Luke 8
Return to The Gospel Of Luke.
Important: This is not a translation or paraphrase, but a story based on Luke 8.
[Note: In the word pronunciations I have made the vowels with a Long Sound bold while the vowels with a short sound are in normal print. Academic Associate students know that the "u" has 3 long sounds. These sounds are separated from each other with a 1, 2 or 3. Sometimes a vowel does not have a sound in a syllable. In dictionaries this is usually shown with a "ə" but I have chosen simply not to show it since it has no sound. Also, when the "r" says it name instead of its normal sound, I have put it in bold. Academic Associate students, of course, know why and when it says its name instead of its sound.]
The Parable Of The Sower
After this, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, sharing the good news of the kingdom of God. His twelve disciples were with Him as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. The names of the women were: Mary [called Magdalene (Mag du lun)] from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons; Joanna, whose husband was the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support Jesus and His disciples from their own money and supplies.
As a large crowd was gathering from many towns, Jesus told this parable:
A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was planting his seeds, some of the seeds fell on the path and were trampled or the birds ate them. Some seeds fell on rocky ground, but when they sprang up they quickly died because there was no moisture. Still other seeds fell in with thorns which then grew with the plants and choked the plants. But some seed fell on good soil. When it grew it gave a crop one hundred times what was planted.
When He had finished the parable, Jesus called out, “Anyone who has ears, let him hear what I have said.”
Later the disciples asked Jesus what this parable really meant. He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you which is why I speak in parables to others. This is what Isaiah meant when he said, ‘Though they have eyes, they will not see; and through they have ears, they will not hear.’
“I will explain the parable to you. The seed is the word of God. The path is the people who hear what I say but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts so that they may not believe and be saved. The rocky ground represents the people hear My word with joy, but they have no ‘root.’ They believe for awhile, but when the time of testing comes, they leave. The ground with thorns stands for those who hear what I say, but as they go on their way they are distracted by life’s worries, riches and pleasures so they never mature. But the good soil are those with a noble and good heart. They hear My word, keep it in their hearts, and by never giving up produce a good ‘crop.’”
The Lamp
Jesus continued, “No one turns on a light and then covers it or hides it under a bed. Instead, it puts it on a stand so that it can give light to all who come into the room. I want you to know that there is nothing hidden that will not be exposed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known or brought out into the open. Because of this you should think carefully about how you listen to My words. Whoever uses what I give him will have more given to him; but whoever does not use what I give him, will lose even what he does have.”
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Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were not able to get close to Him because of the crowd that surrounded Him. Finally someone told Him, “Your mother and brothers are here wanting to see You.” |
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The Raging Storm
One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.”
So they got into a boat and began across the lake. It was peaceful and Jesus was tired so he went to sleep. A sudden windstorm swept down the lake whipping up the waves. The boat was being swamped and even the experienced fishermen knew they were in great danger
Since Jesus was still sound asleep, the disciples, in their panic, woke Jesus up crying out, “Master, Master, we are going to drown!”
Jesus stood up and told the wind and the raging waves to be still. Immediately the storm stopped and all was calm. Then Jesus turned to His disciples and asked them, “Where is your faith?”
In fear and amazement the disciples said among themselves, “Who is this that has such great power? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.”
The Demon-Possessed Man
Jesus and His disciples sailed to the region on the opposite side of the lake from Galilee. As Jesus stepped ashore a wild-looking man rushed at Him. He had demons living in him and had not worn clothes or lived in a house for a long time. He actually lived in the graveyard. He fell at the feet of Jesus screaming 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!” He yelled this because Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. Many times this evil spirit had come upon him and given him super strength. Even when people had captured him and chained him under guard, he had broken the chains and escaped into lonely places like the graveyard.
Calmly Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” the demon replied through the man, because there were many demons living in him. Again and again the demons begged Jesus not to command them to go into the bottomless pit called the Abyss.
The demons had an idea. Nearby a large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside. They begged Jesus to let the go into the pigs instead of the Abyss. Jesus gave them His permission. As soon as they entered the pigs, the entire herd rushed down a steep bank, plunged into the lake and was drowned.
When those who had been looking after the pigs saw what had happened they ran off and told what had happened in the town and countryside. The people came out to see for themselves. What they saw was the man, who had been demon-possessed, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. They were afraid of a Man with so much power so they pleaded with Jesus to leave.
As Jesus was getting into the boat to leave, the man who had been delivered begged to be allowed to go with Jesus, But Jesus told him, “I want you to return home and tell everyone what great things God has done for you.” The man obeyed and spread the news all over town of what Jesus had done for him.
Two Miracles
When Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed Him, for they had been expecting Him. Then a man named Jairus [Ji rus], ruler of the synagogue [sin u gog], came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house and heal his only daughter who was dying. His daughter was only about twelve years old.
The crowds were so thick as Jesus was making His way to the house that they almost crushed Him. In the crowd was a sick woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years and none of the doctors had been able to help her. She snuck up behind Jesus and touched the bottom of His robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped and she was healed.
Jesus stopped and asked, “Who touched Me?”
Everyone around Him denied it. Peter said,”Master, the people are crowding and pressing against You. How can You ask ‘who touched Me’?”
But Jesus kept looking around, “Someone touched Me and was healed. I know because power has gone out from Me.”
Then the woman knew that what she had done had been discovered. She was scared expecting to be in trouble because with her sickness it was against the law to be in a crowd of people. She fell at Jesus’ feet. With everyone looking on, she told Him what she had done and why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
Jesus smiled at her and said comfortingly, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
While Jesus was still speaking with the woman, someone came from Jairus’ house and told him, “Your daughter is dead. There is no reason to bother the Teacher any more.”
Jairus’ hopes were dashed, but Jesus had heard what was said. He turned to Jairus and said, “Do not be afraid. Just believe and she will be healed.”
When Jesus arrived at the house of Jairus, He would not let anyone go in except Peter, John, James and the child’s parents. Meanwhile, the people outside had begun wailing mourning for her.”
“Stop that noise,” Jesus said, “She is not dead but asleep.”
They laughed at Him because they knew she was dead. Jesus went into the house and took the girl by her hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned to her and she stood up immediately. Then Jesus told her parents to give her something to eat. Her parents were overjoyed but shocked that their daughter had been brought back to life. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Go To Luke 9.
Return to The Gospel Of Luke.
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