As you know, our leadership teaching is Bible based. I take examples from the Bible and use those as teaching points. Today’s lesson is called, “The Price of Leadership”. It’s from the example of a woman in Scripture that I’ve never heard anyone talk about before. She’s mentioned twice. Her name is Joanna, wife of Chuza.
Luke 8:1-3
1 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
Luke 24:8-10
8 And they remembered His words, 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.
Here’s the mention of a name of someone we don’t hear anything about. She was a tremendous leader. She was married to a leader. Her husband worked for a leader. Joanna is not described as a leader, but that’s what she is. She exhibited outstanding servant leadership to Jesus and His followers.
Joanna, the wife of Chuza.
Chuza was the steward of Herod Antipas. This Herod was Antipas, king of the Jews from 4 BC to 39 BC. Joanna was a disciple of Jesus. She financially supported Jesus. She knew Him as LORD. She’s a bold example of leadership. So let’s get started.
LEADERSHIP IS RISKY. Joanna was married to Chuza. Chuza was on Herods payroll. He was a top man there. Joanna knew well of how Herod felt about Jesus. Herod’s father was Herod the Great. He tried to kill Jesus at birth. He had all the male babies 2 & under murdered as he attempted to kill Jesus. Herod killed his own wife and his 2 oldest sons. Herod Antipas was not even his fathers first choice as king, but he got in. The son though, was just as bad. He had John the Baptist beheaded at a kings ball one night.
Joanna had to have been there to see it. Her husband Chuza had to have been there. They were the King’s counsel.
Do you SEE THE RISK Joanna was taking by following Jesus? Herod would have beheaded her just as easily.
1. Point here is: LEADERSHIP is doing what we believe is Right, regardless of the Risk.
If you want to be a leader, you’re going have to take some risk. You may lose some things. Many people want the title of leader, they want the perks of being a leader, but they refuse to take the risk a leader must take to be one.
• To be a true leader means popularity is not your priority.
• To be a true leader, consensus is not your priority.
• You have to “give up” to go up, as John Maxwell says.
• To keep going up, you will have to keep giving up.
“Success rarely shows up with one sacrifice. It comes from a lifetime of sacrifices.
2. LEADERSHIP IS COSTLY. You can be handed a position of leadership without paying a price for it. It happens all the time. One starts a church & he’s called the leader for a short time. Or someone receives a promotion and for a while they’re the leader.
But to remain & grow as the leader- it’s going to cost eventually.
ONE PRICE OF LEADERSHIP MAY BE SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE. By following Jesus, Joanna would be in a group of people like Mary Magdalene & Mary, the mother of Jesus (a poor woman who married very young and was often accused of being pregnant while engaged). She’d be with lowly fishermen like Andrew, Peter, James & John and a despised tax collectors named Matthew.
Joanna’s crowd were the upper class people. Yet she’d chosen to be with Jesus and that meant interaction with some in lower class circles. Joanna had money and she used it to support those that had no money.
I’m sure those of the upper social society knew Joanna had friends like Mary Magdalene & the mother of Jesus and were offended by that.
Point here: If you want to be a true leader, you will have to give up the desire to be accepted in social circles.
3. LEADERSHIP IS INFLUENCE. Again, John Maxwell has made this point clear before. It’s certainly true of Joanna. Like Mother Teresa or Princess Dianna, Joanna had a tremendous influence in her world and she used it rightly.
Most people have some influence. I challenge you make it your goal to influence the the people right under your nose. Those already in life presently, can profit from your example, teaching, & guidance. As most of you know, we raised 3 sons, all college graduates, living out victory in their marriages, careers & faith. Debbie & I have no regrets about the time and devotion we invested in their lives as they grew up.I cannot stress enough to you the importance of your influence at home, and if you do it well there, God will broaden in time to others.
Joanna obviously used her influence in Herods kingdom.
*In Acts 13:1 we read of Manaen, an officer in Herods kingdom following Christ.
*In Romans 16:11 we read of the “Herodion” who was one of Herod’s officers as a believer.
These came to Christ AFTER Joanna, which implies she probably influenced them.
4. LEADERSHIP IS LOYALTY. One common denominator in great leaders is Loyalty. Jesus spoke of it in terms of a “Man laying down his life for his friends”. Loyalty is rare. It’s spoken of often but demonstrated rarely.
Now there are 3 descriptions we need to be familiar with in regards to loyalty:
(1) DISLOYALTY. This is when someone pretends to be your friend and betrays you behind your back. David experienced this when he said, “If it had been an enemy, I would have understood, but it was my friend who betrayed me, we went to the house of God together”
(2) AH-LOYALTY. This is the person who doesn’t say anything bad about you or betray you, but they listen to betrayal or criticism and don’t speak up or defend you. They may even tell you, “So & so said this about you.” The question I always ask is “And what did you say?” You see, In their minds they think they should be commended for telling you what they heard/
(3) LOYALTY. This is when someone steps up and speaks up. This type person considers it an honor to defend their friend.
Joanna’s way of life was one of Loyalty to Christ. She stayed with him all the way through the crucifixion. She was one of those who went to anoint his body at death. She was there at his resurrection. After her husband Chuza died, she didn’t receive much inheritance. She went to work for other families and raised her son but it appears from history that her faith never waned at all.
Humberto de Campo’s description of her dying moments reveal her loyalty to her LORD. We’re told that on August 27, year 68 AD,, Joanna, along with her son were executed for their faith in Christ.
As she was being burned alive along with her son, one of her tormentors said to her, “Has Christ only taught you how to die? To which she replied,
“Not only how to die, but how to love you!”. These were her last recorded words.
Do you see why this often overlooked lady of scripture needed to be known to us today? Joanna, wife of Chuza, is and example that inspires us to pay the price for leadership the Biblical way.
Closing Prayer. “Father help our BPL members to continue to grow, sacrifice, lay hold of their calling & not turn back, sell out, or quit. Give them influence in the lives of others & leadership skills that honor you”
