Joanna - a “High-Up”
The next woman that is mentioned as a follower of Jesus in Luke 8:3 is “Joanna, the wife of Chuza, who was the manager of Herod's household.”
Live Up To Your Name!
First, I want us to note that the name Joanna is a very beautiful name. It means Yahweh's gift. Isn't that a wonderful name? God's gift.
But of course, many people have names that they don't live up to. And so the name only means something if the person is living up to it. Joanna seemed to be doing that - following Jesus and supporting him in his ministry.
Joanna and Chuza’s Story
Her husband was a high up. He was an administrator in Herod's government. This means that he was well respected, he was well off. He had great means and great influence. In fact, many scholars believe that this man was the one that we read of in John 4:46-54, a royal official whose son was sick. Jesus came and healed the son, and the theory is that Joanna then became a follower of Jesus because of this moment. After all, John writes that “he and his whole household believed” after this miracle.
A Preference For the Poor?
Now, when I was studying, I was taught this theory at the Bible College that God had a preference for the poor. It was a phrase that went around a lot, that God had this preference for the poor. I don't really like that language. I think God cares deeply for the poor, but I think God cares deeply for the rich as well, and longs for them to use what they have to help the poor.
Here we see how Jesus’ message reached some of the high-ups. Some of the aristocracy, I suppose you might say. Jesus’ message is not just for the poor! Jesus’ message can touch anybody's life and change anybody.
Whether you have a lot or whether you have a little Jesus message is for you! How you live out your faith in or depend on the means that you have. And so Joanna, who had a lot, came from a lot, still followed Jesus and used what she had to bless his ministry. In fact, she was one of the woman who came to Jesus’ tomb on Sunday and reported along with Mary Magdalene the good news.
Now What You Have, But How You Live
Maybe you are a Joanna. Maybe you have a lot. Maybe you're in a place of high influence and high position. Well, God has put you there to use what you have to do good. Friends, God does not have preference for one over the other, but he counts us all the same. Because what matters is not what we have, but how we live.
Go and be a Joanna today by following Jesus faithfully, believing in him and using what you have the way that she did.
