NT Characters: Joanna

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/marymp3/">website</a>.</p><p><strong>Name, marriage, means</strong></p><ul><li>Joanna = "God is gracious"</li><li>Wife of Chuza<ul><li>Chuza was steward (financial controller) of Herod Antipas, son of the Herod (the Great) who'd tried to dispatch Jesus c.6-4 BC.</li><li>Herod Antipas reigned 4 BC - 39 AD. He had John the Baptist decapitated, and also was part of the process that condemned Jesus.</li></ul></li><li>She may be the <i>Junia </i>of Rom 16:7, if New Testament scholars Ben Witherington and Richard Bauckham are on the right track.</li><li>Wealthier -- upper class. Many such women were attracted to Christianity, as we read about in Luke-Acts.</li></ul><p><strong>Scriptures</strong></p><p> </p><ul><li>Luke 8:3</li><li>Luke 24:10</li><li>Romans 16:7</li><li>Titus 3:3-5, 2:11-14</li></ul><p><strong>Impact of Jesus on her life</strong><br /> </p><p> </p><ul><li>She was set free, either healed of a medical situation or freed from an evil spirit. Either way, her life was transformed by the Lord.</li><li>She traveled with the apostolic band.<ul><li>Older?</li><li>"Empty nest"?</li></ul></li><li>Became a supporter of the ministry, providing<ul><li>homes?</li><li>food?</li><li>funding?</li><li>The women of Luke 8:3 were probably flexible because they didn't have to stay home with their children.</li><li>Joanna chose to put her allowance to good use.</li></ul></li><li>She formed friendships with fellow believers. (Recall the comments from the podcast on Mary, the mother of Jesus, who continued to build friendships even later in life.)</li></ul><p><strong>Thought questions</strong></p><ul><li>Joanna was loyal emotionally and even financially, because Jesus had touched her life, and she was grateful. Do I ever forget that I too have been touched by the Lord? That I have been redeemed from a life of uncertainty, darkness, secrecy, sin, anxiety, and alienation? See Titus 2-3.</li><li>If I am a person of means, how am I using