In the work of God, some men are called to play a prominent role. Peter was given the “keys of the kingdom” and saw 3,000 souls saved at Pentecost. John, Luke and Matthew wrote books of the New Testament. Paul saw assemblies planted all across Asia Minor and Europe. Their names are rightly held in high esteem. However, behind the public face of God’s work, God has an army of devoted loyal servants who support, finance and enable the work of God to flourish. Many are women; often, they are widows.
Joanna, Susanna and other unnamed women, first mentioned in Luke 8, provided the critical support needed to finance the itinerant ministry of the Lord Jesus. The Lord had embarked on a traveling ministry with His 12 disciples in which they “went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God” (Luk 8:1).1 Luke records that certain women “provided for them out of their means” (vv2-3). The ministry of the Lord was made possible because of the financial support of these devoted women.
Joanna and Susanna demonstrate the true spirit of giving. Their financial support flowed out of their devotion to the Lord and their appreciation for what He had done for them. Luke describes them as “women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities” (v2). In a society where women were demeaned and often overlooked, the Lord Jesus had sought them out individually and healed them of various diseases. Their lives had been radically changed not only by the power of Christ but by His compassion. They never forgot that and became devoted followers of the Lord Jesus.
Second, they were not simply passive donors to the work. They actively followed the Lord. Luke tells us that, like the 12 disciples, they also were “with him” (v1). Their interest in the Lord was not superficial, but rather they were deeply concerned to hear His words and be with Him. When the Lord appeared to Joanna and the others after His resurrection and reminded them that He had foretold them that He would be crucified, be buried and rise again on the third day, then “they remembered his words” (Luk 24:8). Far from simply “mailing in the check,” they had followed Him wholeheartedly, seeking out His teaching.
Third, their giving to support the work of Christ was costly. Their support was “out of their means”; it came from their personal funds. In addition, they were from Galilee but the itinerary was in Judea, necessitating them to leave home temporarily. It is not without significance that Joanna is identified as “the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager” (Luk 8:3). Herod Antipas beheaded John the Baptist and sought to kill the Lord Jesus (13:31). While it is uncertain, it appears from the description of Joanna that Chuza perhaps did not share in her faith in the Lord. If so, Joanna’s support for the Lord’s ministry was a personal exercise. Certainly, it would not have been appreciated in the social circles in which she moved. There is something wonderfully ironic in that while Herod sought to kill Jesus, the funds he paid to his household manager, Chuza, were being used by Chuza’s wife to fund the ministry of the Lord!
Fourth, their devotion was not based on the results of the ministry. Their support was not contingent on the popularity of the Lord’s message or the crowds who followed Him. Described as “the women who had followed him from Galilee” (23:49,55), Joanna and the other women followed the Lord Jesus to the cross. Luke says they stood “at a distance watching these things” (v49). They followed Nicodemus and Joseph to the tomb, observing where the Lord Jesus was buried (v55). They returned to prepare spices and ointments to anoint the body of the Lord Jesus after the Sabbath (v56). Their financial support in the past was eclipsed by their devotion to the person of the Lord Jesus in His death.
It is important to notice that the Lord Jesus appreciated the contributions they made toward financing His ministry. In spite of His greatness as Creator and owner of the “cattle on a thousand hills,” the Lord was humbly willing to accept their assistance. Great men of earth would consider it unworthy to accept assistance from such lowly women, but not the Lord Jesus. He values every effort made for His benefit.
The Lord recognized the support of these women. By identifying them in Scripture, the Lord is demonstrating that no work done for His benefit will go unrecognized. We don’t know much about these women. Nothing is known of Susanna beyond that she supported the Lord’s ministry financially. Many of the women are unnamed and are simply described as “women who followed him from Galilee.” Yet, their contributions were known and appreciated by Christ. So too, the Lord appreciates and will recognize in a future day every woman who contributes to the work of the Lord.
The Lord’s appreciation of these women is demonstrated in that they were the first ones to whom He appeared following His resurrection. Joanna, along with Mary Magdalene and the other women, was the first to come to the garden tomb on resurrection morning (24:10). They were the first to go and tell the other disciples that Christ had risen. In a culture in which a woman’s testimony was not accepted in court, the Lord Jesus so valued these women that He entrusted to them His first appearance after His resurrection.
While women don’t have a public role in God’s assemblies, the spread of the gospel is made possible in large measure by the financial support contributed by women. The Lord will never overlook any gift given to Him. However, it is often through the generosity of widows, “unknown” women, and very unassuming believers that the Lord finances His great evangelistic work. Paul spoke of “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2Co 4:17) for those who sacrifice for the work of the Lord. In that day, many widows and humble women who devotedly supported the work of the Lord behind the scenes will appear in splendor and abundant glory when the Lord shines the light upon their contributions for Him.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the ESV.
