I learned something intriguing the other day in my Oswald. You know Mary Magdalene- everyone knows about her- how she was one of Jesus' followers and how she went to the tomb with spices on Sunday after Jesus was crucified. Every one of the gospels, including John, mention her. But did you know that Luke mentions two other women by name that were followers of Jesus? Joanna and Susanna. And did you know that Joanna was the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herods' household?
These women didn't just follow Jesus; they helped support Jesus and his disciples- "out of their own means"! (Luke 8:3) Now, I would assume that Joanna's husband, Cuza, was a fairly wealthy man, being the manager of a king's household and surely Joanna reaped some benefit from being Cuza's wife. I don't know how Joanna came about her "own means" (and The Message says their means were "considerable") but I think it's interesting that she and her husband were on opposite sides. Jesus said that he had come to bring division- I imagine there were some heated discussions in that household!
We don't know anything else about Joanna. She's never mentioned again, other than being a supporter of Jesus and being present at the tomb on Easter morning (Luke 24:10). I imagine she wasn't very welcome in Herod's palace. She probably gave up quite a bit to be a follower and supporter of her husband's boss' enemy. But what a reward- to be present when the angels told them Jesus was not dead!
Joanna is an example of a working woman who used her means wisely- invested them in kingdom business. She, like Martha's sister, Mary, had her priorities in the right place. She made a very difficult decision that probably brought discord to her marriage and most likely removed her from a comfortable way of life. But she is recorded in a favorable light for all of us "modern" women to read about. I wish we knew more about her but this is all we get to know for now: her faithfulness and her name.
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I have not read that passage in Message yet, but did Jesus really mean division in marriage? Aren't our earthly marriages supposed to be a picture of Jesus and His bride?
I haven't read it yet either, but I don't see why division has to be implied. He had a job and she did volunteer work. Her volunteer work was in an area that was in disagreement with her husband's employer.
All through the scriptures we find people in positions subject to people whose lifestyles, ethics, morality, religion, diets, etc. were in direct opposition to their own beliefs (e.g. Joseph, Daniel, Rach, Shach, and Benny, Mordecai). I think it sounds foreign to us because as a culture, we find it unfathomable to associate with those with whom we disagree. We are separatists, and assume association of any kind implies association of all kinds. Who knows really?
Herod was a paranoid guy. Maybe it was because all his employees were supporting the true King of Israel. Of course there is nothing to imply that either.
I rather think that Jesus came to cause division between religion and spirituality, wealth and abundant life, position and worth, death and life, light and darkness, what was and what is becoming, the old and the new, what "you've heard said", and what "I tell you", between the letter and the spirit, between a man for Sabbath and a Sabbath for man, between the ... not husband and wife.
but I'm also not implying that Jesus would turn away a follower whose husband refused to follow as well. This would surely imply that her relationship to her husband was more important that a relationship with Jesus. But to follow him would impart to her the responsibility of drawing her husband to Christ as well, not in dividing the marriage.
Actually, he doesn't say between husband and wife in that passage. He lists all kinds of other relationships: between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, between father and son and between mother and daughter.
No, maybe Cuza was totally supportive of his wife supporting Jesus...it doesn't say that either.
But I don't believe that the marriage relationship is exempt from the type of division that Christ speaks of in this passage. I totally agree with you in that he came to bring division between what was and what is to be. That's what he says as he goes on in that passage: we're experiencing a change in the God-season we are in right now. And I believe that the division is between those who believe him and those who don't...and that could be division in any relationship at all.
I guess the real beauty of the marriage relationship is that the two live close enough that one can lead the other to believe him. But the same is true for any relationship. A friend leading a friend, a daughter leading a mother..... just my thoughts...
One thing's for sure...I'll be reading that tonight. Very interesting. Thanks
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