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LUKE SERIES: CHAPTER 8- DID YOU HEAR THAT? INTRODUCTION: As we travel through the book of Luke, there’s an eternal message slowly unfolding. From what I’m hearing; the people who are getting the most out of that message are those reading the chapter before Sunday and again after.
This week, we’re on chapter 8. The chapter offers up seven vignettes, if you will; seven short stories. Put the stories together, and they weave a number of common themes. This morning, we are going to discover, just one of those themes. What is God trying to tell us… tell you?
The chapter begins with a short story, we might call: #1 THE WOMEN WITH JESUS V 1- 3 Luke 8 1. Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2. and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 3. and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.
Jesus was an “equal opportunity” Messiah. But the real message here isn’t equal rights. The passage goes out of the way to mention certain woman. There is Mary who had been possessed by seven demons. The number seven in the Hebrew doesn’t simply mean seven. It connotes a countless quantity. In the same way we might say, “I told you a million times!” Even today, Hebrew uses the number seven, in the same way.
Mary had a very dark past. And on the other hand, there was Joanna. Her husband was, by Greek title, the epitropos of the king. The care of the king’s assets would be done by government accountants. But every king would have his own personal accountant just to watch his back. It would be someone he really trusted and it would be a person of very high status. Through her husband, Joanna had ties to the royal court.
So, even in that little band of women, there was a wide swath of humanity. From the very beginning of the chapter comes a challenge: What could possibly hold such a variety of people together. -The only reasonable answer; the presence of someone very compelling. …Then we skip to short story…
#3 THE FAMILY V 20- 21 20. And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.'' 21. But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.''
Jesus is interacting with a group of people who have come to see Him. At first, it might seem a little cold. His natural family then shows up and He’s blowing them off. But the truth is; He’s making a powerful statement. When we approach Jesus, He will let nothing get in between Him and us. -Even those things that would seem a natural obstacle to us.
#4 THE STORM V22- 25 The Sea of Galilee has a very interesting topography. There are mountains on one side. There are high plains on another. And there are rivers that drain into the lake from deeply cut valleys. And then there is the sea which is below mean sea level.
A significant temperature differential builds between the lake and the surrounding land. At night, the land becomes colder than the water. The heavier cold air will rush down those mountains with the river valleys acting like giant funnels. It can go from a calm day to gale-force winds in the matter of an hour.
So there are these men out on the lake, in a little boat, in the middle of a gale-force storm. Imagine waves the size of houses. Imagine looking up at them from a tiny little boat. It would’ve been incredibly terrifying.
There’s something to note here; Jesus doesn’t stop anything from naturally happening. He calms the storm, but not before they go through it to the brink of death. Even for His closest friends Jesus isn’t a ticket out of trials that naturally come. Allowing events to go right to the brink, drives this point home: The only reason they survived what comes is because, Jesus was there.
Surviving the storm, they reach the far shore and the next short story…
#5 THE MAN OF THE TOMBS V 26- 39 26. Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27. And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.
Let’s get a mental picture of this. There is a man, so insane, so violent, so supernaturally strengthened by evil; he can’t exist among other people. Gadara was actually a region on the south east area of the lake. And even as a combined force, the men of that region couldn’t contain this man.
The man called himself “legion” because of all the demons inside. A legion is composed of 6000 troops. Imagine the darkness of someone possessed by 6000 demons. It was ridiculously hopeless. This guy would’ve been more terrifying than the storm on the way over!
But within the period of a short conversation; Jesus brings this man from the embodiment of hell to a witness for God. From terror to testimony, and it happened for one reason: Jesus Christ was there.
#6 and #7 JARIUS AND THE TERMINAL WOMAN V 40- 56 The next two events are intertwined. It starts with Jarius, but is interrupted by a woman who literally sneaks on to the scene.
It’s a hot crowded day as Jesus enters the town. The crowd is jostling to get a glimpse of this Messiah celebrity. And then… 45. And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?'' When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng You and press You, and You say, `Who touched Me?' '' 46. But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.''
Isn’t it interesting; countless people were touching Jesus, and out of all those people, only one experienced the power flowing from Him? Why her?
