Luke 8:1-3
Mary Magdalene and Joanna
1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had
been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 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.
Matthew 27:45-56
Women at the Cross
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Luke 24:1-12
Mary Magdalene and Joanna
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
When we first read about Mary Magdalene and Joanna in Luke, we learn that Mary had been cured by Jesus of seven evil spirits...We are told that Joanna is the wife of Chuza...We are not told if she was cured of some illness...The two women, as well as other women, followed a Man whom they met are were very much impressed with...We know that Mary and Joanna and other women helped to support Jesus' ministry and teachings out of their own means...
Jesus lived in a time when women were very much discriminated against...Women were often overlooked and rejected by men...Yet, Jesus was not One to discriminate and they followed Him up to His death...Matthew writes that Mary Magdalene was at the cross with other women as they crucified Jesus...We also know that Luke writes later that Mary and Joanna went to Jesus' tomb after His death...His tomb was empty after His death when the two got there, because He had risen...It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told the Disciples that Jesus' tomb was empty...But the Disciples did not believe the women at first, because their words seemed to them like nonsense and why would they believe He had left His tomb....After all, how could a mere mortal man rise from his death...Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb...Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened...Peter wondered where was Jesus now...
These women believed in Jesus and followed Him and what He taught...Mary and Joanna had followed Jesus and His disciples from city to city, watched him heal the sick, do miracles and help people...While many could not see the Messiah or the Son of God, the women following Jesus and supporting Him could...The One they followed was Someone special and they recognized this in Him...They realized that He was much more than merely a mortal man...