Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 8:1-3 (New Living Translation)

1 Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.

This is one of those paragraphs that I gloss over while reading. Okay, here are the supporters who traveled with Jesus. I always wondered what they 12 apostles were doing to require so much help, but anyways, yeah yeah yeah, this person and that person, yeah yeah yeah.

Then there is Joanna. Okay, another name. Yeah yeah yeah.

Wait, Joanna was married to Chuza (odd name, but keep going) who was the business manager of Herod (Antipas). Whoa, wait, stop here. Herod wasn’t a king, but he was appointed by the Romans to rule an area of occupied Palestine. His business manager was married to a woman who traveled with the followers of Jesus of Nazareth (the Son of God).

Jesus would later appear before this Herod. That makes this all the more strange. There are several ways to discuss this. One is that Joanna was connected to an occupying army. She had it made. She had comfort with the enemy. A safe life. A hated life. She aided a foreign army. Jews didn’t like her.

She gave up a comfortable life and crossed over. The Jews hated her kind, yet accepted her.

Note,

1. Anyone can turn to God
2. The godly can accept anyone

Jesus accepted someone from Herod’s home; that shows His grace. I have more trouble with number 2; that is my problem. I don’t trust or something. I want to … well, I want to be God and decide the big things. Silly me.