Luke 8:1-3

Applebury's Comments

Those Who Accompanied Jesus
Scripture

Luke 8:1-3 And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance.

Comments

And it came to pass soon afterwards.Luke indicates that this is a continuous story about the teaching ministry of Jesus and the miracles He performed to confirm His preaching. Our chapter divisions sometimes keep us from seeing the connection between the incidents he selected to make up his logically arranged story of the Life of Christ.

that he went about through the cities and villages.Jesus went where the people were. He did not remain at the temple in Jerusalem, but visited even the little towns and villages that all might have an opportunity to hear Him.

Jesus and the apostles, of course, did not overlook the importance of preaching in the great centers of population. Jerusalem was one of those centers, and some of Jesus greatest discourses were delivered there. Antioch of Syria and Ephesus became radiating centers from which the gospel was heard. While Paul was at Ephesus all Asia Minor heard about the gospel. It was his plan to preach where no one had ever told the story of Jesus. Finally, he realized his dream to preach the gospel in Rome also. Wherever he went, he preached the whole counsel of God, publically and from house to house. In doing so, he was following the pattern of Jesus's ministry of teaching and healing.

The methods that proved so effective in the ministries of Jesus and of the apostles are, where they are being tried, proving effective today. Church buildings for the assembly of the saints are necessary, but so many of those who are lost never set foot inside of them. Just as Paul did, the church must teach the Word in all the homes where permission can be had to do so. Many practical aids are available to assist those who want to share in this task. The assembly of the saints is designed, among other things, to give encouragement to the people of God, to instruct them in the Word, and to help them to know how to share the gospel with others. See Jesus-' emphasis on this very thing in Luke 8:38-39.

preaching and bringing good tidings of the kingdom.Preaching on current issues on which the people may be as well or even better informed than the preacher tends to make the whole experience useless. The authoritarian approach of the preacherthis is entirely different from preaching the authoritative Word of Godoften points to the importance of the preacher, but fails to help the people in the task of sharing the good news with those who so desperately need it. When Jesus preached, He proclaimed the good news about God's rule in the hearts of men. He trained His apostles and sent them out to preach repentance and remission of sins. Luke 24:46-47. In this day when we demandand rightly sothat there shall be relevance in preaching, is there anything more relevant to the sinner than the message of salvation? In this sinful age, can we do better than point to Jesus whose very name indicates that He came to save His people from their sins? There was need for social reform in Jesus day. His answer to the problem was to proclaim God's rule in the hearts of men that their lives might be transformed, for a transformed life is the only sure way of transforming the social structure of any day.

certain women who had been healed.Jesus meant something to those who faithfully followed and ministered to His and the apostles-' needs. The reason for their devotion is to be found in their appreciation for what Jesus had done for them. Church people may need to reexamine their own relation to the Lord. Has He done anything for them? Does salvation from sin mean much to many who make up the churches today? Or is the church composed of nice people whose company is enjoyed by those who join?

Every sinnerevery one who has transgressed God's lawis in desperate need of the salvation and forgiveness that Christ alone can give (Acts 4:12). Devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ depends on the awareness of what it means to be saved from eternal death. Great as release from demon possession was, it does not compare with the importance of release from slavery to sin.

Mary that was called Magdalene.She was called Magdalene because she was from Magdala, a town near Tiberias on the southwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Matthew mentions a town by the name of Magadan (Matthew 15:39), and Mark speaks of Dalmanutha (Mark 8:10) in connection with the journeys of Jesus. There is not sufficient evidence to identify either with the home of Mary Magdalene, although some assume that Magadan may be a variant of Magdala.

Luke says that seven demons had gone out from Mary Magdalene. Mark states that Jesus had cast them out (Mark 6:9). Her demon possession is the basis of the totally unfounded tradition that Mary Magdalene is the woman of the city mentioned in Luke 7:37. There isn-'t the slightest evidence in the record that would indicate that she was responsible for the demon possession or that it in any way proves that she was a sinner. Mary's great loyalty to Jesus evidently grew out of her sincere appreciation for what He had done for her. Her loyalty did not lag, for she was among those who were at the cross when Jesus died for the sins of the world (Mark 15:44-47). After His resurrection, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; John 19:1-18). She was with the women who brought the news of the resurrection to the apostles (Luke 24:10).

the wife of Chuzas Herod's steward.The Herodian family arrayed itself against Christ and the church, but the wife of one of Herod's servants was among those who ministered to Jesus and His apostles.

who ministered unto them of their substance.This answers in part the question about Jesus-' source of support. He and His disciples had not time to make a living. These women contributed to the support of the Teacher and His disciples, for teachers were highly regarded by the people; and this was particularly true of Jesus and the people for whom He had done so much.