Luke 8
1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
"Chuza" Hebrew word = "a seer", the steward of Herod, His wife a Christian. All these women took care of the needs of Christ and the disciples.
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
The people heard Christ had arrived and wanted to hear Him. He speaks a parable for those with their spiritual eyes and ears open to The Truth.
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
"Way side" a pathway through the field where the earth is very hard from the compacting of walking on it. Seed won't take root on that hard soil and the birds eat it. Understand, The Seed = The Word of God.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
When the heat is on = trouble arises, those that didn't accept the seed = The Word and feed it with study will fall into the world and destruction.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
You must stop hanging out with those that refuse The Truth. It's ok to plant a seed = Truth, but don't walk with them in your daily life as friends. They'll bring you down with them. Most of the wicked won't allow God's Word to penetrate their minds and take root. If you waste your time with these, you miss the opportunity to give to those waiting to accept The Seed = The Word. Isaiah 6:9-10 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make t he heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The seed = The Word developed and bore fruit. The Truth went forth, helping others come to know God and the events about to take place today.
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
Without erasing your mind of the world, it's hard to understand the spiritual meanings.
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Seek God and be blessed in His Truth. When we study, we gain. With knowledge of The Word, the mysteries are no longer a mystery. Again, Isaiah 6:9 -10 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Couldn't tell you how many hear The Truth but run from it to something that feels better to them.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Feeding The Word in bits and pieces without getting to the meat or following the context. People go to church to see a show anymore, without being fed Chapter by Chapter and verse by verse.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
They heard The Truth and when times come to follow it, they turn away from it to follow the worldly.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Grounded in Truth, staying in The Way! † Not fooled by the tricks of satan and the world.
16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
We = Christians, don't hide the light, we let it shine for all to see. Those with The Truth are not ashamed to tell it like it is. SO DON'T BE!
17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
God will open it up to those that listen and are hungry for The Truth.
18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
If you don't take Gods Truth and hold on to it, living it, God will let it fall away from you. We must study His Word and live it EVERYDAY.
19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
The crowed is so big Christ mother and brethren can't get to Him.
20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
Someone's telling Christ His family and brethren want to see Him.
21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
His mother and brethren listen and follow The WHOLE Word of God.
22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
Even though there is a storm, remember what Christ said, "Let us go over unto the other side" so if He said it, you had better believe it's going to happen, no matter what's going on in your life.
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
Without Christ in your life, the storms of your life will overtake you.
25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
We are of no use when we doubt God. We have let go of what we are about and have fallen into satan tricks when we have no faith. Stand strong and true in your faith my brothers and sisters in Christ †
26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
They made it across.
27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
This guy ran around naked, living in caves where dead were buried.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
Evil spirits always know who Christ is.
29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
You better believe Christ already knew their names. He is asking this to show us what The Power of God is all about.
31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
They don't want to go to the bottomless pit where they wait for their destruction upon judgment day, where they will be burned and done away with forever.
32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
Pigs are one of the lowest of all flesh life and with these demons they don't care who they enter as long as Christ doesn't send them to the deep.
33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
These pigs couldn't take what entered into them. They would rather die, so they commended suicide.
34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
The pig farmers saw their economy go over a cliff and went to tell everyone what happened.
35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
Christ had shown them a blessing for someone in their community, yet all they wanted was for Him gone. Be it because He would destroy more of their economy or because of the healing, they didn't what Christ around. Christ wouldn't waste time where He wasn't wanted.
38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
God uses whom He chooses and His will shall be done no matter what. This man was chosen to preach to the Gadarenes.
40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
They returned to the other side of see of Galilee were the people are waiting for Him. They hunger for more!
41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:
"Jairus" means enlightened and shows his wisdom by believing in Christ Jesus.
42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
He is being pressed on all sides trying to get to Christ. He wants Christ to heal his little girl and will push through all to Christ.
43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
Not one could heal this woman. 12 = "governmental completion" Biblical Numerics. Israel dying for truth, the condition of Israel before God.
44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
Touching the fringe, she was healed. After 12 years she was made completely as new.
45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
There are many people pressing on Christ, yet He knew someone touched the fringe of His garment. Peter asks, "how do you even know"
46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
"Virtue" Greek word "dunamis" = inherent power. Where we get our word dynamite.
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
Of course Christ knows her, but by asking it shows the people His power in healing. It shows this isn't a set up show.
48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
FAITH!
49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
Jarius kind of gave up on Christ, waiting for Him to come to his daughter of twelve. He's saying not to worry about coming now, she had died.
50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
BELIEVE!
51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
Christ and the five of them went into the room of the dead girl. Five = number of grace. During the time of death, you would hire a group to come morn, but this wasn't going to happen here.
52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
Our Father isn't God of the dead, but God of the living!
53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
Those already inside where spiritually asleep, just as in today, many have no
idea where those that have died are today. Most believe in a hole in the
ground. 1 Thess. 4:14-15 14 For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep. This is because they're already with Him. We
can't go before those already there. If you believe Christ died and rose,
than you better know where they are and that they're coming back with Him.
It's so many it looks as a cloud. Ref. 1 Thess. 4:17 Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up [gathered] together with them in the clouds [many
souls], to meet the Lord in the air [breath of life]: and so shall we ever be
with the Lord.
54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
Where was she? You should know! She wasn't in a hole in the ground. Christ called her to come back from heaven and she entered back into the body she once had.
56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
There is timing in all things. A time for this child to be healed and a time for everyone to know about it. We are not to question why, we are to just follow in the blessings. Eyes to see and ears to hear. † FAITH & PURPOSE!