Male and Female

Expectations placed on us can be good and bad. It’s good for your parents to expect you to pay attention in school or for your friends to expect you to have their backs. On the other hand, your friends might expect you to go along with something that you don’t want to do, or classmates might expect you to hold the same beliefs as them, even if you don’t.

As you’ve grown older, you’ve probably also noticed how society places different expectations on men and women. These expectations can also change over time. It can be complicated and confusing to work out what it means to be a man or a woman.

In yesterday’s passage (Genesis 1:26–27), we read how God created humans not only in his image but also as male and female. In today’s passage, we read that as women and men (or girls and boys), we shouldn’t follow the expectations of this world, but God’s expectations. 

In Jesus, we see the perfect fulfilment of this. Whether you are female or male, Jesus provides the ultimate example to follow, and one that does not conform to what our society expects a man or woman to look like. Jesus was emotional, he was wise, he was gentle, he was a leader, he was submissive, he was thoughtful, he cried, and he was compassionate.

Most importantly, both men and women have an equal need: rescue from our sins. Both equally fall short of God’s expectations, but Jesus’ death and resurrection bring restoration for everyone. Women and men are equal before God as sinners, and they are also equally loved.

Questions:  

1. What do you think it means to be a man or a woman? Does that line up with the example set by Jesus?  
2. Why do you think it’s important that we don’t just follow what the world expects of us? How can we discover what God expects?  
3. If all women and men are equal before God, how do you think he wants us to treat one another? Can you think of any attitudes you might need to change?

Prayer:

Loving Father, in your wisdom and goodness you created us, female and male. Thank you that we are all equally loved in your sight. Please help me not to go along with what this world wants, but to follow your expectations instead. Amen.