Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve 2 and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources. The Parable of the Sower.
Women held significant roles in Jesus’ ministry. The close group of disciples followed Jesus through the Galilean towns and villages as he preached the good news of the Kingdom of God. The women disciples who accompanied Jesus were all healed of physical or spiritual maladies. They would have been a scandal in first-century Palestine and the scandal was made worse because not all of the women were of good repute. It was not uncommon for women to provide money, property, or foodstuff to Rabbis or their disciples, but they never traveled with a Rabbi and his disciples. Joanna is mentioned only in Luke. She was the wife of Herod’s chief steward (v. 3), a woman of position and means, but seven demons had been cast out of Mary Magdalene. Seven signifies completion in Jewish thought so Luke might be telling his audience that she was a great sinner.
The women who followed Jesus gave great testimony to the power of God’s kingdom over sickness and evil. The power of the kingdom was demonstrated through Jesus’ healing. The close group that followed Jesus represented all aspects of God’s kingdom – men and women, single and married, healthy and sick, rich and poor. These women were present in Jerusalem when Jesus was on the way to Calvary, at his death (Lk. 23:49), his burial (Lk. 23:55-56), and at the empty tomb after his resurrection (Lk. 24:1-11).
Almighty God, grant us the grace to bear great witness to your kingdom like the disciples and the women who followed Jesus. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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