Joanna – 20th July 2008 am
Luke 8:1-3
Joanna means, “Jehovah hath shown favour,” or “The Lord is grace” or “gift of God.”
I. She was Healed By Christ
When we come to this passage of Scripture, it is normally Mary that we concentrate on, but we are told that there were “certain women” and that one of these was a women by the name of Joanna.
We do not know whether Joanna was demon-possessed or if she had suffered from a mental or physical disability, what we do know is that she was healed. She came to the Lord Jesus Christ, and left a changed woman, she was different.
Whenever anyone came into contact with the Lord they never left the same,
Some went away happy
Some went away angry – Rich young ruler, Pharisees
People will always go away different, you can talk to someone about different religions or beliefs and they will say – that’s their opinion etc.. you talk to someone about Christ they’ll get agitated, angry, upset – maybe it’s a conviction of sins….
It is evident that not only was Joanna restored to full health by Christ but she gave her life to Him.
II. She Witnessed to Others of Christ
Look who Joanna’s husband was, Chuza Herod’s steward. This word steward means a commissioner, that is, domestic manager, guardian: - steward, tutor,
Thayers defines it as, one whose care or honour anything has been instructed, a curator, a guardian, a steward or manager of a household, or of lands, an overseer. one who has the care and tutelage of children, either where the father is dead (a guardian of minors), or where the father is still alive
Joanna’s husband must have been a man of great intelligence to hold the position that he had as manager of Herod’s house. It is very possible that Joanna and her husband were among the servants mentioned in Matthew 14:1-2 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, [2] And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
Can you imagine being in this environment? How many of us find it difficult to witness to our work colleagues? Put yourself in Joanna’s shoes, she was literally in the enemy’s territory.
Her husband’s job put her in a prime position to be able to witness to the servants of Herod’s household and even to the hierarchy of the palace. She was bound to be scared, Herod had John the Baptist beheaded because he exposed the sin he was in with his brother’s wife.
She may have been like Paul 1 Corinthians 2:3-4 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. [4] And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
But as a child of the Heavenly King she felt that she must tell people and speak her joy abroad. Many times, through divine grace, Christians find themselves in the most unlikely of places where they can be a good witness for Christ.
Paul, a prisoner in Rome, persecuted by the Nero the worst ruler who ever lived, was able to write of the saints in Caesars household. Philippians 4:21-22 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. [22] All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
Joanna was placed in such a position. Do you think that her witness paid off? Act 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Which had been brought up with = a fellow nursling. History tells us that Manaen was a foster-brother to Herod; he was the son of Herod’s nurse. He grew up with Herod, was educated with Herod and it is very possible that he had a role in Herod’s household. Could he have come to faith in Christ through Joanna’s witness?
We witness because we feel like we’re not getting through? ….
III. She Ministered Unto Christ
The word “substance” here means material possessions, such as money and property, and Joanna honoured the Lord with these things. She suddenly had a desire to support the Lord’s work. She gave liberally to meet the needs of the disciples and exemplified the grace of giving.
I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase “it’s better to give than to receive.” This phrase is so true when it comes to giving for the Lord’s work Philippians 4:16-17 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. [17] Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account
You can only begin to imagine what joy filled Joanna’s heart as she ministered to the Lord who had done so much for her, and she had a part in meeting His material needs.
When we give we are giving to the Lord Matthew 25:34-40
IV. Mourned at the Death of Christ – Luke 23:49
Among the women at the cross, the heart of Joanna must have been rent with anguish as she saw her beloved Lord dying in agony and shame. This man had given her a new lease of life He had healed her, He had saved her. Her Lord was innocent of any crime and yet He was suffering and dying like a common thief.
We seem to have become immune to the death of our Lord. We take for granted the fact that He was crucified and I feel that sometime we just don’t appreciate exactly what He went through and suffered for us.
I read an article once that was written by a Christian doctor and he went through the beating, the 39 lashes and the crucifixion from a medical point of view and what the body would have gone through and I can remember reading that article and the tears were streaming down my face.
If we fully understand what He did for us upon the cross it would help us to live our lives according to His will. It would help us to stay close to Him -
Hebrews 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame.
Several years ago in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, George and Vera Bajenksi’s lives were changed forever. February 16, 1989. A very normal Thursday morning. The phone rang at 9:15 a.m. "There’s been an accident..." It involved their son Ben. As they approached the intersection of Adelaide and Simcoe Streets near the high school, they could see the flashing lights of the police cars and ambulance units.
Vera noticed a photographer and followed the direction of his camera lens to the largest pool of blood she had ever seen. All she could say was, "George, Ben went home--home to be with his Heavenly Father!" Her first reaction was to jump out of the car, somehow collect the blood and put it back into her son.
"That blood, for me, at that moment, became the most precious thing in the world because it was life. It was life-giving blood and it belonged in my son, my only son, the one I loved so much." The road was dirty and the blood just didn’t belong there. George noticed that cars were driving right through the intersection--right through the blood. His heart was smitten. He wanted to cover the blood with his coat and cry, "You will not drive over the blood of my son!"
Then Vera understood for the first time in her life, one of God’s greatest and most beautiful truths...why blood? Because it was the strongest language God could have used. It was the most precious thing He could give-- the highest price He could pay.
Through God’s amazing love we were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ 1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot:.
May we never treat lightly nor trample underfoot the blood of God’s Son Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?). "Amazing love! How can it be? That though, My God, shouldst die for me!" (Charles Wesley).
Luke 23:55-56
The One who had cured her body and soul had become precious to Joanna, and, having ministered to Him while He was alive, she continues her ministry of love as His body is still and cold in death.
Too many people save their flowers for the grave, Joanna gave hers to Jesus when He was alive and could appreciate them. Her last respects were the outward token of the inner reverence in which she held the Saviour
V. Heralded the Resurrection of Christ – Luke 24:1-12
Verse 1
Joanna was among the sorrow-stricken women who early on that first memorable Lord’s Day, gathered at the sepulchre. You can just imagine their journey to the tomb. Maybe they talked about the events three days ago. Maybe each one recalled how the Lord had healed them… Each of them starting the sentence with, “do you remember when….”
Then it dawns on them, “How on earth are we going to remove that stone to anoint His body. Who will help us?” Verse 2-3 But to their amazement, when they arrived at the tomb the stone was already rolled back and the tomb itself was empty. The living Lord was no longer among the dead.
Verse 4-5a
Perplexed over the empty grave they see the two angelic guardians and hear them say Verse 5b-7
Of course, how daft they had been. How could they have forgotten His words? Verse 8. He said that He would rise again on the third day. This is the third day.
Verse 9
The women cannot contain their excitement. Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James, become the first human heralds of the resurrection. With all their haste they went to the apostles and told them the good news.
“He’s alive! He’s alive! What He said was true, He’s risen!
Verse 11-12
Peter would not believe them at first, their words seemed like idle tales. But then he sees the graveclothes for himself and then believed the women’s declaration.
Joanna was among the last at the cross, was among the first to witness the empty tomb, and was among the first to proclaim that the Lord whom she loved dearly was risen indeed.
We need to have the same love for our Lord that Joanna had so that we too can tell others of our wonderful Saviour
