Who was Joanna in the Bible?

TL;DR:

Joanna was a woman who was healed by Jesus and chose to support and follow Him. Joanna shows us that God welcomes all to come to Him by faith.

understand

Joanna was the wife of the man who managed Herod Antipas's household.

Joanna was healed by Jesus of either an infirmity or of a demon.

Joanna traveled with Jesus during His ministry and was among the first to see His empty tomb.

reflect

In what areas of your life do you recognize a need only Jesus can meet, despite your resources or status?

How can you use your time, talents, or resources to support Jesus's ministry, as Joanna did?

How does Joanna's unwavering dedication to Jesus, even in difficult times, inspire you to deepen your faith?

engage

The inclusion of women in Jesus's ministry, such as Joanna, was a break from the tradition of other Jewish rabbis at the time. Women were typically not permitted to learn as disciples, to travel away from their homes, or to direct finances as they chose.

Another break from tradition was giving the women the responsibility of bearing witness to and sharing the news of the resurrection. At the time, women's testimonies were not accepted in court because women were seen as unreliable witnesses. Yet, the angels told women to "go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you" (Matthew 28:7). Jesus rejected the cultural norms of His day, revealing that anyone who recognizes his/her need for Jesus and trusts in Him, just like Joanna did, is welcome in God's kingdom.

Some scholars believe that Junia, mentioned in Paul's letter to the church in Rome in Romans 16:7, could be the Latin name of the Greek-named Joanna in Luke's gospel. Junia is described as a kinsfolk and fellow prisoner who was well-known among the apostles and was in Christ before Paul.