After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 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.
Our money and means are an intricate part of who we are. Out hours, days, months and years are taken up with increasing them in order to live and have, what we consider to be a comfortable existence. Bread on the table and a roof over our heads are essential and whatever luxuries we can afford, because, after all, our money is ours, isn't it?
The brief snapshot above of the daily life of Jesus' and his disciples is fascinating. Somehow, when thinking about Jesus' mission of preaching and demonstrating that he was the Messiah, with his twelve co-workers, we think that basic means were unnecessary for him. Since he was the Christ, he didn't need support in his mission of "seeking and saving the lost". We think his disciples were so "spiritual" that they functioned without any financial support.
These women who accompanied Jesus (and the twelve) were the backers of his mission, "out of their own means". The mission of Jesus changed the hearts of these women. No longer were their (perhaps scare) resources used on themselves alone, but their minds, hearts and lives - and wallets/purses - were so deeply converted, they redirected their hard-earned cash to support and sustain those engaged in the ministry of the gospel and the message of Christ. the orientation of their lives moved from self to Christ and others. In our own attitude towards our own money, these women show us what Jesus does to our pockets and priorities - and that, even before the cross and resurrection.
