Ministering Women

62 – Ministering Women; Luke 8:1-3

Luke 8:1 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

Commentary

This is a very short passage, but there are a few things to glean from what we read here. Similarly to so many other passages or introductions in the gospel accounts, we find Jesus travelling through the cities and villages, proclaiming the kingdom of God. I liked this short exposition of the word proclaiming: “Note the theme we have seen in earlier studies, of Jesus’ emphasis on preaching and teaching God’s Word. “Proclaiming” is the word often translated “preaching” which means to proclaim as a herald. The herald announced to people the word of the king. He never made up his own message, but rather relayed what the king wanted his subjects to know” (https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-33-serving-savior-luke-81-3).

This time, we learn that, not only were the 12 original disciples with him, but also some women. It was very unusual for women to accompany men, for several reasons. At that time, the Jewish culture dictated that men were to stay away from women, to avoid being ensnared by their wiles. In fact, most Jewish rabbis wouldn’t even look at women. Jesus, a travelling rabbi, was breaking with tradition by allowing the women to minister to Himself and His disciples.

The second point of interest is that these women had their own means. Women at the time were not generally in control of the family assets and would not have had liberty to travel and spend money freely. However, perhaps because of the miraculous healing these women had experienced, they had either received permission from their husbands or had parted ways with their family and taken some of the family’s wealth with them.

The first woman mentioned is Mary Magdalene (meaning ‘from Magdala’). “Mary Magdalene, had been delivered from evil spirits. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no evidence in the Bible that Mary had been an immoral woman. When Luke states that seven demons had gone out of her, he probably means the number literally. But, also, seven is the number of fulness and so he probably means that her life had been completely dominated by evil spirits” (https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-33-serving-savior-luke-81-3). In addition to Mary Magdalene, we are told in this passage that the other women in the group were also healed of illnesses or possession, as well.

The second woman mentioned by name is Joanna, the wife of Chuza. “Chuza managed the king’s household, so Joanna had access to Herod’s court – infamous for its extravagant parties and sexual immorality” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1794). We do not know if Chuza was a Christian or not, but it is unlikely Jesus would have encouraged Joanna to accompany Him if He knew her husband disapproved. “Imagine the gossip that must have surrounded Joanna back in Herod’s court! It would be like one of the Kennedy heirs leaving her mansions and social circles to join an itinerant bunch of evangelists in Mexico! But Joanna’s entire value system was transformed. Formerly she had lived to enjoy the good life of the wealthy and famous. Now she lived to serve her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ” (https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-33-serving-savior-luke-81-3). Due to her experience, we can only hope that Chuza came to know the Lord, as well.

Joanna is also mentioned in Luke 24:10, but the next woman mentioned by name, Susanna, is only found in this passage in Luke. I find it interesting that her name was so prominent and recognizable that Luke thought it worthy to mention her by name to Theophilus, but her presence was not called out specifically in any of the other gospel accounts. However, this is more evidence of Luke’s treatment of women in his account. He did his best to put them in the same place of importance Jesus had when He taught women and allowed them to be in His presence.

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/10/28/an-accusation-by-pharisees/

Scripture References

Verse 1

Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Luke 1:80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

Luke 9:6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

Luke 20:1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.

Verse 2

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them.

Matthew 27:55 And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.

Matthew 27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Mark 15:40 And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.

Mark 15:41 These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.

Mark 16:9 After Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.

Luke 23:49 But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

Luke 23:55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed.

John 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.

Acts 1:14 With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Verse 3

Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus

Matthew 14:3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

Matthew 14:6 On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod

Matthew 20:8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.’

Matthew 27:55 And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.

John 12:6 Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.

Commentary

Luke 24:10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.