There is so much in Luke 8 to discuss and so little time to do it. Let me hit a few of the highlights and hopefully, it will invite more thoughts/questions/discussion in the days ahead.
First – Jesus is preaching and proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom was the big thing/main thing that Jesus came to do. He did other things – teaching, healing, disturbing the religious folk’s sensibilities, etc – for the sake of showing/preaching/proclaiming God’s kingdom. Remembering Jesus said this as he began His ministry: I must preach the good news of God’s kingdom in other cities too, for that is why I was sent (Luke 4:43)
We can not underestimate, think or discuss what the nature of God’s kingdom is and what it means to be a part of it. We will see God’s kingdom throughout Luke and Acts. It was the larger umbrella that encompasses the work of Jesus here on earth.
Second – There were women traveling with and providing for Jesus and the disciples. Women in the story of Jesus were not bit players but were key leaders/shapers/resources for the proclamation of God’s kingdom by Jesus.
Third – The parable of the soils and the sower (Luke 8:4-15). So many things to point out in this section but I limit this to a few key thoughts. A.) Jesus tells the disciples that to them has been given the mysteries of the God’s kingdom. This is the first parable that is told and I believe is the Master Key parable – it unlocks the principle that is at play in all the other parables. B.) The good soil – where we want to be and remain this is said: they hear the word and commit themselves to it with a good and upright heart. Through their resolves, they bear fruit. The reality is this: God does the sowing, he grows something, but we will bear fruit through our commitment and our resolve. This highlights the both/and work of God and us. We participate in the work that God is doing in us. It is not simply God works in us or that we work for God. It is God has worked in us and we work with/for Him.
Fourth – Luke 8:22-56 tells 4 stories that Luke is wanted us to hear something very clear to us: Jesus has power over the ‘elements’ of this life. Jesus has the ability and authority to supersede the laws of nature and the normal.
Authority over the natural world – Jesus calms the storm. The wind and waves literally listen to Him.
Authority over the spiritual world – Jesus casts out Legion and commands the group of demons where to go.
Authority of the physical world – Jesus heals the woman with the bleeding that has not stopped for 12 years. He heals her with just a passive touch.
Authority over life and death – Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter. She was dead and Jesus brings her back to life.
Luke wants us to understand that Jesus is not just a cool teacher. He is supernatural. He is special. He is God’s son – and through Him, God’s kingdom is shown/made real/is present.
Have you seen Jesus and the God’s Kingdom?
Have you experienced it?
This chapter invites us to see and experience Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
Strength and courage,
Kevin
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