph. Though it was a shock to her, she was overjoyed to be the ‘blessed woman’ who would bring forth her ‘Saviour’ into the world. She is not the ‘mother of God’ as some would call her – she did not give birth to God. (That would mean she preceded God. Absurd!). She gave birth to me, ‘God in flesh’ – the Son of Man. She gave birth to more children after she became the wife of Joseph. When She heard things about me from Simeon and Hannah at the temple when I was taken there for circumcision, she recollected the words of the angel and hid all of this in her heart. Even at the age of twelve, when I stayed behind at the temple, she chided me for giving them some anxious moments. I reminded her that I had to be after ‘my Father’s’ business. I remained obedient to her all the many years I was with her. She approached me on behalf of the family at a wedding in Cana, informing me that they had run short of wine. I did not respond immediately as it was not my time yet to start working miracles as testimony to my ministry. Soon, I turned six vats of water into tasty wine to the surprise of the master of the feast. Once she came with her children to speak to me because they thought I was out of my senses; I was preaching with authority and took the listeners to task. Later, I saw her among the women who were watching my crucifixion with deep sorrow and tears. I gave charge of her to my beloved disciple John to take care of her in my absence. She was also part of the believers who had tarried in Jerusalem as per my instructions till they were endowed with Power from on high. She needed this power too.

(b) While I was at Simon’s house (he was a leper) having supper with Lazarus, Martha served and Mary, their sister, took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, in an alabaster box and anointed me from head to feet, and wiped my feet with her hair. Judas was quick to point out that it was a waste of more than three hundred pence which could have been used to feed the poor. I however knew why she did it and also why he said so. He was a thief! Mary had done this as a foreshadow of embalming my dead body. Wherever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, what she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. She had announced my death to the world in a way only she could do.

(c) Early in my ministry, another lady (?) washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She also anointed my feet with ointment and kept kissing them. It was a mark of repentance from her sins. And she knew that I would forgive her. This happened at the house of a Pharisee who did not care to even give me water to wash; however, he was quick to condemn her of her sinful life.

(d) Once Salome, the mother of James and John approached me. She beseeched me to offer seats at my right and my left to her sons in my kingdom. Though it was a genuine desire of a mother for her children, she did not know what she was asking me. I told her that it was not mine to decide this; My Father in heaven would decide. However, now, all my believers are already seated together with me in heavenly places as kings. I have given them authority over the powers of darkness to subdue them in my name. They will extend my kingdom on earth. Why look for a seat to my left and my right?

(e) Jairus was a man of authority. His ‘little’ daughter was seriously sick, and he beseeched me to come to his house to heal her. When we arrived there, people thought she had already died. But I took with me her parents, Peter, James, and John to the room where her body lay. I took Talitha’s hand and ‘woke her up from her sleep’.

(f) There was another woman caught red-handed in adultery. The Jewish leaders wanted to stone her to death. When they asked my opinion, I said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”. Not one stone was thrown at her and the crowd melted away. I sent her off warning her not to sin anymore.

(g) I met an ‘unsatisfied’ woman at the well outside a Samaritan village. She had lived with half a dozen men. I struck a conversation around the water of the well, but she found me, the One who would provide her Living Water that could quench her ‘thirst’ for life. In fact, she brought the whole village to me who soon recognised who I am – the Saviour of the world. Evangelist, bring people to me!

(h) I met a widow outside a village named Nain who had lost her only son. I raised her young son to life as he was her only hope.

(i) A woman among the crowd that was following me was desperate to reach me, to receive healing; she managed to touch the hem of my garment. I immediately felt power going out of me. I enquired about it right away. She was so embarrassed to reveal herself but confessed that she did touch me. She had been suffering from a severe issue of blood for twelve years and had spent all her wealth at the doctors for treatment but in vain. A battered woman indeed! She told the crowd around us that she was instantly healed. Her faith in me had healed ‘the daughter’.

(j) A Syro-Phoenician Canaanite mother brought to me her daughter who was possessed by a demon. She prayed to me to heal the child. I sent her away telling her that I had come to feed the lost sheep (believing Jews), not the dogs (as all Jews would address the gentiles). She had great unflinching faith that she replied, “But the dogs get to eat the crumbs that fall from the table“. I could see her desperation. I immediately healed the girl. (I am not a racist as some say I am. To put things in perspective, I created all mankind that became various races. I also had Simeon, the Canaanite as one of my disciples. I wanted people around me to know that I came to my own, but they rejected me. I also wanted them to know that the gentile woman (called ‘dogs’ derogatorily by the Jews) had precious faith that the ‘children’ lacked. The ‘dogs’ part of my statement was used to make my opinion about the lady’s faith more emphatic. I wanted the Jews around me feel ashamed of themselves). Even today, black lives do matter to me. Colour is only skin deep. I the Lord, look deeper – at your hearts. I can cleanse your ‘black’ heart!

(k) There was another Mary from Magdala. She had been possessed by seven demons. I cast those evil spirits off her and she became a believer. She was at my sepulchre even before it dawned on the third morning. Having risen from the dead, I spoke to her, but she thought I was the gardener; she was facing away from me. When she heard me address her by her name, she was overjoyed and approached me closer. I told her that I must first visit my Father. It was then that I sent her, the first ‘evangelist’, to announce my resurrection to my disciples. Dan Brown is wrong about this Mary.