Originally posted 11/18/25
Susanna is one of the women who traveled with Jesus. She is not as well known as some of the or her women. In fact, she is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible except here. Like is the only disciple that mentioned her name. Perhaps he knows her personally. It is unclear as to why she is not mentioned by name in the other Gospels.
Luke 8:1-3, “Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”
Jesus had been traveling around sharing His message and he healed people along the way. An unnamed woman had just poured oil from an alabaster flask on Jesus. Jesus forgave the woman’s sins which created a little conflict with the Pharisees. We immediately moved into a section where we learned about the women traveling with Jesus.
These women in chapter eight had all been healed by Jesus. No information is given specifically about Susanna. No husband is mentioned nor are we told what she was healed from. We know for certain that all scripture is profitable for teaching (2 Tim 3:16). Since she is mentioned by name, we can assume it was there for a reason.
What can we infer about Susanna and take away from this passage? Susanna believed in Jesus. She left her home and followed Jesus. She was important to Jesus and his ministry. She would have been an active helper with the other women. We don’t know for certain that she had the financial means to support Jesus’s ministry, but we can assume that she did. However, she was willing and able to travel with Him. Even though it isn’t spelled out for us, she impacted Jesus ministry either directly or indirectly. What she did made a difference to those around her. She worked behind the scene to enhance the work that Jesus was doing.
Not all work for Christ is visible or glamorous. God may be asking you to do something that isn’t visible or even enjoyable. How can you serve the Lord this week? Is God asking you to do something? Is God asking you to do something that is totally behind the scene that will garner no attention? Is there someone you can show God’s love toward? Take that step out of your comfort zone and serve Jesus today.
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