Luke 8 Part 2

Luke 8:22-56 (2)

Luke 8:22-25

The Lord Jesus demonstrated his authority over the raging seas. The Lord Jesus is King over all creation. Jesus Christ is God. He is the Savior, and he is the Lord, and he is the King. He demonstrated his authority and power over creation.

Notice the Lord Jesus told his disciples they would go to the other side of the lake. If they listened to him then they would not have thought that they would perish. They would have known that no matter what the circumstances appear that they would make it to the other side. Some people teach that the Lord Jesus rebuked them for a lack of faith because he expected them to rebuke the seas. I don't believe that. Instead, I think he rebuked them for not remembering what he said. He said they were going to the other side. The Lord Jesus was the one who rebuked the sea. They did right going to him for help but their attitude of fear had to be corrected. We should go to God in our difficult situations in life, but go to God with faith. Go to the Lord like the shunammite woman, and say, "All is well."

God is in control of the raging seas. He reigns as King over the flood. He reigns as King forever.

Luke 8:26-39

After crossing the sea the Lord Jesus and his disciples landed where they met a man who was possessed by a legion of demons. The Lord Jesus demonstrated his authority over the powers of darkness by driving out this legion of demons. The demons went into a herd of pigs and drowned in the sea. The man was thankful and wanted to follow the Lord Jesus but the Lord told him to go home and tell his family how God had mercy on him.

What always stands out to me in this account is how Jesus exposes the system which the powers of darkness use. Jesus demanded to know their name. They said "Legion" because there were great numbers of them. Through this we understand the system the powers of darkness use is based on making a name for themselves and bringing numbers underneath a name they create. This is also seen in the account of the tower of Babel and is also exposed by the Lord Jesus when he said the Antichrist would come "in his own name". This is the basis for how the world system operates. Men exalt their names and bring numbers of men under their name to create satanic power. This satanic power provides them with provision and protection and portion independently from God. The world system is a counterfeit of the attributes of God.

I look forward to the day when the Lord Jesus will drive out every demon off this earth. One day all of the powers of darkness in the air will be driven out and the atmosphere will be completely cleansed from their influence. I look forward to God's Kingdom coming on this earth. I look forward to God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven.

Luke 8:40-56

The Lord Jesus and his disciples returned from across the sea. They were welcomed back and the Lord Jesus was approached by Jairus, the ruler of a synagogue. He asked the Lord Jesus to save his daughter because she was dying. On the way to help Jairus the Lord Jesus encountered a woman who touched the hem of his robe and was healed from a bleeding disease. She was healed immediately. At first the Lord Jesus didn't know exactly who touched him but she came forward and made a full confession. The Lord Jesus said her faith made her whole and to go in peace. He continued on with Jairus and raised the little girl from the dead. The Lord Jesus insisted that she was sleeping and was not dead, but he also said this about Lazarus who was clearly dead. When Jesus spoke to the little girl her spirit returned so it was clear she was dead, even though Jesus said she slept. The early church used this same way of describing physical death as "sleeping". The Lord Jesus raised the little girl from the dead and gave her back to her parents. The Lord requested that they keep this incident quiet and not talk about it.

The main idea I get from this passage is that Jesus has authority over life and death. He is the giver of all life. The Lord Jesus said he is the resurrection and the life. There are several examples in the gospels where the Lord Jesus raised someone from the dead. This girl was one example. Lazarus was an example. There was also a young man from Nain whom the Lord raised from the dead. Probably there were other examples that occurred where the Lord Jesus raised people from the dead. In my opinion, I think the Lord still raises some people from the dead. There are a lot of testimonies you can listen to online where people died, had an encounter with the Lord, and then returned to life to tell others about heaven, or hell, or a message from the Lord.

The entire Christian faith rests upon the fact of the resurrection from the dead. Read 1 Corinthians 15. Paul made it clear that our faith rested upon the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. If people cannot be raised from the dead, or if there was no after life, then there is no Christian faith. But, hallelujah, Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. There is plenty of evidence in the Bible for this, and there is historical evidence that a person can research if they are interested.

Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day. Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus and be saved today.