The Gospel of Luke has often been considered as the Gospel of women.
In fact, Luke is the evangelist who presents the largest number of situations which underline the relationship of Jesus with women. This is not only in the presence of the women around Jesus, but also and, above all, in the attitude of Jesus in relation to them.
Jesus touches them and allows them to touch him without fear of being contaminated. Think about Luke 7:39 when after the woman anoints his feet with perfume, a Pharisee makes a comment about allowing a woman to touch him. And we see it in chapter 8 when the bleeding woman touches him and was healed. Later in the same chapter, Jesus grabs the little girl who has died by the hand and raises her to life. Remember a menstrual cycle was considered unclean and so was death. But he didn’t care. It didn’t stop him from bridging these cultural and gender divides.
This was different from the teachers of that time. Jesus accepts women who follow him and who are his disciples. The liberating force of God demonstrated through Jesus allows women to rise and to assume their dignity. Think about the crippled woman in Luke 13. In Luke 13:13, it says, “Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” She rose up into her place and began worshipping God. Isn’t that a powerful image?
The work of the woman who prepares the meal is considered by Jesus like a sign of the Kingdom in Luke 13:20-21.
Jesus is sensitive to the suffering of the widow and is in solidarity with her sorrow in Luke 7:13. The insistent widow who struggles for her rights is considered the model of prayer in Luke 18:1-8, where we hear that God will bring justice for those who cry out day and night. And the poor widow who shares the little that she has with others is the model of dedication and donation in Luke 21:1-4.
At a time when the witness of women is not accepted as something valid, Jesus accepts women and considers them witnesses of his death, of his burial and of his resurrection in Luke 22-24.
This is just some context of the book of Luke as we come to our reading today.
Lectio Divina
Hear these words from Luke 8:1-3 NIV, which we’ll read three times, each with a different question to ponder.
First Reading: Note what words or phrases stand out to you.
Second Reading: Let’s read it again and I’ll invite you to notice the role of women in this passage.
Third Reading: Lastly, for our final reading, I invite you to listen with Holy Spirit ears for what God might have you receive from this passage.
- Luke 8:1-3 NIV, “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
So what?
As I processed this passage, three questions came to mind about these women. I’m going to share those with a little context and then give you three questions that you might ask yourself in response as you consider your current season of life and ministry.
Why specifically mention that these women were with Jesus?
Nothing is by accident in scripture. The NIV translation says: “Some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases.” They had been healed, delivered, brought into new life, demonstrating Jesus’ power over evil and the transformative nature of his ministry. They were brought into a new position in society.
A Question for You:
1. What has God brought you out of that you might serve him in new ways in this new year?
Who are these women?
By name, we see Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna along with others named.
We know little of these women really. But MacLaren’s Expositions Commentary gives us a snapshot of each women that I appreciate.
Of Mary, it says:
“Mary of Magdala has had a very hard fate. The Scripture record of her is very sweet and beautiful. Delivered by Christ from that mysterious demoniacal possession, she cleaves to Him, like a true woman, with all her heart. She is one of the little group whose strong love, casting out all fear, nerved them to stand by the Cross when all the men except the gentle Apostle of love, as he is called, were cowering in corners, afraid of their lives, and she was one of the same group who would fain have prolonged their ministry beyond His death, and who brought the sweet spices with them in order to anoint Him, and it was she who came to the risen Lord with the rapturous exclamation, ‘Rabboni, my Master.’”
Of Joanna, it says:
“Herod’s court was not exactly the place to look for Christian disciples, was it? But you know they of Caesar’s household surrounded with their love the Apostle whom Nero murdered, and it is by no means an uncommon experience that the servants’ hall knows and loves the Christ that the lord in the saloon does not care about.”
Of Susanna, my favorite description, it says:
“And then as for Susanna, is it not a sweet fate to be known to all the world for ever more by one line only, which tells of her service to her Master?”
A Question for You:
2. Where do you find yourself in this moment? How are you being invited to show up in God’s story?
What did these women have to offer?
This passage said that these women provided for the ministry out of their own means, or resources. It’s the Greek word, huparcho. They used their advantages to support the ministry.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers says:
“It is said to have been a not uncommon practice in Judæa in our Lord’s time, for women of independent means to support a Rabbi in his work as a teacher.”
So, I don’t want to make it sound like it was completely unheard of for them to do this. But it was of extraordinary character.
Sometimes we overlook or undervalue what we have to bring to the table.
A Question for You:
3. What resources are you being invited to surrender to God in this new year?
Slow down and process:
Take about 5 minutes to ponder and possibly journal about these questions and then share your answers with someone.
When finished, listen to “Your Labor Is Not In Vain” by Paul Zach and Madison Cunningham as a prayer and a note of encouragement.
Closing Prayer:
Loving God,
We come before You in awe of the story You are weaving through history — a story where no one is overlooked, where every voice matters, and where all gifts are welcomed in Your Kingdom work. We are grateful for the women of Luke’s Gospel, whose lives were transformed by Your healing and love, and whose faithful presence reminds us of the power of showing up for You and for others.
Lord, we thank You for bringing us out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and so many others, You have healed us, restored us, and called us into new life. Help us to honor what You have done for us by serving You with our whole hearts.
In this season, show us where You are inviting us to step into Your story. Teach us to recognize the unique places You have called us to serve and the resources You have entrusted to us. May we offer them freely, joyfully, and boldly, knowing that nothing surrendered to You is ever in vain.
Holy Spirit, guide us to be like these women — supporting, proclaiming, and living out the good news of Your Kingdom with courage and generosity. And as we leave this place, may our labor be an offering of love to You and a testimony to the world of Your goodness and grace.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus, our healer, our teacher, and our Savior. Amen.
