READ LUKE 8

In the very first verse of this chapter we read that Jesus and His followers traveled from one town to another spreading the good news. Jesus, the true Evangelist was showing through example how we should share His amazing news with others.

For one thing, He didn’t limit himself to the Jewish nation.  He was speaking to people of all kinds.  He didn’t discriminate against anyone.  His words were understandable and He approached the people not with difficult theology, but on their level.

Those who came to hear Jesus were just like you and me.  They were common folks – farmers, tradesmen, tax collectors, prostitutes.  The rich and educated also came to hear and be saved.  The beauty of Jesus’ parables is that they were every day situations that the people understood and could glean truth from.

As he spoke, His words spoke to the heart.  He didn’t condemn, but welcomed all, preaching a new message that gave hope and a future to all who heard it.  Throughout this chapter we hear about continued healing and raising from the dead, along with the message of forgiveness of sins.  Luke, being a physician, was undoubtedly in awe of Jesus’ amazing power to heal the sick and revive the dead to life.

Miracles went beyond healing, when Jesus calmed a storm.  The waters were turbulent.  They churned and poured into the boat.  The disciples became fearful for their lives and approached Jesus.  He asked them where their faith was.  Did they not know that He had control over all things, including the weather and storms of life?  Even though they had traveled with him for these many months, they lacked the faith to trust His power.  We have the benefit of God’s Word and still we doubt at times.  Jesus wants us to depend on Him in all situations.

I once heard that God inspired His Word into the souls of men and it was written in language that all could understand.  How great is that?  Everyone has access to the same words that Jesus spoke to the crowds. It’s all recorded for our benefit and available for our use in telling others about Him.

In the last few verses of this chapter we hear about a man who was demon possessed.  He had been that way for a long time, yet Jesus was able to call out the demons and return the man to normal. Demon possession seems to have been a common malady in those days.  I wonder if it was akin to our modern day mental illness?  When Jesus released the demons, He was also showing His power over Satan and His eventual overpowering of him.

There are so many tidbits in scripture that can apply to our daily lives. Maybe not as spectacular as the ones that occurred in Jesus’ ministry, but they serve as lessons on how to deal with our own earthly problems, by always having faith in God and His amazing love for us.  Let us always be thinking about spreading this wonderful news – sowing the seeds of salvation.