Word Wednesday

No crossword puzzles, vocabulary or word games, I don't have the mind to come up with those. On Word Wednesday I want to talk about what we are reading in the bible this week. It’s not a Bible study, sermon or deep devotional, just a place to reflect on a verse or passage that may have touched us this week.

When you are reading in the scriptures, do you ever wonder about the lives of people that are mentioned only briefly? Those people who are mentioned by name, but little other information is given.

I was reading in Luke last night. 8:1-3
The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

There is much talk about Mary Magdalene, speculation, controversy even, but what about Joanna wife of Cuza? What was her husband’s name - the manager of Herod’s household and was he a believer? She was a supporter of Jesus’ ministry. I picture her going out to meet with the disciples, coming home and making sure her servants had prepared dinner. I assume, as someone who was that close to Jesus, she was very kind and loving - grateful to be free from disease/demons. I hear her speaking to her servants of the Messiah and the wives of soldiers. I think she was respected, but often times talked about because she was a follower of Jesus Christ. I don't know.

Or how about the demon possessed man? You know the one naked and living amongst the tombs? The one whose neighbors could not chain down or keep clothes on. The one with the possession called "Legion", “for we are many.”

Luke says when the healed and exorcised, clean shaven and clothed man sat at Jesus' feet, he then asked to go with Jesus; but Jesus sent him away asking him tell everyone how much God had done for him. The man had spent so many years in lonely torment, I can only imagine his love, gratefulness and admiration for Jesus. . .living, in the body, Jesus! He had to be, at the very least, disappointed he couldn’t stay near his Master.

I’m confident the previously possessed man led a great, adventurous life that glorified God. I wonder about it. Did he stay in the town or travel? Did he meet up with other believers or was he alone most of his life? Where was he during the crucifixion?

Do you ever wonder about those briefly mentioned in the bible? What are you reading this week?