Luke 8:22 – 9:50

 
True Greatness and Humility
Luke 8:22 – 9:50
 
Luke 8. The Lord shows His power over demons, disease, and death.
 
 

Calming of the Storm on the Sea of Galilee (8:22-25)

The Lord slept. It had been a long day (Matt. 8, Isa 53), the Lord was a man, no doubt physically exhausted. He had spoken of the foxes have holes, etc. He was soundly sleeping, taking his rest because he had perfect confidence in His God (Psa. 127:2). If the disciples had realized Who He was, they could have had the same peace. The should have trusted His Word; “and go to the other side”.  Psa. 121 in another sense He wasn’t asleep… we can pray, “Lord, there’s no sense in both of us staying up!”
 
The Storm. Sometimes we end up in a storm because we have done out own will (Paul, Acts 27), but sometimes it is because we are following the Lord, to test our faith. Perhaps this storm was an attempt of the Devil to destroy the Lord. Satan can influence the weather. In Job, Satan caused a great wind and a great fire. Within bounds that God sets, Satan can move the weather. He was here to destroy the Savior. The Lord was in the stern, or hinder part. In control.
 
22 And it came to pass on one of the days, that “he” entered into a ship, himself and his disciples; and he said to them, Let us pass over to the other side of the lake; and they set off from shore. 23 And as they sailed, he fell asleep; and a sudden squall of wind came down on the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in danger; 24 and coming to him they woke him up, saying, Master, master, we perish. But he, rising up, rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said to them, Where is your faith? And, being afraid, they were astonished, saying to one another, Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?
 
Where is your faith? In each gospel, we have a little different flavor to the disciples’ complaint, and each with a suitable reaction. In Matthew, they say “Lord save us”, and He calls them “0ye of little faith”. In Mark they say “Carest thou not ” and He calls them “Ye of no faith” In Luke they say “We perish” and He says ‘Where is your faith?’. 
 
Peace. “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.” (Psa 107:29-30 KJV). The peace of God is the peace He dwells in. 
 

Healing of a Demoniac Named Legion in the Gadarenes (8:26-39)

We can see how Satan was unwilling to let the captive free. A legion was 6000 soldiers, and we gather “many” is more than two. Satan was dedicated to keeping this man in bondage. Why? Perhaps the potential for evangelism. He wore no clothes, uncivilized. No house, social isolation. In the tombs, occupied and living on death. The Lord brought peace to the sea, the disciples, the demoniac, the woman – the prince of peace!

26 And they arrived in the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27 And as he got out of the ship on the land, a certain man out of the city met him, who had demons a long time, and put on no clothes, and did not abide in a house, but in the tombs. vv.26-27 
 
28 But seeing Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee torment me not. 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to go out from the man. For very often it had seized him; and he had been bound, kept with chains and fetters; and breaking the bonds he was driven by the demon into the deserts. 26 And they arrived in the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27 And as he got out of the ship on the land, a certain man out of the city met him, who had demons a long time, and put on no clothes, and did not abide in a house, but in the tombs. 28 But seeing Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee torment me not. 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to go out from the man. For very often it had seized him; and he had been bound, kept with chains and fetters; and breaking the bonds he was driven by the demon into the deserts. 30 And Jesus asked him saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: for many demons had entered into him. 31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go away into the bottomless pit.
 
32 And there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain, and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into those; and he suffered them. 33 And the demons, going out from the man, entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down the precipice into the lake, and were choked. 34 But they that fed them, seeing what had happened, fled, and told it to the city and to the country. vv.32-34 What were herds of swine doing in the territory of Israel? The demons desired bodies to inhabit. Their destructive nature was unchanged. They would have loved to have choked the disciples in the sea earlier. The curtain pulled back on what Satan is like. He is the destroyer.
 
35 And they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting, clothed and sensible, at the feet of Jesus. And they were afraid. v.35 sitting, at peace. Clothed, a new character. Sensible, 
 
36 And they also who had seen it told them how the possessed man had been healed. 37 And all the multitude of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were possessed with great fear; and “he”, entering into the ship, returned.
 
38 But the man out of whom the demons had gone besought him that he might be with him. But he sent him away, saying, 39 Return to thine house and relate how great things God has done for thee. And he went away through the whole city, publishing how great things Jesus had done for him. vv.38-39 Is he the only one we read of that Jesus delivered to be enlisted in service? God = Jesus
 

The Raising of Jairus’ Daughter and the Healing of a Sick Woman (8:40-56)

40 And it came to pass when Jesus returned, the crowd received him gladly, for they were all expecting him. 41 And behold, a man came, whose name was Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue, and falling at the feet of Jesus besought him to come to his house, 42 because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. And as he went the crowds thronged him. 43 And a woman who had a flux of blood since twelve years, who, having spent all her living on physicians, could not be cured by any one, 44 coming up behind, touched the hem of his garment, and immediately her flux of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, Who has touched me? But all denying, Peter and those with him said, Master, the crowds close thee in and press upon thee, and sayest thou, Who has touched me? 46 And Jesus said, Some one has touched me, for “I” have known that power has gone out from me. 47 And the woman, seeing that she was not hid, came trembling, and falling down before him declared before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, Be of good courage, daughter; thy faith has healed thee; go in peace. 49 While he was yet speaking, comes some one from the ruler of the synagogue, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher. 50 But Jesus, hearing it, answered him saying, Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made well. 51 And when he came to the house he suffered no one to go in but Peter and John and James and the father of the child and the mother. 52 And all were weeping and lamenting her. But he said, Do not weep, for she has not died, but sleeps. 53 And they derided him, knowing that she had died. 54 But “he”, having turned them all out and taking hold of her hand, cried saying, Child, arise. 55 And her spirit returned, and immediately she rose up; and he commanded something to eat to be given to her. 56 And her parents were amazed; but he enjoined them to tell no one what had happened. 
 

