Who Is the Historical Joanna?

On the surface, what we know about Joanna could fit on a small notecard. Named only twice in Scripture, both times in the Gospel of Luke, it’s no wonder that we’re tempted to skip over her name. Taking what we know from Scripture and setting it alongside history, however, the notecard on Joanna begins to flesh out into a fuller, more startling portrait of an incredible woman of faith.

To gain this richer view, we must first begin with Joanna’s husband. Luke only tells us his name and position, but from these two pieces of information, we can extrapolate some key insights. First, Chuza is not a Jewish name—it’s Nabatean. Positioned just southeast of Herod’s own territory of Perea, Nabatea was a major world power and had a long and complicated history with the neighboring nation of Israel. Second, Chuza’s position is better translated as “procurator,” an administrative agent in charge of financial affairs. Some scholars even suggest that Chuza was Herod’s chief financial minister.

From these two pieces of information, we see that Joanna (a Jewish name and most certainly a Jewish woman) was married to a Gentile who was high up in Herod Antipas’ administration. She was probably from an aristocratic family that was heavily influenced by Greek culture, for such a family would have seen an alliance with the Herodian court as advantageous. This means that she came from a far different world than many of Jesus’ other disciples. In her support of Jesus, then, she was crossing just about every line one could cross.

In Competing Kingdoms, we’ll take a closer look at the Hellenized court of Herod Antipas and set it side-by-side with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. In doing so, we’ll gain a fuller picture of the great exchange Joanna made in choosing to leave a palace for the dusty road of discipleship.

Ponder: Have you ever lingered over Joanna, wife of Chuza? What does it say of Christ and his message that he welcomed followers from all walks of life?

Pray: Abba, I align myself with Christ and his Kingdom. Give me a dedicated heart and renewed sense of purpose and joy. Amen.