The Women With Jesus
By Robin Owen
When we read through the Old and New Testament, we cannot help but be impressed with the women God used in His redemptive story. He used queens (Esther), prophets (Deborah), wives (Hannah), widows (Anna), mothers (Mary), and teachers (Priscilla), who in their lives exhibited great courage, love, devotion, and faith.
In the first century, women’s lives were largely confined to the domestic realm. They had limited legal rights, and restricted public and religious participation. Jesus’ actions and teachings challenged the social norm of His day. Jesus interacted with women from a wide range of social and ethnic backgrounds. He showed women respect and compassion. He healed and forgave them, interacted with them in public, and included them in His ministry.
As we read through the gospel narratives, we are introduced to a group of women who met Jesus and found their lives changed forever. The story of these women begins while Jesus was teaching in the region of Galilee: “Soon afterward [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their means” (Luke 8:1-3).
Mary Magdalene is the first woman named. She was born in Magdala, a prosperous town on the west shore of the sea of Galilee, about 80 miles from Jerusalem. Luke tells us that, before Mary met Jesus, she was possessed by seven demons. We know from other accounts in scripture that demon possession could consist of a variety of torturous traits. The demons could control a person’s thoughts and actions, causing self-destructive behavior, leading the ones who suffered to live isolated lives (Luke 8:26-39). How Mary must have suffered being tormented by demons and looked down on by society! Had she lost all hope? But Jesus found Mary in her state of darkness; He cast out the demons and turned her life of loneliness and shame into a life of joy. Grateful that Jesus had saved her, Mary dedicated her life to serving Him. Mary is mentioned 14 times throughout the gospel accounts. All four gospels attest to Mary’s presence at the cross and the tomb. After His resurrection, Jesus found this faithful follower at His tomb. Because of her tears of grief, initially Mary did not recognize Jesus, thinking He was the gardener. But when Jesus spoke her name, “Mary,” she recognized Him and responded “Rabboni,” acknowledging Him as her teacher (John 20:15-16). Mary was the first disciple to witness the risen Savior.
Joanna is the second woman named. Luke tells us that Joanna was the wife of Chuza, the household manager for Herod Antipas the tetrarch of Galilee during Jesus' ministry. The mention of Chuza’s position emphasizes Joanna’s prominent social status and wealth. We may wonder what Joanna saw and heard in Herod’s court. Was Joanna present when John the Baptist spoke to Herod, or at Herod’s birthday banquet that ended in John’s execution? Had Herod heard of Joanna’s healing? While scripture does not answer these questions, what we do know is Jesus healed Joanna, and she responded by giving her life and wealth in service to Him. Joanna’s support of Jesus’ ministry shows that His message transcended social and political boundaries. Joanna is mentioned by name one other time in Luke 24:6-9 as one of the women who went to the tomb.
The last woman named is Susanna. While she is only mentioned once in scripture, the mention of her name is significant because Jesus healed her, and she responded by following Him and participating in His ministry. In addition, Luke mentions that “many other” women were with Jesus. While they are not named, we cannot underestimate what they did for Jesus’ ministry.
These women interacted with Jesus and the apostles as they traveled throughout Galilee and eventually to Jerusalem. They were beneficiaries of God’s abundant grace when Jesus healed their “evil spirits and infirmities.” Therefore, they poured out their lives for Jesus in gratitude and love. They left their homes to be near Jesus, actively supporting His ministry financially and cared for Jesus and the disciple’s physical needs. As they traveled with Jesus, they learned from His teaching, saw how Jesus responded to people, witnessed the miracles He performed, and ultimately became witnesses of key events in Jesus’ life.
As these women followed Jesus to Jerusalem, they were likely present and participated with the apostles in Jesus’ triumphal entry, hailing Him as the Messiah and shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David!” But were they prepared for the events that would follow? Unlike Jesus’ apostles who were scattered like sheep during his arrest and crucifixion (Matt. 26:31), it was the women who were at the cross, who followed Joseph to see where Jesus’ body was laid, and who returned to the tomb with spices to make sure Jesus was cared for even in death (Luke 23:55-56). Imagine the deep sorrow these women experienced at the cross as they watched Jesus’ brutal death, the bewilderment they must have felt when they found the tomb empty, the terror they experienced when they encountered two men in dazzling clothes at the tomb, and the immense joy they experienced when the men proclaimed to them, “[Jesus] has risen!” The women were reminded of the words Jesus had spoken in Galilee, “the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again” (Luke 24:1-9). Then, imagine their excitement as they rushed to carry the joyous news of the risen Savior to the apostles and the others.
God used these women in His redemptive story, and like the women He used in the past, their lives are beautiful examples of great courage, love, devotion and faith.
God is still using women today in His redemptive story. While we will never find our names written in scripture, they are “engraved on the palms of His hands” (Isaiah 49:16) with these women and the “many others” who were with Jesus and supported His ministry. Jesus has transformed our lives, and we are the beneficiaries of God’s abundant grace. Like these women, we should pour out our lives in gratitude and love for Jesus by supporting His ministry, by caring for His disciples, and by sharing the good news of the risen Savior!