We all know about the twelve men who travelled with Jesus as his “disciples” (they were later referred to as the “apostles” or simply “The Twelve”). But, what about women? We read in Luke 8: Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 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. (Luke 8:1-3)
The three women mentioned here (and Luke says there were “many others”) were healed/cured “of evil spirits and diseases”. As a result of Jesus’ doing something miraculous in their lives, in return, they looked after Jesus and his travelling band by supporting them financially “out of their own means”. This is an important fact to note as people have often wondered how Jesus and The Twelve made a go of things financially. Joanna is of interest because her husband, Chuza, was the manager of King Herod’s household, which indicates that he handled the treasury or money affairs of his boss. So, as Herod opposed Jesus, his money was being used to support Jesus. Quite a delightful irony there!
In Luke 24:10, we read that Mary Magdalene and Joanna are listed among the women to whom the resurrected Jesus appeared (before he appeared to any men). Susanna may have been there also as part of the “others with them who told this to the apostles”. The Eastern Orthodox Church includes Susanna in the “List of Myrrhbearers”, the female disciples of Jesus who came to his tomb to anoint his body with myrrh oils but found the tomb empty.
After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension back to heaven as the Gospel message was taken to the world, other women played a role in its spread. In an online article entitled “Commemoration of New Testament Women”, author Dan Graves writes the following, ‘The woman walking up the Roman Road hugged a secret. Hidden beneath her robe was the future of Christian theology. For she bore with her a letter to the church in Rome that would spell out, like no other document ever written, the implications and significance of the gospel.
Paul had turned to her out of need. While in Corinth he had written a letter to the distant Roman church. He could not slip the letter into an envelope, lick a couple stamps and drop it into a mailbox; there was no postal service. Instead, he must find someone to carry the letter. As F. W. Boreham points out, Paul could write the letter but at that time could not carry it. Phoebe could not have written the letter, but she could carry it. As Christians, we need one another.
What do we know about Phoebe? Not much. Paul mentions her in just one place (Romans 16:1, 2): “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchrea [the port of Corinth], that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well.”
This day, January 27th, is remembered in honor of Phoebe and two other early Christian women, Dorcas and Lydia. All three shared one pre-eminent quality: they helped others.
Dorcas was known for her assistance to the poor. So highly regarded was she, that when she died, the saints of Joppa appealed to Peter. He prayed over her and God raised her from the dead.
Lydia was a seller of purple cloth. After Paul shared the gospel with her, Lydia and her entire household were baptized–his first convert in Europe. She insisted Luke and Paul stay at her house. Her prosperous home became the original church at Philippi.
As these three individuals of the New Testament show, middle class women were already beginning to play an important role in the Christian world.’
So, on this day, let us give thanks to God for these women who helped to change the world as they supported Jesus and those who were spreading the Gospel after him.
