Jesus is Worthy, Luke 8:1-3
I’m sitting here reading my daily Bible reading for the day, which is only a few verses.
But I’m stunned as I continue reading what Luke is writing to his readers. So I was compelled to share and write this post!
In Luke 8, Jesus is continuing to bring the good news of the kingdom of God, and Luke makes a strong purpose to note that there are women who are a part of his ministry, woman disciples of Jesus.
As a woman, a follower of Jesus, this excites me. My heart jumps to — oh I want to know more about these women, who are they? I want to know — why they were so committed to Jesus‘s ministry?
And then I read it, "and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities." (8:2)
Healed of demons, healed of sicknesses, healed of infirmities.
Healed of sin.
These women first and foremost experienced the power of Jesus in their lives. Their bodies experienced the power of freedom from sickness & demons that were crippling them. Their souls found redemption from sin. Redemption, only by the power of Jesus, that was their story.
The miracles they experienced by the hand of Jesus poured out in them a devotion unlike any other. Healed and redeemed, resulting in devotion to Jesus, they became strong instruments for the mission of Jesus. These women surrendered their lives, sacrificing what they had to care for Jesus and his disciples on mission. It states “who provided for them out of their means." (8:3)
These women were absolutely vital to the mission. God used them in his great purposes to bring about the kingdom. And wow, isn't that so encouraging ladies?!
But let’s get to the reason i’m writing this,
The one woman that captured my eye this time is Joanna. I can’t recall really knowing much about her in the past, but today I know who she is.
Joanna was healed from something where she experienced Jesus’s personal love for her as he delivered her. She was redeemed.
We know first and foremost that this woman was delivered and set free by Jesus. She knew how much he loved her. And therefore, as a result, she sought to devote her life to him.
But what is so cool to notice is that Joanna’s husband is the household manager of Herod‘s household. Herod, the ruler of Galilee. The man who completely opposed Jesus, ruthlessly. The man who beheaded Jesus’s forerunner, John the Baptist, who made the path for Jesus‘s ministry.
Joanna was in the high courts of the day, a wealthy woman. A woman who was in Herod’s kingdom.
Yet, she forsook these things and decided she wanted Jesus‘s kingdom instead.
The casual thrown in detail “Herod’s household manager“ was not casual at all. (8:3)
What I believe Luke implies to his readers is that Joanna sacrificed her life to follow Jesus. She was in a unique place to use her worldly kingdom resources to provide for Jesus's kingdom.
Yet this also probably meant facing strong opposition, possibly fearing for her life. She chose the one she loved and she never looked back.
You see, Joanna literally never looked back.
Luke makes the purpose to note that in his resurrection account in chapter 24, Joanna was one of the women at the empty tomb.
She persisted to follow Jesus the whole time with unwavering devotion and surrender to him, and all of that found her at the empty tomb — being one of the first to witness Jesus's resurrection and being one of the first missionaries to testify to the disciples of Jesus, that he had indeed risen.
How BEAUTIFUL it is to see this woman and understand her devotion and sacrifice to Jesus!
I love this quote on Joanna from Crosswalk,
"In contrast to many of Jesus’ followers, and because of her husband’s position in the household of Herod Antipas, Joanna lived a life of wealth and privilege. But she soon learned that her worldly resources couldn’t touch her greatest needs—they couldn’t heal her physically or spiritually; only this compassionate carpenter from an insignificant town called Nazareth could quicken and quench the deepest places of her heart."
Joanna's story teaches us that Jesus is worth following no matter what. He is worthy.
At all costs, he is worthy.
Today, whatever opposition is facing you, look to Joanna’s story & be encouraged that Jesus is worthy. You’ll never regret following hard after Jesus with everything you have, even when it means sacrifice and surrender.
How beautifully hard, yet rewarding it is to follow after Jesus in suffering. Trusting him may be hard, but through it he is faithful, and in this opposition, he will meet you with his intimate love and grace. Jesus intercedes for his own.
Romans 8:34 - "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."
You’ll find a level of deeper intimacy with Jesus as you learn to depend on him and trust him even more. With every little dependence thrown upon Jesus, it carves a deeper level of intimacy with him.
Jesus is worthy of it all.
I’m rooting for you, brother or sister in Christ!
"Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:34-39
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