Unseen Support

The Word of God you have today, the Gospel, has been handed down to you across generations and millennia. Countless unknown people provided the support needed for the many known people who carried the Gospel forward. The same was true in Jesus’ day.

In Matthew 8:1-3, we read about the people who accompanied Jesus. We know about “the twelve” who were with him, his disciples, but we also learn in this passage that Mary Magdalene and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna are there with Jesus as well. Verse 3 then adds, “and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”

These are the unnamed people who gave out of their own resources to support Jesus, his disciples and others who traveled with Jesus. It is hard to comprehend that these people helped provide the food Jesus ate each day — the human sustenance to keep him going. It’s amazing to me that Jesus depended on others to help him. These unknown people generously gave to Jesus what God had generously given them. It remains as a model today.

There are countless known and unknown people in the world today who continue to carry the Gospel forward to those who need to hear the words of salvation. They depend on the support of others to share what God has generously given to them. No matter how small, known or unknown, this support is essential to the continuing spread of the Gospel. It’s a subtle reference in this passage, but an important reminder that everyone plays an important role in spreading the Gospel of salvation through Jesus.

© 2022, Chris G Thelen

And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; – 1 Corinthians 12:21-22 (NASB)