I imagine Luke mentioned Mary and Joanna just to give his readers a sense of how different the people were following Jesus. Joanna would have been very wealthy and a very trusted official to be in charge of Herod's household and probably finances. Mary would have been homeless. She is like the woman of ch. 7 who anointed Jesus. She has been forgiven much and now loves much.
Imagine the different temptations these woman would have faced. Joanna possibly would face thoughts of superiority. She might be tempted to think - what is this Mary doing with us? Mary surely at times had thoughts of inferiority. "Am I worthy to follow Jesus?" How amazing it is there is a place for all who would follow. Paul states in Colossians 3:11, "here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Phillipians 2:3 "do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourself."
questions
1) Do you lean more toward a superiority complex or an inferiority complex?
2) How might simply being around Jesus all the time erase these complexes?
3) Think though your list of friends - are they all people just like you? What does your list of friends reveal about you?
prayer
Lord thank you for accepting me right where I am and loving me even though I was a sinner. Let me accept others as you accepted me. Show me when my friends are leading me away from you. Show me how to interact with those who are different than me. Remove the fear or rejection from my heart. Give me boldness Lord to love with your heart. Today Lord provide an opportunity to step out in faith and connect with someone new.
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