Luke 8

8:2,3Jesus lifted women up from degradation and servitude to the joy of fellowship and service. In Jewish culture, women were not supposed to learn from rabbis. By allowing these women to travel with him, Jesus was showing that all people are equal under God. These women supported Jesus’ ministry with their own money. They owed a great debt to him because he had driven demons out of some and had healed others.

8:2,3Here we catch a glimpse of a few of the people behind the scenes in Jesus’ ministry. The ministry of those in the foreground is often supported by those whose work is less visible but just as essential. Offer your resources to God, whether or not you will be on center stage.

8:4Jesus often communicated spiritual truth through short stories (called parables). These stories describe a familiar object or situation and give it a startling new twist. By linking the known with the hidden and forcing listeners to think, parables can point to spiritual truths. A parable compels listeners to discover the truth for themselves, and it conceals the truth from those too tazy or dull to understand it. In reading Jesus’ parables, we must be careful not to read too much into them. Most have only one point and one meaning.

8:5Why would a farmer allow precious seed to land on the footpath, on rocks, or among thorns? This is not an irresponsible farmer scattering seeds at random. He is using the acceptable method of seeding a large field—tossing it by handfuls as he walks through the field. His goal is to get as much seed as possible to take root in good soil, but waste is inevitable as some falls or is blown into less productive areas. That some of the seed produces no crop is not the fault of the faithful farmer or of the seed. The yield depends on the condition of the soi! where the seed falls. It is our responsibility to spread the seed (God's message), but we should not give up when some of our efforts fail. Remember, not every seed falls on good soil.

8:10Why didn’t the crowds understand Jesus’ words? Perhaps they were looking for a military leader or a political Messiah and could not fit his gentle teaching style into their preconceived idea. Perhaps they were afraid of pressure from religious leaders and did not want to look too deeply into Jesus’ words. God told Isaiah that people would listen without understanding and watch without learning anything (Isaiah 6:9), and that kind of reaction confronted Jesus. The story of the farmer was an accurate picture of the people’s reaction to the rest of his stories.

8:11-15“Footpath” people, like many of the religious leaders, refuse to believe God's message. “Rocky soil” people, like many in the crowds who followed Jesus, believe his message but never get around to doing anything about it. “Thorn patch” people, overcome by worries and the lure of materialism, leave no room in their lives for God. “Good soil” people, in contrast to all the other groups, follow Jesus no matter what the cost. Which type of soil are you?

8:16,17When the light of the truth about Jesus illuminates us, we have the duty to shine that light to help others. Our witness for Christ should be public, not hidden. We should not keep the benefits for ourselves alone but pass them on to others. In order to be helpful, we need to be well placed. Seek opportunities to shine your light when unbelievers need help to see.

8:18Applying God’s Word helps us grow. This is a principle of growth in physical, mental, and spiritual life. For example, a muscle, when exercised, will grow stronger, but an unused muscle will grow weak and flabby. If you are not growing stronger, you are growing weaker; it is impossible for you to stand still. How are you using what God has taught you?

8:21Jesus’ true family is comprised of those who hear and obey his words. Hearing without obeying is not enough. As Jesus loved his mother (see John 19:25-27), so he loves us. Christ offers us an intimate family relationship with him (Romans 8:14-16).

8:23The Sea of Galilee (actually a large lake) is even today the scene of fierce storms, sometimes with waves as high as 20 feet. Jesus’ disciples were not frightened without cause. Even though several of them were expert fishermen and knew how to handle a boat, their peril was real.

8:23-25When caught in the storms of life, it is easy to think that God has lost control and that we're at the mercy of the winds of fate. In reality, God is sovereign. He controls the history of the world as well as our personal destiny. Just as Jesus calmed the waves, he can calm whatever storms you may face.

8:26The region of the Gerasenes was a Gentile region southeast of the Sea of Galilee, location of the Ten Towns. These were Greek cities that belonged to no country and were self-governing. Although Jews would not have raised pigs because the Jewish religion labeled them unclean, the Gentiles had no such aversion.

8:27,28These demons recognized Jesus and his authority immediately. They knew who Jesus was and what his great power could do to them. Demons, Satan’s messengers, are powerful and destructive. Still active today, they attempt to distort and destroy people's relationship with God. Demons and demon possession are real. It is vital that believers recognize the power of Satan and his demons, but we shouldn't let curiosity lead us to get involved with demonic forces (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Demons are powerless against those who trust in Jesus. If we resist the devil, he will leave us alone (dames 4:7).

