Joanna supported the Lord Jesus Christ financially
The Lord Jesus Christ subsisted on donations. People supported him, financially. Chief among them is Joanna. [see Luke 8:3]
The Lord Jesus Christ put all his time and effort into teaching the gospel. He set aside other matters, including paid work. He gave up his livelihood.
That left him poor:
2 Corinthians 8:9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (NIV translation)
And homeless:
Luke 9:58. Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
And so the people who benefitted from his ministry took care of his needs. They supported him, financially.
Chief among them is Joanna:
Luke 8:3. 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. (NIV translation)
Let’s examine the words in this verse:
JOANNA
The Greek word is Ἰωάννα (“Joanna”).
It is the feminine form of Joannes, and appears in modern languages abbreviated into Joanne, Joan, or Jane.
Joanna is the wife of king Herod’s steward Chuza.
As such, she would have been a prominent person. She can be considered of the upper class.
Joanna is present at the Resurrection:
Luke 24:10. Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the apostles.
CHUZA
All we know about Chuza is limited to this one verse.
THE MANAGER
The Greek word is ἐπιτρόπου. It means to turn over to. It is to entrust.
Chuza is entrusted with the royal income and expenses of king Herod.
SUSANNA
Susanna’s name means “lily.”
Susanna joins Joanna in supporting the Lord Jesus Christ, financially.
AND MANY OTHERS
There were many other people who provided for the Lord Jesus Christ out of their resources.
It is not clear whether there were many women, or many other people in general.
But in any case, these many others were donors.
APPLICATION
In our day, people who teach us in the faith often need resources to help them accomplish their mission.
If they ask you for help, are you willing to be like Joanna and support them?
SUPPORT
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.