Luke 8:1b -3 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.
The beams and braces that provide solidity and immovability to a building are normally hidden by plaster and paint. The unseen frame behind the wall gives the building stability and structure. A building without pillars, beams and braces is sure to crumble at the slightest shake or wind.
During Biblical times, women were disadvantaged in many ways. They were deprived of social status, education, politics, and legal rights. They were just counted as a number and the names of women were not even recorded. They did not have an identity of their own but had to live under the shadow of the identity of their father or their husband. However, three notable women are mentioned by Luke – Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna. Mary is from Magdala, a town that thrived in dye, textile industry and fishing. Church traditions believe that Mary was involved in salt-fish enterprises. So, she was a business woman. Joanna, the wife of the steward of Herod and Susanna was also from an affluent family. All of these women were delivered from demonic possession, oppression or some deadly disease and to show their gratitude they contributed and supported the ministry of Jesus. There are several others whose names are not mentioned. Even the Son of Man needed provision and was supported by these ‘mere woman’. These women who travelled and provided for Jesus generously have an indelible place in the Bible.
The world might marginalize, degrade or belittle you but there is an indelible role for you and me in the Kingdom of God.
Three lessons from hidden pillars:
1. Gratitude: The women who were set free could not contain their joy and gratitude. “Genuine thankfulness is an act of the heart’s affections, not an act of the lips’ muscles.” –John Piper. They followed Jesus and helped financially. They cooked, cleaned and carried provision as they travelled with Jesus. Gratitude should be felt, not just heard.
2. Generosity: The business woman Mary left her business and invested her profits into ‘Jesus Ministry’. Generosity is giving without expecting anything in return.
3. Godly: The hidden pillars in a family or a community are godly and meek. They understand their role and simply and humbly do it in obscurity. They do not expect to be recognized or rewarded but save up their treasure in heaven.
Hidden pillars are those who have identified their purpose and fulfill it with gentleness, gratitude and godliness. Those who are never recognized on earth will be celebrities in heaven!
Matthew 27:55-56 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[a] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Prayer: My Saviour and My King, teach me to serve you in humility and gratitude in obscurity. Amen.
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