The Sending Out of the Twelve; Herod’s Perplexity (9:1-9)

CHAPTER 9
1 And having called together the twelve, he gave them power and authority over all demons, and to heal diseases, 2 and sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And he said to them, Take nothing for the way, neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; nor to have two body-coats apiece. 4 And into whatsoever house ye enter, there abide and thence go forth. 5 And as many as may not receive you, going forth from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a witness against them. 6 And going forth they passed through the villages, announcing the glad tidings and healing everywhere. 7 And Herod the tetrarch heard of all the things which were done by him, and was in perplexity, because it was said by some that John was risen from among the dead, 8 and by some that Elias had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9 And Herod said, John “I” have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things? and he sought to see him.
 

Feeding the Five Thousand (9:10-17)

The Feeding of the Five-thousand. This is the only miracle of our Lord that is recounted in all four gospels, so it evidently has a special importance. See Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17; and John 6:1-15 (compare). By contrast with the Synoptic gospels, John the Evangelist does not record the beheading of John the Baptist, nor the apostles’ return from their mission, nor their desire to send the multitude away because they needed rest. In John it is Jesus who takes the initiative, that the masses may be fed. Ultimately, spiritual food is the primary thought in each account, but a different emphasis in each.
 
10 And the apostles having returned related to him whatever they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart into a desert place of a city called Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds knowing it followed him; and he received them and spake to them of the kingdom of God, and cured those that had need of healing. 12 But the day began to decline, and the twelve came and said to him, Send away the crowd that they may go into the villages around, and into the fields, and lodge and find victuals, for here we are in a desert place. 13 And he said to them, Give “ye them to eat. And they said, We have not more than five loaves and two fishes, unless “we” should go and buy food for all this people; 14 for they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down in companies by fifties. 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, looking up to heaven he blessed them, and broke and gave to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were filled; and there was taken up of what had remained over and above to them in fragments twelve hand-baskets.
 

Peter’s Confession (9:18-27)

Who Do the Crowds Say that I Am? – Peter’s Confession (vv.18-20)

18 And it came to pass as he was praying alone, his disciples were with him, and he asked them saying, Who do the crowds say that I am? 19 But they answering said, John the baptist; but others, Elias; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen again. 20 And he said to them, But “ye”, who do ye say that I am? And Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

The Lord’s Death and Resurrection Foretold (vv.21-22)

21 But, earnestly charging them, he enjoined them to say this to no man, 22 saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.

The Importance of Present Sacrifice for Future Glory (vv.23-27)

23 And he said to them all, If any one will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me; 24 for whosoever shall desire to save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, “he” shall save it. 25 For what shall a man profit if he shall have gained the whole world, and have destroyed, or come under the penalty of the loss of himself? 26 For whosoever shall have been ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he shall come in his glory, and in that of the Father, and of the holy angels. 27 But I say unto you of a truth, There are some of those standing here who shall not taste death until they shall have seen the kingdom of God.
 

The Transfiguration Scene (9:28-36)

28 And it came to pass after these words, about eight days, that taking Peter and John and James he went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed the fashion of his countenance became different and his raiment white and effulgent. 30 And lo, two men talked with him, who were Moses and Elias, 31 who, appearing in glory, spoke of his departure which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those with him were oppressed with sleep: but having fully awoke up they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. 33 And it came to pass as they departed from him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. 34 But as he was saying these things, there came a cloud and overshadowed them, and they feared as they entered into the cloud: 35 and there was a voice out of the cloud saying, “This” is my beloved Son: hear him. 36 And as the voice was heard Jesus was found alone: and “they” kept silence, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.
 

Healing a Demon-Possessed Boy (9:37-45)

37 And it came to pass on the following day, when they came down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And lo, a man from the crowd cried out saying, Teacher, I beseech thee look upon my son, for he is mine only child: 39 and behold, a spirit takes him, and suddenly he cries out, and it tears him with foaming, and with difficulty departs from him after crushing him. 40 And I besought thy disciples that they might cast him out, and they could not. 41 And Jesus answering said, O unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and suffer you? Bring hither thy son. 42 But as he was yet coming, the demon tore him and dragged him all together. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astonished at the glorious greatness of God. And as all wondered at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 Do “ye” let these words sink into your ears. For the Son of man is about to be delivered into men’s hands. 45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them that they should not perceive it. And they feared to ask him concerning this saying.
 

He Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom (9:46-50)

46 And a reasoning came in amongst them, who should be the greatest of them. 47 And Jesus, seeing the reasoning of their heart, having taken a little child set it by him, 48 and said to them, Whosoever shall receive this little child in my name receives me, and whosoever shall receive me receives him that sent me. For he who is the least among you all, “he” is great. 49 And John answering said, Master, we saw some one casting out demons in thy name, and we forbad him, because he follows not with us. 50 And Jesus said to him, Forbid him not, for he that is not against you is for you.