I am often asked about the role of women in the church. While God‘s word is clear that women are not to hold authoritative office in the church as pastors or elders: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (1 Tim 2:11-12), women nevertheless unquestionably have a vital role to play within the church.

We need only think of the invaluable work done by women missionaries both at home and overseas; we need only think of the countless women Sunday school teachers and youth workers up and down the land that impart knowledge to the young; we need only consider the numerous menial and thankless tasks undertaken by women within our congregations which go largely unrecognised by men but not by the Lord.

I want us to reflect in this brief article on the example of Joanna. This woman is a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. She gave of her time, energy and means to the Lord and His cause. In Joanna we have an excellent example of what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Let us therefore emulate her selfless and Christ centred life to the glory of God.

Joanna was a woman of some means⤒🔗

She was “the wife of Chuza Herod's steward”. Chuza as steward of King Herod had a very prominent position in state and society. A steward was one who managed the king‘s household and affairs. This was a very sought after role at the royal court. Chuza had the ear of the king. He guarded access to the king. He was therefore an influential and wealthy individual.

You will recall how Scotland‘s famous Stewart dynasty of monarchs got their name from the fact that they had once been stewards to the king. The first of the Stewart kings, Robert II was born of Walter, 6^th High Steward of Scotland and Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce. And thus it would not be out of place to suggest that Joanna was a lady of some social standing. While the Lord Jesus said: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mat 19:24), it is not impossible for nothing is impossible for God.

And there is a lesson here for the church in carrying out the Great Commission. The gospel is to be preached to every creature – to rich and poor, male and female, Jew and Gentile. Our work is to share the gospel and do good unto all in the understanding that God alone convicts, converts, calls and commissions for service in His kingdom. And we are reminded of this precious truth in the example of Joanna, whom Christ saved for a purpose; that she might love and serve Him.

As an aside it is worth noting that herein we are reminded of the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. The church is one body but many members. Male and female, married and single alike are given gifts and graces to be utilised for the advancement, development and welfare of the church as a whole.

Joanna is a recipient of God’s grace←⤒🔗

The very name Joanna which is the female equivalent of John actually means God is gracious‘. This woman bears witness to the grace and goodness of God in Christ. Joanna can testify to and is living, loving proof of the reality of God‘s sovereign, special, saving grace.

We are told that the Lord Jesus healed her of “evil spirits and infirmities”. Joanna had been in bondage to Satan, sin and its dire consequences. She had been unable to help or heal herself. Her social standing, influence and wealth could not help her in this regard. She could not purchase her liberty. She could not buy spiritual health. She could not obtain salvation.

The best physicians in the land proved helpless and hopeless. Religious exercises and devotions and the intercession of priests and ministers had similarly proved ineffective and futile. Joanna was powerless and impotent, and unable to find relief or deliverance by herself or by anyone or anything else until she encountered Jesus. Although in truth it was not so much that she found Jesus but that He found her. He is the One who came to seek and save the lost. He is the Good Shepherd who came to gather His sheep as promised:

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day ... I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. Ezekiel 34:11-12, 16

Joanna was lost; Joanna was broken; Joanna was sick until the Lord Jesus healed her and gave her new life in Himself.

Joanna was healed in body, mind and spirit or soul. We are not told what her particular affliction was, however Jesus healed her and completely transformed her life. She is a new creature on account of the fact that she is a recipient of God‘s grace in Christ.

Let us understand that there is an abundance of grace to be had in and through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed God‘s saving grace is only to be had in Jesus Christ. He is the Great Physician who has healed her – “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mar 2:17). Jesus Christ moreover is Joanna‘s Deliverer; He is Joanna‘s Liberator; He is Joanna‘s Saviour; He is Joanna‘s Lord – as we shall see. Joanna is now not only a follower of Jesus but she is a steward or servant of the Lord of lords and King of kings. While her husband enjoyed the privilege of serving King Herod; Joanna has the infinitely greater privilege in serving King Jesus. And this is true of every one of Christ‘s people. Here is a woman who is saved by grace alone though faith alone in Jesus Christ alone to the glory of God alone.

Joanna’s commitment and devotion to Jesus←⤒🔗

Joanna‘s commitment and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ is evidence that she is a recipient of saving grace. Here is a woman who knows Christ to be her Saviour and therefore follows Him as Lord. Joanna is a follower of Jesus Christ: “the twelve were with Him and certain women”, one of whom was Joanna. Just as Immanuel is God with us; so His people are with Him – they follow Him by trusting and obeying Him; by looking to Him; by listening to Him; by leaning upon Him; and by learning from Him. This is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. And this is how it ought to be for every believer. The apostle Paul writes: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom 12:1-2).

Joanna thus devoted herself (time and energy, gifts and graces) and her means (finances and resources) to support the cause of Christ and His gospel and kingdom – “And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance”.

Here is a woman who has got her priorities right. Christ and His cause come first; He is not an afterthought. Here is a woman who loves the Lord and is prepared to spend and be spent for His sake. Can the same be said of us? Where is the same self-sacrificial service that is epitomized in the ministry or service of Joanna and which has always characterized the church in her best days?

We are robbing God if we fail to give Him our first and our best: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings” (Mal 3:8). Our ministering to Christ necessitates that we minister our gifts and graces to the body of Christ for the glory of God, for the advancement of the church, for the support of the ministry and for the relief of the poor and so on.

The word of God says: “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Pro 3:9-10). – “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor 9:6-8).

Here is a wonderful paradox: the more that we give of our time, talents and finances to the Lord the more we receive from Him in return!

Joanna was committed to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ through the good times and the bad times, through thick and thin. She was no fair-weather Christian. This woman followed Jesus all the way to Calvary and was to witness with her own eyes the passion and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. While the eleven disciples who would soon become apostles had fled terror-stricken, traumatised and wholly demoralised and dejected from the scene Joanna and some other women remained to testify to the truth.

Moreover, in spite of the terrible circumstances, and the vehement and violent opposition Christ‘s followers might have expected, she was one of the women who went to the tomb with spices and perfumes to anoint the body of Jesus – “And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment” (Lk 23:54-56).

Joanna’s faith is vindicated and rewarded←⤒🔗

Joanna‘s commitment and devotion to Jesus was truly vindicated and rewarded. Let us truly grasp that faithfulness results in fruitfulness and blessing in the here and now and forevermore. Joanna‘s faith was vindicated; it was not in vain and neither will ours be if we truly believe and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

She was among the first to witness and bear witness to Christ‘s resurrection. (read and reflect on Luke 24:1-10). Let us follow her example by heeding the words of the apostle: “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor 5:15).

Let us worship, work and bear witness to the Good News which is ours in and through faith in Jesus Christ. Joanna is with her Lord. She is part of the church triumphant now and forevermore. She has heard the wonderful words of her Lord: “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord (Mt 25:23). It was her glorious privilege to know, love and serve Jesus in her earthly life but such was merely preparatory for glory. Where will you spend eternity? Will you be with Joanna and the rejoicing multitude in the presence of the Lord Jesus at His coming and glory?