THE WOMEN WHO SERVED JESUS

LUKE 8:1-3


      In this gospel Luke emphasized the love of Jesus for the outcast. The gospel lifted the women of the New Testament time.


      Jesus chose only twelve apostles, but many disciples followed Jesus in the cities and villages where He preached. Certain women also traveled with the band of disciples with Jesus.


  I. Saved women

 

•          Village (Magdala in Naphtali [Jos. 19:38], now el-Mendel, on the west of the sea of Galilee Endnote )

•          Vexation (Mk. 16:9)


      G. Campbell Morgan explained that demon possession resulted in physical disability, mental trouble, or moral depravity. Endnote


1 Cor. 10:20b [CEV]. I don't want you to have anything to do with demons.


Eph. 4:26-27 [CEV]. Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry and don't give the devil a chance.


1 Tim. 3:6 [CEV]. They must not be new followers of the Lord. If they are, they might become proud and be doomed along with the devil.


1 Tim. 4:1 [CEV]. God's Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons.


Jas. 3:14-15 [CEV]. But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and selfishness, don't brag or lie to cover up the truth.

 15. That kind of wisdom doesn't come from above. It is earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself.


      A. Delivered from spirits


Lk. 11:21-26 [WNT]. "Whenever a strong man, fully armed and equipped, is guarding his own castle, he enjoys peaceful possession of his property;

 22. but as soon as another stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away that complete armour of his in which he trusted, and distributes the plunder he has collected.

 23. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever is not gathering with me is scattering abroad.

 24. "When a foul spirit has left a man, it roams about in the Desert, seeking a resting-place; but, unable to find any, it says, 'I will return to the house I have left;"

 25. and when it comes, it finds the house swept clean and in good order.

 26. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more malignant than itself, and they enter and dwell there; and in the end that man's condition becomes worse than it was at first.


      B. Departed from satan


Lk. 4:36 [ESV]. And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!"


Lk. 8:35. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.


Lk. 9:1. Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.


Lk. 10:17 [ESV]. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"


Acts 16:18 [ESV]. And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.


Mary Magdalene

(Mt. 27:56-61, 28:1-8; Mk. 15:40-47, 16:1-8; Lk. 8:2, 24:10; Jn. 19:25, 20:1-18)

 

•          Delivered from demon possession

•          Left the town of Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee

•          Followed Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem

•          Listened to the last words of Jesus on the cross to the Apostle John and Mary his mother

•          Watched the sky turn black and felt the earthquake under the feet

•          Marked the place of Joseph's tomb and returned to prepare spices

•          Named first among many other women who followed Jesus, even ahead of the mothers of disciples

•          Considered what last deed could be done for Christ

•          Came early to the grave even though soldiers watched the door

•          Purchased the spices for the anointing of Jesus' burial

•          Questioned how to move the stone when they came at dawn but did not turn back

•          Invited by the angels to enter the empty tomb and see where Christ once laid

•          Heard first the announcement from the angels that Jesus had risen

•          Remembered the promise of the resurrection that Jesus taught in Galilee when the angels spoke at the empty tomb

•          First witness of the resurrection of Christ

•          Encountered disbelief at the first announcement about the resurrection

•          Testimony about the empty tomb verified by Peter and John

•          Stayed weeping at the tomb after Peter and John left

•          Knew the voice of Jesus at the first resurrection appearance and called Him Master and Lord

•          Learned the truth of the ascension and announced the triumph to the disciples

•          Continued in prayer in the upper room until the day of Pentecost and received the Holy Spirit


 II. Surrendered women

 

•          Joanna– Lk. 8:3, 24:10 (went to the tomb with Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James)

•          Susanna–Lk. 8:3


Mk. 15:41 [ESV]. When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.


Lk. 23:49, 55-56 [ESV]. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

 55. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.


      A. Last at the cross


      B. First at the tomb


“Not she with traitorous kiss her Master stung,

Not she denied Him with unfaithful tongue;

She, when apostles fled, could dangers brave,

Last at His cross, and earliest at His grave.” Endnote


      The dedication of certain women to Jesus Christ appeared not only in the New Testament but in the early history of the church. At the age of twenty-two (A.D. 203), Perpetua of Carthage would not recant her faith in Christ. Even after appeals by Perpetua’s father to deny the faith, she stayed true to Christ and suffered martyrdom.


III. Serving women


      A. Ministry


Mt. 25:44. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto

thee?


Mk. 10:45. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.


Lk. 22:26. But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.


Heb. 6:10 . For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.


      B. Money


Mt. 19:21. Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.


Lk. 12:15. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.


Lk. 12:33. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.


Lk. 14:33. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.


Lk. 19:8. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore [him] fourfold.


Acts 4:32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any [of them] that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.


Heb. 10:34. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.