Luke 8 - A Disciple Must Be A Disciple To Make A Disciple!
The Parable of the Sower
8 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, 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 Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Jesus' primary message was the "Good News about the Kingdom of God", which he came to inaugurate. His disciples were with him as well as the other women he had cured of evil spirits and diseases. Mary Magdalene had seven demons come out of her. There were other women too. Jesus did not follow a patriarchical model that was prevalent in his culture.
There have been plenty of arguments over some of Paul's writings about women in ministry. Some of Paul's writing were culturally bound by the environment he lived in. Like for instance when he forbade a women to teach or have authority over a man in the church. 1 Timothy 2:12 But the bottom line is that women were involved in Jesus' ministry of spreadhing the Good News.
'Luke specifically mentioned certain women who followed Jesus, because this was unusual. Jesus had a different attitude towards women than the religious leaders and teachers of that day." - Guzik
“The rabbis refused to teach women and generally assigned them a very inferior place.” Morris
"It’s interesting to note that in the four Gospels, all of Jesus’ enemies were men." - Guzik
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
Jesus used his favorite teaching method parables to teach the crowds. A parable invited a person to listen and figure out its meaning.
"The idea behind the word parable is “to throw alongside of.” It is a story thrown alongside the truth intended to teach. Parables have been called “earthly stories with a heavenly meaning.” - Guzik
A man sowed seeds indiscriminately and the success in bearing fruit was based on the condition of the places it landed. There are four scenarios mentionedm and the seed only took root and bore fruit in the good soil. And the fruit was plentiful, as the seeds planted there multiplied 100's times over.
Jesus spoke according to the agricultural customs of His day. In those days, seed was scattered first and then it was plowed into the ground. For the most part, you didn’t know the quality of the precise piece of ground until after the sowing. - Guzik
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’
Jesus says knowledge about the kingdom of God is like secret knowledge. What does he mean by that? A better translation for secrets would be "mysteries".
In the Bible, a mystery isn’t something you can’t figure out. It is something that you would never know unless God revealed it to you. In the Biblical sense, one might know what the mystery is; yet it is still a mystery because they would not have known unless God revealed it. - Guzik
A parable isn’t exactly an illustration. A good teacher can illustrate by stating a truth, and then illustrating the truth through a story or an analogy. But when Jesus used parables, He didn’t start by stating a truth. Instead, the parable was like a doorway. Jesus’ listeners stood at the doorway and heard Him. If they were not interested, they stayed on the outside. But if they were interested, they could walk through the doorway, and think more about the truth behind the parable and what it meant to their life. - Guzik
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Jesus reveals what the mystery is all about. The seed is the word of God, which you might also call the Good News of the Kingdom. Though God's Word is spread everywhere it only takes root in one type of soil, the Good Soil. With the other soil conditions there is something that prevented the Word from taking root. The culprits are the devil, the shallow soil, the time of testing, and life's worries, pleasures, and riches. So what was the secret to those who produced a crop through perseverance.
Jesus said the secret was, "Those who hear the word, retain it, and persevere."
You see it is not enough to hear the Good News about God's kingdom, but you need to apply those principles to your life. My favorite hobby is golf. You can have the best clubs, learn all about exactly what makes the ball fly straight and long. You could know all the details of the perfect swing. You could learn all of the putting techniques to score low. But if you never play and apply the principles, you will never be a good golfer.
I mentioned in my sermon last week the longest journey you will make in life is the 18 inches from your head to your heart. There are Christians who know everything about Jesus, and have gone to church their whole lives, but have never applied the principles of the God's Word. They have never taken Jesus at his word and lived in obedience to his call on their life.
Finally, whenever you move to applying kingdom principles in your life, it doesn't mean your life is always going to be easy. You may face persecution for living according to Jesus' way of life, as it is counter culture. But as one perseveres they will produce fruit. A disciple can't make a disciple unless they are a disciple.
A Lamp on a Stand
16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
Jesus said he is, "the light of the world". Jesus is the truth. The truth cannot be hidden. The truth shines best in the darkness not under a bushel. At some point the light will reveal that thoughts and motives of every person's heart. We may think we are getting away with something in the dark corners of our lives, but one day all of our deeds will be exposed for what they are.
When we are faithful with the truth we have been given, God will continue to give us more. God will reveal new things and bring us new situations to shine His light. But if someone is given the light and never uses it for good, there may be a day when what they have will be taken from them and given to someone else who will use it.
