Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Today’s reading covers all of Luke chapters 7-8, but I somehow kept coming back to perhaps one of the smallest sections of scripture. Luke 8:1-3 is a passage that I’ve read many times and never thought twice about, but this time it stood out to me that there were several women named. In 2025 there’s nothing really strange about that, but at the time this was written it would have been shocking.

One of my favorite Study Bibles, The Archaeology Study Bible, noted that Jewish texts from the first two centuries AD mentioned over 2,300 men’s names but only 260 names of women. The rabbis of the time typically refused to teach women. But here we have Jesus, who was also called Rabbi, who allowed women to travel with him. Verse one tells us that they were traveling to proclaim the good news of the gospel. Verse three tells us that these women provided for the work that was being done from their own income. They weren’t just following behind Jesus; they were an integral part of His ministry.

I also want to point out the backgrounds of the women named here in this passage. We know that each of them was healed from demons or some kind of ailment. Mary, also called Magdalene, was a woman who had been possessed by seven demons. Have you ever thought about what that might’ve been like? Seven demons. I think surely one would’ve been bad enough. Then we have Joanna who was married to a man named Chuza. He was the household manager for Herod. There is a long history of the household of Herod having hatred towards Jesus and all that he stood for. Susanna is the last of the named women. This is the only time she’s mentioned in Scripture, and we aren’t given any extra specifics about who she was, yet her name was still written.

So why does all of this matter? It matters because Jesus broke all of the norms of the time. Culture saw these women as worthless, hopeless, and purposeless. Jesus saw them as full of worth, hope, and purpose. I’ve sat in churches in my lifetime that did not value the women sitting inside them. Or more specifically, they only saw their worth in regards to caring for children or preparing food. Women, you are valuable in every aspect of the church; here at Venture Church and in the global church. Jesus knows you by name, and He gave you specific gifts that you should be using too. If a list of names was to be added of the women who shook things up in our time in history, would your name be there?

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

The Way of Jesus: 7 Marks of Discipleship

As we begin a new series, we encourage you to lean into the 7 Marks of Discipleship each week. The 7 Marks of Discipleship provide a simple tool to help us identify areas where we are thriving in our calling and where we can grow. Check here each week for a new 7 Marks Challenge that will encourage you to follow Jesus closer every day.