During that time of the month for Hebrew women, the Law said a woman was unapproachable. She was very limited in her social contact. This woman was in that condition continually for 12 years. The isolation would’ve been overwhelming.
So out of desperation, she throws protocol to the wind. With her very personal problem, she sneaks through the crowd. She doesn’t want to be a spectacle; she just wants to touch God, and be gone before He knows it. It sounds kind of silly, but how many people are like that today. “I’ve got a problem, I’ll send up a secret prayer- I don’t really want to get involved with God or His people; just a quick request… if you’re really there. And I’ll be on my way.”
But the scene unfolds in the most fascinating way. It starts out with the feel of countless people. Then all the people seem to melt away and it’s just Jesus, and this woman talking.
This woman had been isolated for twelve years; and on a crowded street where everybody wants the Messiah’s attention. She is His sole focus. Do you think she sensed that she mattered? For her; Jesus was really there.
47. Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48. And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.''
Then the focus changes back to Jarius. He is the opposite of the woman. He is very connected. He is the heart of the synagogue. And the synagogue is the heart of the community. He is the ultimate in “plugged in.”
What is happening is truly amazing. By this time, the doors to the synagogues are quickly closing to Jesus. The religious powers of the day are denouncing Him as the enemy. And here, in public, a synagogue leader is acknowledging Christ’s authority. He is doing it out of love for his 12 year-old daughter. And out of love Jesus responds.
The scene at Jarius’ house is dismal. People are crying. The girl is lying dead on her bed. The time for hope has past… 52. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.'' 53. And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54. But He put them all out, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise.'' 55. Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. …
Even though it is beyond the point of return; hope is immediately resurrected. That’s the message of the whole chapter. Impossible relationships; terrifying storms; people beyond redemption; people beyond hope… and each story ends in incredible, impossible victory. Why? For one reason; Jesus is there.
The message unfolding in Luke so far has been inspiring, but daunting. -Transforming inside to a supernatural standard; taking that standard into the grit and dirt of the everyday world; growing from CALLED to CALLER. -All very inspiring, but overwhelming.
We’d be right to think it’s an impossible pipe dream. It’s all ludicrous, except for the message of this chapter. It can happen through only one reason: Jesus is there. Even though the Apostle Paul had been nearly murdered several times, imprisoned, ship-wrecked, bit by deadly snakes, and embattled by the highest powers of the day; he could still say this: Phil 4 13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
How does a person connect with that kind of power? It brings us back to, short story… #2. -The only parable in the chapter.
#2 THE SEEDS V 4- 19 The parable says; the seeds are the Word of God. The soil is our hearts and minds. And the first truth that hits us in the face, is this: Three out of four types of people –actually touched by God- FAIL. Only one type succeeds.
There is failure due to hardness, failure due to shallowness, and perhaps, most tragic of all, good and committed lives that are crippled because they miss the real reason they are here.
CONCLUSION 14. "And the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
Imagine this: During harvest time, you come by to see Kevin Kendall standing up on his John Deere tractor admiring his field. He’s saying, “Look at that beautiful corn! It’s grown up so tall and strong.”
And you notice, for all the healthy stocks, there are no ears of corn, except for a few half-developed samples here and there. When you point this out to Kevin, he replies, “Yeah, there’s no grain, but aren’t those plants the prettiest thing? Boy, it’s going to be a great harvest!”
It would be silly and tragic. For all the effort and time, the crop has totally missed the reason for its life. …And what’s really tragic is- that’s exactly what many people are doing- missing the real purpose we are here.
15. "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
The theme of the chapter is- Jesus is here through the storms, the hopelessness, and the impossible challenges. But Jesus being here means very little in a practical sense, unless we are “good ground.” -Unless we are deep enough to let Him take root; deep enough to bear fruit; and most important- willing to give it away.
So often we get the question backwards: We ask- Is Jesus really here? -But in fact: When it comes to living the real purpose - Jesus IS here. The question is: Are we?
8. "But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.'' Not career; not even family… Are you and I willing to let Christ blossom into the world through us? If we do that; everything else will fall into place.
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