Your Name Is Daughterಮಾದರಿ

Day 3: And Many Others

Luke, a careful and detailed doctor and writer, records the names of some women who were with the twelve disciples and Jesus, traveling from town to town, proclaiming the good news. He names Mary, Joanna, Susanna, “and many others.”

Many others. How many others? Two, five, thirty? They were traveling with the disciples and Jesus, proclaiming the good news of God. These women were also His disciples, His followers, His apprentices. These women are you and me. Here we are, in the story. It is such good news.

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. 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.” -Luke 8:1–3 NIV

Jesus clearly invited the women along. And they were along for all of it. Setting up tents, listening to his late night chats by the fire, eating meals together, laughing at silly things, arguing and forgiving each other when life on the road wears you down, making memories, mending clothes and blankets, contributing to meal preparation, and making an entire ministry happen.

If they weren’t welcome, they wouldn’t have been a part of His traveling ministry, proclaiming the good news. If Jesus did not want them there—want them close—they would not have been there. The thing is—Jesus is an inviter. He is such an invitational God. He has been calling out to us since shame entered the garden (Genesis 3:9), calling out to us through Isaiah to come and buy what we need without cost to us (Isaiah 55), and He will call out to us until the very end, saying, “Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).

Daughters were with Jesus from the beginning to the end, showing God’s welcoming nature that includes daughters in every single kingdom task.

Prayer for Today: God, thank you for having open, welcoming arms. You invite Gentiles and Jews, men and women, any and all to become your apprentice.