Please read the passage before the commentary.
“Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another.” Who went with him? The Twelve and some women. Three women have names. The women would be with Jesus at the Cross and also be witnesses to the resurrection. The Twelve would not be at the Cross and would hear of the resurrection through the women. The women were providing for Jesus and the Twelve out of their own means.
Are we to gather from this that the women were being better disciples than the men? It is true that Luke gives more attention to women than the other Gospel writers do. Perhaps this should challenge us men to take our positions as disciples more seriously.
How, then, can we imitate to examples of Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and the other female disciples of the Lord? They provided for the disciples out of their resources. If we are disciples of the Lord, we are so for two reasons. We are, first and primarily, because Jesus has called us. Secondly, it is because we have responded positively to this call.
We have resources, time and talent, for us to use. God provides us with opportunities every day to support the work of Jesus. How many people will we meet today who will need our support? If nothing else we can give them a prayer, and a recognition that they are important to God and deserve our respect. This our challenge, whether we be male or female. Jesus still journeys from one town and village to another, and we are with him.
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