TOPIC:“A Socialite Who Became a Saint”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
“And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities…Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward” (8:1, 2, 3, NKJV)
As Jesus was traveling from city to city throughout Galilee preaching the good news of the Kingdom with the appointed twelve, St. Luke, whose Gospel has been called “the Gospel of women,” identifies by name three of the many devout and noble women who followed Jesus wherever He went. This was completely contrary to Jewish custom as women were not permitted to be taught by Rabbis.
Now among the women who accompanied Jesus was a servant by the name of Joanna. Outside of this verse and Luke 24:10 there is no further mention of her anywhere else. Being the wife of one of Herod's officials, she occupied a high position in society. She was a socialite with everything to live with, but noting to live for. Then she met the living Christ and her life was forever transformed.
Let us now take a closer look at this socialite who became a saint.
Consider, to begin with, the REMARKABLE DELIVERANCE Joanna found in Christ. Read again the words of Luke in verse 2: “and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities.”
As we study the background of Joanna we learn that she was a person of high rank and much wealth as she lived with her husband in Herod's palace. And then came the greatest experience of her lifetime. Joanna encountered the living Christ and her life was never the same again. Two remarkable things happened to her.
For one thing, Joanna was CURED of her SICKNESS. In verse 2 it states: “who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities.” The NIV has it: “who had . . .