Luke 8- Andy's thoughts

This chapter opens with a seemingly trivial description about Jesus traveling around with his disciples and a group of women. Yet, I think that to the reader of that time, it would not be an insignificant fact that a Jewish teacher traveled with women. Women were traditionally marginalized and excluded from the active life of rabbis. But Jesus was different.

Jesus was content to have women be a vital part of his ministry and community. They were not marginalized but were in fact, necessary to the practical work that he did. They helped to finance him. And this list included not only prominent business people but also formerly scandalous people. I think that it will be a common theme throughout our reading of Luke to see that Jesus was different.

Next, Jesus gives the parable of the seed. Jared you posted a question about why does Jesus speak in parables if it means that some people will not understand? I have heard several different explanations and I think that most of these reflect the theological biases of the explainers. Perhaps my explanation will be no different. That being said- I think that the context in which verse 10 is found is the most helpful way of understanding its meaning.

As I have previously posted, there is an element of timing to Jesus’ ministry and his teachings. I think that there are some truths that are so profound that some of his hearers are not yet ready to receive them. I think that by revealing some truths in the form of parables, Jesus is actually preparing the hearts of his listeners. In essence, he is preparing the soil.

Years ago, I heard a teacher say that he would have discussions with other people and that he would make statements or ask questions that would not be immediately understood. He then prayed that the Holy Spirit would use these words as time bombs to go off later when the time was right. I think that a less explosive approach to understanding Jesus’ method of communication is to see that he was telling them a story that was so vivid his hearers could lock the images in place. At another time, at the Spirit’s discretion, the truths would spring to life.

If Jesus only went around telling everyone that he was in fact, the Son of God and that they should repent and believe in him, many people would dismiss him and close their ears to him upon their first encounter with him. By telling them parables, he was gaining access to their imagination and was preparing them to connect the dots at a later time. There were some- like the disciples- who were more prepared to hear the deeper truths about Jesus’ identity but even they had a hard time with it. I believe that Jesus intended for people to avoid the sorrow of hearing the word too soon and falling away.

The fact that he had this kind of patience and foresight tells me a lot about his character and faith and insight into human nature and God’s timing.

The later verse that talks about those who have will be given more is also intriguing as you say, Jared. My take on it is that those who have knowledge and power are responsible to use it. Perhaps it is a bit Marvel comicish to say, “with great power comes great responsibility” but nevertheless I think that is the gist of what Jesus is saying.( And if you haven’t seen the movie Kick *ss, there is a great inversion of that line). Personally, I read that and am convicted that I am called to use the gifts God has given me to fulfill His mission in the world.

I think that this can affect all sorts of practical aspects of our lives. For example, in this country we have tremendous political freedom- to vote, to speak out, to congregate together, and to serve. When Christians don’t vote, don’t speak out on important issues, don’t congregate together, or don’t serve, I believe that we are failing to use that which we are given. When we contrast our experience with believers in other countries or other time periods, we should realize the tremendous responsibility we have to do more. And this does not imply that we are called to make our Christian experience a little more comfortable. It means that we are called to proclaim the gospel more extensively.

I’m not sure about how much to say about the part of Jesus’ statement about those who hear and obey God’s word as those who are Jesus’ true brothers and sisters and mother. I suppose that Jesus is radically redefining the nature of family. In Christ, we have an eternal family that is more real and more lasting. Blood may be thicker than water but Spirit is thicker than blood? And as Steve points out, I don’t think that Jesus is shunning his family as much as he is validating his new family.

The part about the storm on the sea is also fascinating to me. Especially when I think that some of the disciples were fishermen. They were used to living on boats. I’m sure that they had seen other storms and known what to do. For those guys to be frightened is pretty remarkable. I like how it says that after Jesus calms the storm that the disciples were afraid and amazed. I wonder if they were more scared of the storm or the one who has dominion over the storm.

There is a Christian song that goes something like- Sometimes he calms the storm and other times he lets the wind and the waves go wild/ Sometimes he calms the storm and other times he calms his child. I forget the artist but the words have stuck with me.

The next account is of the man with the legion of demons who is freed. I have no concept of what that must actually have been like. I can speculate and imagine, but in truth, it is hard to put myself in his shoes. I guess he was naked, so he didn’t even have shoes. My best description is that to be demon possessed was like being kidnapped from the inside. For that guy to experience freedom from those demons must have been more amazing and wonderful than I can picture.

The reaction of the demons was to beg for mercy. And Jesus grants their request. I find it striking that when the man makes a request of Jesus, Jesus says no. The man makes a seemingly good request- to go with Jesus- yet he is told not to come. Instead Jesus gives him another mission- to go and tell his family everything that Jesus did for him. In some ways, I suppose this was more daunting than going with Jesus. For me, it has been harder to talk to my family and old friends about Jesus than to talk to strangers.

The last story of the chapter (and yeah, this is a very full chapter) tells of the juxtaposition of Jairus and a sick woman. This is perhaps the most organized story in the chapter. It begins and ends with the account of Jairus and his dying daughter. In the middle is an account of a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage that made her not only physically sick but also ceremonially unclean. Both Jairus and the woman’s story begin 12 years prior to meeting Jesus.

For Jairus, I imagine that 12 years ago was the happiest day of his life. His little girl was born. For the woman, 12 years ago was the worst day of her life. Her sickness began. At Jesus, the two come to a crossroads. After meeting Jesus, the woman’s story gets better and Jairus’ gets worse. She is healed and his daughter dies.

I love the compassion that Jesus has on this woman. Though unclean and most likely shunned by the religious leaders of the day for being unclean, Jesus responds to her differently. He heals her. I don’t think that he asks about who touched him because he didn’t know. I think he asks so that the woman could be publically pronounced clean and set right. Though she wanted to secretly be healed and secretly go away, Jesus publically restores not only her body but also her standing in the community. Again, Jesus defies the social taboos about interacting with women.

I am at first surprised to see Jesus’ delay in helping Jairus. If it were me, I would have thought that the priority was to help the little girl who was about to die. The unclean woman could wait. But Jesus was different. Life and death are in his hands and he had no fear about the clock. His sense of timing was unlike mine. Normally, a story would end when the girl dies. But not with Jesus. At death, the story was really just beginning for Jairus and his daughter. Jesus raises her from the dead and in so doing, foreshadows his own story.

This whole chapter overturns my rational brain and forces me to rethink things. Deep spiritual truths are intentionally obscured. Nature is subdued at a word. Bad people/ demons have their prayers answered. Good people have their requests denied and are given more challenging missions. Marginalized people are brought to the forefront. Dead people rise again.

If I were to make up a fake story about a fake God that I wanted people to believe in, I think I would make up a person who was more like a good person who always did what was the most predictably rational choice. I think that the apparent unpredictable nature of Jesus makes me believe the Bible even more. It wouldn’t make sense to make this stuff up. I know that the term for this idea is “counterproductive features.” Basically, this means that the Bible contains elements that would seem to work against the propagation of the gospel because it seems so crazy or unlikely or even illegal. To me, it means that Jesus is different.

Praise Jesus for being different. And good. And gracious.

Application:
*Are we choosing to not only hear but also obey God’s word?
* Are there storms in our lives that we need to entrust to Jesus more?
*What are the gifts and responsibilities that God has given us and are we using them to the fullest?
* To whom is Jesus sending us to proclaim all that he has done for us?