Good News

Partnering with my husband in ministry has been one of the 
greatest joys in life. 

Scripture:

Luke 8:1   Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, ² as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, ³ and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Observation:

Luke intentionally welcomes women into the narrative to introduce the new paradigm within the kingdom of God. Jesus has the twelve with him, the men whom he has identified, and now he adds the fact that women are present as well. These women are also historically identified as disciples, but having them present is a problem. Rabbis of Jesus’ day often had traveling disciples, but never were they women. In the eyes of the religious leaders who were watching his every move, women as a part of his ministry team would have been considered disgraceful. 

Consider who these women are, and it becomes even more scandalous that they would be serving Jesus. Mary Magdalene had been filled with demons, and this seemed to be common knowledge. The use of the number seven is fascinating because it means completion, or perfection. She had been entirely possessed by demons, and yet, Jesus had set her free. She had been granted wholeness of life, but she would not fit in where she had been before. She found new life in Christ, as a part of his ministry team. 

Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza is mentioned. Later, in Luke’s Gospel, we find her at the foot of the cross, together with Mary Magdalene. These women journey with Jesus from the Galilee to Golgotha. Because of her husband’s work in Herod’s household it’s believed that she was a woman of means. Susanna is only mentioned here, but the two are identified as some of those who provided financially for the work and ministry of Jesus. Later on Joanna was included in the list of the Apostles. Two contemporary scholars, Ben Witherington and Richard J. Bauckham believe that she is Junia, who is mentioned later by Paul in his greetings in Acts 16. 

What we find is that these women play an important role in telling the transformational story of the gospel. Interestingly “good news” is used here for the first time in Luke’s gospel. This good news is revealed in these women. The gospel has spread beyond societies normal boundaries and the disciples include all those who mirror the grace of God, by providing for others out of their means. These are people who willingly serve others, and whose lives serve as examples of those who live a life of faith and generously give out of their means to help others. This was a foreshadowing of the Christian community that would develop in the first century. The women represent the good news, those who will hear and act on the word of God. 

Application:

This little picture of Jesus’ ministry team is the good news. We can only imagine that Jesus was ridiculed by the religious leaders for having women traveling with him. It was scandalous, and many people would have assumed that all kinds of illicit sensual and sexual behavior was going on among Jesus’ followers. What they couldn’t imagine was that the good news meant that these people could be set free to function as brothers and sisters, disciples in the kingdom of God. Every person brought their gifts to the table and in doing so, the ministry was able to blossom. 

Life within the kingdom of God is radically different from that which we face in the world. Everything about Jesus’ life and ministry was to serve as an example for others. Yes, men and women could work together as partners in the ministry, each bringing their gifts to the table to reflect the entire image of God. Mutual respect for one another as members of Jesus’ team would have been stunning to the world around them. 

Sometimes within the church, we still struggle to partner together as men and women in the spreading of the gospel. The problem is that when we exclude women from the picture, then we only partially reflect the image of God. From the beginning of creation, it was God’s intention that the man and woman were to be equal partners. It was sin that destroyed that relationship, but it was Christ’s life and death that restored not only our relationship to God, but to one another. What people witnessed in the life of Jesus’ disciples was good news, the restoration of all of humankind in relationship to God and each other. When we live this way, we are reflecting God’s kingdom to the world, and this is good news.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to live in partnership with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.