8:29-31The demons begged Jesus to spare them from the bottomless pit, which Is also mentioned in Revelation 9:1 and

8:30The demon’s name was Legion. A legion was the largest unit in the Roman army, having between 3,000 and 6,000 soldiers. The man was possessed by not one but many demons.

8:33Why didn’t Jesus just destroy these demons—or send them to the bottomless pit? Because the time for such work had not yet come. He healed many people of the destructive effects of demon possession, but he did not yet destroy demons. The same question could be asked today—why doesn’t Jesus stop all the evil in the world? His time for that has not yet come. But it will come, The book of Revelation portrays the future victory of Jesus over Satan, his demons, and all evil.

8:33-37A man had heen freed from the devil’s power, but the people in the town thought only about their livestock. People have

8:38,39Often Jesus would ask those he heated to be quiet about the healing, but he urged this man to return to his family and tell them what God had done for him. Why? (1) Jesus knew the man would be an effective witness to those who knew his previous condition and coutd attest to the miraculous healing. {2) Jesus wanted to expand his ministry by introducing his Message into this Gentile area. (3) Jesus knew that the Gentiles, since they were not expecting a Messiah, would not divert his ministry by trying to crown him king. (In fact, the people in this region had asked him to go away.) When God touches your life, don’t be afraid to share the wonderful events with your family and friends.

8:41The synagogue was the loca! center of worship. The synagogue leader was responsible for administration, building maintenance, and worship supervision. It would have been quite unusual for a respected synagogue leader to fall at the feet of an itinerant preacher and beg him to heat his daughter. Jesus honored this man’s humble faith (8:50, 54-56).

8:43Some manuscripts add having spent everything she had on dociors. always tended to value financial gain above needy people. Much injustice and oppression, both at home and abroad, is the direct result of some individual's or company’s urge to get rich. People are continually being sacrificed to the god of money. Don’t think more highly of “pigs” than of people.

8:43-48Many people surrounded Jesus as he made his way toward Jairus’s house. It was virtually impossible to get through the multitude, but one woman fought her way desperately through the crowd in order to touch Jesus. As soon as she did so, she was healed. What a difference there is between the crowds that are curious about Jesus and the few who reach out and touch him! Today, many people are familiar with who Jesus is, but nothing in their lives is changed by knowing he is God's Son, It is only faith in Christ that releases God’s healing power. Are you just curious about God, or do you reach out to him in faith, knowing that his mercy will bring healing to your body, soul, and spirit?

8:45,46Certainty Jesus knew who had touched him—he knew that someone had intentionally touched him in order to receive some sart of healing. Jesus wanted the woman to step forward and identify herself. To let her slip away would have meant a lost opportunity for Jesus to teach her that his cloak did not have magical properties, it had been her faith in him that had healed her, He may also have wanted to teach the crowds a lesson. According to Jewish law, a man who touched a menstruating woman became ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 15:19-28). This was true whether her bleeding was normal or, as in this woman’s case, the result of an abnormal condition. To protect themselves from such defilement, Jewish men carefully avoided touching, speaking to, or even looking at women. By contrast, Jesus proclaimed to hundreds of people that this “unclean” woman had touched him—and then he healed her. In Jesus’ mind, this suffering woman was not to be overlooked. As God’s creation, she deserved attention and respect.

8:50Anyone with a child can readily put himself or herself emotionally in Jairus’s place. His daughter had died while they were on the way home. Luke did not record it, but the poor man probably cried out in grief. Jesus surely felt the father’s very human grief. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Again, Luke didn’t record Jairus’s reaction to these words, but Jairus must have had at least some flicker of hope because he did complete his mission in bringing Jesus to his house. When you experience intense grief over the loss of a loved one, breakup of a marriage, loss of a job, or rejection of a close friend, don't abandon hope. Don't turn away from the one Person who can help you. Do what Jairus did: Don't be afraid; just have faith. Your hope is found in the resurrected LORD, the one with power over life and death.

8:56Jesus told the parents not to talk about their daughter's healing because he knew the facts would speak for themselves. Jesus was concerned for his ministry. He did not want to be known as just a miracle worker; he wanted people to listen to his words that could heal their broken spiritual lives.