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
Jesus redefined family by those who live according to God's Word. We will experience true family with each other, as we love each other the way the bible teaches us to do. We will experience true family with each other, when we forgive each other the way the bible teaches us to do. We will experience true family when we encourage and care for each other as the bible teaches us to do. A good church is one whose members are engaged in becoming more like Jesus by the way they treat each other and share the Good News with those outside the family.
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
One day on the Sea of Galilee, a furious storm arose and the waves started swamping into the boat. Jesus wasn't bothered much at all by it, as he continued to enjoy an afternoon nap. The disciples were afraid they would drown, so they woke Jesus up frantically. Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and then asked them, "Where is you faith?" What is he getting at?
This account shows the abiding care Jesus has for His people. “There are many Christians today who seem to think the boat is going down! I am tired of the wailing of some of my friends who take that view. The boat cannot go down. Jesus is on board.” (Morgan)
Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man
26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. 30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
By most estimates, this was on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, in the mostly Gentile area of the Decapolis, the Gentile cities of the broader region. - Guzik
Jesus met a man who was a tortured demoniac. He was homeless, clothesless, and hung out in the tombs. It's sounds like a scene from a freaky movie. When he saw Jesus he asked, "What do you want with me Jesus?"
The demons recognized Jesus' authority that they would need to bow down to if called upon.
This was the demonic spirit within the possessed man, not the man himself. The demon did not want to leave the body he inhabited.
Demonic possession is when a demonic spirit resides in a human body, and at times will exhibit its own personality through the personality of the host body. Demonic possession is a reality today, though we must guard against either ignoring demonic activity or over-emphasizing supposed demonic activity - Guzik
Jesus ordered the man to give up the names of the demons inside of him and they answered. Once again knowing the authority Jesus had over them, they begged him not to throw them into the abyss, which we also know as hell. It is a bottomless pit one can never escape from.
The demons inhabiting this man did not want to be imprisoned in the abyss, which is the bottomless pit described in Revelation 9:11. Apparently, it is some place of imprisonment for certain demonic spirits. - Guzik
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Jesus acquiesced to the demon's wish to not be thrown into the abyss. Instead he cast them into a herd of swine , who the demons drove into the lake and died. Remember the devil's goal is to steal, kill, and destroy.
Meanwhile the man was completely delivered from all the demons and was sitting at Jesus' feet. He was in his right mind and had gotten dressed. You talk about a transformation. Instead of rejoicing with Jesus and the man, the people were struck with fear. Maybe it was fear of losing their pigs and their money with them.
They were more afraid of a free man than a possessed man. When they saw the man in his right mind and sitting at the feet of Jesus, they were afraid. - Guzik
They didn’t seem to mind having this demon-possessed, tormented man in their midst, but they did mind having Jesus around – so they asked Him to leave – and He did! - Guzik
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[c] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
As we have said Jesus healed multiple types of people in multiple ways. Every time he healed someone it seems like there was a different way he did it. This reminds us to be careful of thinking the healing power is harnessed by some magical words or way of praying for someone. Or putting our trust in a specific healer.
In this case a woman touched the edge of Jesus' cloak and was healed. Now that is some power. Jesus knew the power had gone out of him, so he wanted to know who had touched him. The woman was terribly frightened, because she had dared touch a man, a rabbi, in public. But the woman garnered up her courage and told Jesus what had happened. Jesus lovingly called her "daughter" and told her that her faith healed her. There are lots of ways Jesus healed people, but the one ingredient that was present in all of them was faith!
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Meanwhile someone informed Jairus his daughter had died. The time Jesus had used to heal the bleeding woman could have cost him his daughter's life. Meanwhile Jesus assured him that if he had faith she would live. When he arrived the people were mourning and grieving her death. But Jesus assured them she was not dead just asleep. Jesus took only Peter, James and John (his inner core of 3 disciples) and Jairus and his wife. He commanded the daughter to get up, and she got up and go something to eat. Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone.
In all this we see how the work of Jesus is different, yet the same among each individual. If Jesus can touch each need this personally, He can touch our needs the same way. Jairus had twelve years of sunshine (Luke 8:42) that were about to be extinguished. The woman had twelve years of agony that seemed hopeless to heal. - Guzik
Comments
Post a Comment