Susanna 

Susanna, leader of the Women's Evangelistic Corps, played a pivotal role in ministering to the needy and teaching the gospel. Elected by her peers, she led the first hospital ministry in Bethsaida and was instrumental in expanding the group's reach.

Susanna
  • Summary

    Susanna was the daughter of Ezra of Alexandria, the former chazan of the Nazareth synagogue, and she served as the leader in the original women's corps that Jesus established and trained to minister to the poor, sick, and afflicted.

    She is also recorded as being one of the women present in the first appearance of Jesus after his resurrection. Susanna was among the group of women, including Mary Magdalene, who went to anoint Jesus' body on the Sunday morning of the resurrection.

  • Susanna, Leader of the Women’s Corps

    Susanna helped Jesus to minister to the sick in the gospel’s first hospital in Bethsaida. When Jesus was preparing for his Third Preaching Tour, he called forth ten devout women who had previously served in the tented infirmary and dared to commission them to teach the gospel of the kingdom and to minister to the ailing. Jesus authorized these women to form their own organization and handle all decisions. They elected Susanna as their leader. This single-minded group became known as the Women's Evangelistic Corps, and quickly added two more women to their fellowship; Jesus effectively had another group of twelve apostles. As these twelve began winning over more and more women to the kingdom, they became known for their effectiveness. When any of the women believers desired to see the Master or confer with the apostles, they went to Susanna, and in company with one of the twelve women evangelists, they would go at once into the presence of the Master or one of his apostles.

    These women were all distinguished for their dedication, love, faithfulness, and conquests, winning many souls for the kingdom. The women were there with Jesus for the rest of his ministry and stood faithful at the cross. Susanna was one of the five women who went to more carefully anoint Jesus’ body, and then heard Mary Magdalene asking the 'caretaker' what they did with his body; these women were the first to see the resurrected Jesus.

Suggested Reading from this Essay

Related People

Related Topics

Contributors

Gregg Tomusko, Mike Robinson, Gary Tonge

References and Sources

  • 148:2.1 Gospel’s first hospital in Bethsaida.
  • 150:1.1 Selecting ten women as apostles.
  • 150:1.2 Choosing Susanna as their chief.
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