Joanna

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,

~Luke 8:1

What do you think this part of Jesus' ministry was like?  Describe what you think his disciples may have done throughout the course of a day.

• I would think extremely busy, but I'm sure he enjoyed doing what he was donig very much
• They followed him wherever he needed to go, discussed a vast amount of topics with him and listened to his teachings

To whome do you minister in the course of your day?  What people around you need the sort of ministry spoken of in this verse?  Keep in mind that while Jesus was traveling and proclaiming the good news he was also healing the sick and "doing good" (Acts 10:38).

• I don't exactly do any spiritual ministering at the current moment, but if it counts, I minister to children on various educational subject almost every weekday
• many people that have doubts about God's existence

and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;  Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

~Luke 8:2-3

What sorts of diseases might Jesus have cured in these women?  What was their response?  Jesus healed many people, most of whom thanked him adn praised God for their healing.  But these women were beyond mere thanks to very practical acts of gratitude.  Why do you think they responded this way?

• one in particular that I can think of is leprousy
• pure awe
• because they believe the healing to be a miracle

Have you ever been healed of a sickness?  Have you ever been saved from a life-threatening situation?  Have you ever found relief from low spirits or evil spirits or depression?  Who brought about your delieverance?  What practical acts of gratitutde can you, like Joanna and the other women, do in response?

• whenever I was sick, the sickness went away on it's own
• no
• yes, from my best friend
• spend more time with that friend

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”  Then they remembered his words.

  When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.  It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

~Luke 24:1-10

Joanna took care of Jesus during his life, supporting him with her work and her money.  Now she is planning ot take care of him in his death.  What does she find instead?

• the tomb was empty and Jesus was risen from the dead

Have you ever been totally suprised by a turn of events?  Especially something that you thought that was going to be terrible that turned out to be wonderful?  What was your response?

• yes, I would feel very excited about a certain sort of bad news turning into good news

But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.  Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

~Luke 24:11-12

Why didn't the disciples blieve what the women told them?  Do you think if you had been there you would have thought it was "nonsense" also?  What other reaction might you have had?

• because they wanted to see with their own eyes that they were telling the truth
• no