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JOANNA

  MEANING OF NAME: The Lord gives graciously. STORY IN BRIEF: A wealthy woman who worked in the courts of Herod Antipas. Her husband, Cuza, was also the estate manager of Herod Antipas. Joanna followed The Lord on missions, supported His Ministry with her gifts, and was privileged to have witnessed the resurrection of Jesus. These happened after The Lord delivered her from demonic obsessions. Obviously, Joanna would have attempted winning Herod Antipas over to Jesus. But her Spirit probably was dared when Herod beheaded John for Herodias and Salomey. SHORT BACKGROUND ON HEALING: Healing, from ancient Bible days, was seen more as spiritual than physical. Egyptian physicians would often drill holes in the heads of patients in order to create an exit for these "ailment-causing spirits". There were medical doctors, yet most patients were rather sent to the priest-physicians. REFERENCE SCRIPTURES: Luke 8:1 – 3; 24:10 (and Matthew 14:1 – 12) Luke 23:7 – 12
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LYDIA

  CHARACTERISTICS: A Gentile adherent of Judaism, she was a successful businesswoman who sold a type of cloth prized for its purple color. As head of her household, she may have been either widowed or single. So strong was her faith that her entire household followed her example and was baptized. She extended hospitality to Paul and his companions, even after their imprisonment. Her Sorrow: To see Paul and Silas beaten and thrown into prison for the sake of the gospel she had embraced. Her Joy:  That God’s Spirit directed Paul and his companions to Macedonia, enabling her and others at Philippi to hear the gospel for the first time. STORY IN BRIEF: Lydia, a business woman who made her living by selling clothes, lived in Philippi, Macedonia. She was a gentile but Judaism-addict. Paul had a vision where a man pleaded that he came to Macedonia with the gospel. So he headed there. After sharing the good news with the Philippines along the coast, Lydia and her household believed an...
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ESTHER

 



NAME MEANING:


Ishtar,” - the Babylonian Goddess of Love; Persian - “Star”;

Hebrew - “Hadassah,” Means “Myrtle” 


 CHARACTER: 


An orphan in a foreign land, she was willing to conceal her Jewish identity in a bid for a pagan king’s affection. 

Esther seemed willing to made moral compromises by sleeping with the king and then taking part in a wedding that would necessarily have required her to pay homage to foreign gods. Even so, she displayed great courage in the midst of a crisis. Prior to risking her life for her people, she humbled herself by fasting and then put her considerable beauty, social grace, and wisdom in the ser vice of God’s plan.



STORY IN BRIEF:


Vashti - Queen of Persia, disobeyed Xerses' order that she presented herself before the noble festive gathering in Persia. So the King banished her.


Now is the time for her replacement. Esther, a Jewish orphan and cousin to Modecai, was part of the King's harem. She successfully won the King's heart and became the next Queen of Persia. 


A few years later, Modecai refused to bow to Haman - Xerses'most powerful, as others did. Then, a decree was made for the annihilation of all Jews some time to come.


When Modecai informed Esther, they both agreed on a 3-days long fast. Esther went and invited the King for a feast following the fast.


While Haman constructed some gallows for Modecai to be hangged on, the next morning, King Xerse was reminded through the reading of Kingdom anals on how that Modecai saved his life in the past.


The King rather made Haman honour Modecai in the morning for his deeds before; Haman could not hang Modecai as he had planned.


Modecai also discovered from Esther at their second evening banquet that Haman had sold out the lives of the Jews for destruction. So Haman was hanged on the gallows he was going to hang Modecai as commanded by Xerse.


Esther was given Haman's properties. King Xerse also gave a counter enactment to his earlier judgement against the Jews - anyone who came to kill a Jew could as well be killed ! 


FURTHER READINGS:

Esther 1 – 10

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