Luke 8:1-31And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. (Luke 8:1‑3)
When Jesus went to every city and town about Galilee to tell people God’s words and to teach them, many women went with Him and the disciples.
They followed Him to hear more of His words and see the good He did for others, because they were so grateful for what He had done for them. Each one of them had been healed of some disease, or freed of evil spirits.
Three of these women are named: first Mary Magdalene, who may have had most to be grateful for, since Jesus had freed her of seven evil spirits. We may not understand these, but they were common in that land, where for many years the people had turned from God, and worshipped idols. The wicked spirits never did good, but distressed or hurt the person, so the condition of this woman would have been dreadful, and her heart was filled with gratitude to Jesus.
The next woman named is Joanna; her trouble is not told, but she was another Jesus had cured, and she was truly grateful. Her husband was a steward, or treasurer for Herod, the ruler of Galilee; that would be called a good position, yet Joanna thought more of hearing the Lord’s words and followed Him with the others, and must have walked over hilly, dusty roads.
The last woman here named was Susanna; no special thing was written of her, but she was another so grateful for the Lord’s goodness to her, that she also followed Him, and we may be sure these women all spoke to others of the good Jesus had done for them.
There is something else told of these women: “they ministered unto Him of their substance.” That means thee: willingly gave to Jesus of what they had, not because they were told to, or asked, but of their own wish; the. served Him with food or with money or clothing, happy to do for Him.
When Jesus made His last visit to Jerusalem, many women of Galilee were in the company with Him, still serving Him in what ways they could. Mary Magdalene is named as one of them, and no doubt Joanna was also, as both are named being at His tomb, and found He had risen. They had deepest joy then, and later Jesus Himself spoke to them (Matt. 27:55,5655And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. (Matthew 27:55‑56); Luke 23:5555And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. (Luke 23:55) and 24:10; Matt. 28:99And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. (Matthew 28:9)).
These women did not weary of heang the words of Jesus, or of doing for Him. Others must have been helped by their trust, and the Lord Himself was honored. The women were not sent to preach the glad tidings, as the apostles were, yet this shows they held with needed things, and it was written that women now, even the younger ones, will know that the Lord is pleased with whatever is done from love to Him, because of the great good He had already done.
ML 03/25/1945