Scottish Bible Society: Luke Through Lent Day 11

 

Wed 8 Mar

Luke 8:1-39

 

Women Who Followed Jesus

 

1 Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve

disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out

seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support

Jesus and his disciples.

 

Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed

 

4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his

seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks.

It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender

plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had

said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

 

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets

 of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

 

‘When they look, they won’t really see.

    When they hear, they won’t understand.’

 

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have

the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear

the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The

seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures

of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word,

cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

 

Parable of the Lamp

 

16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter

the house. 17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known

to all.

 

18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what

they think they understand will be taken away from them.”

 

The True Family of Jesus

 

19 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers

are standing outside, and they want to see you.”

 

21 Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”

 

Jesus Calms the Storm

 

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across,

Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.

 

24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

 

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”

 

The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”

 

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

 

26 So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes,

 across the lake from Galilee. 27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had

been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town.

 

28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High

God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil

 spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply

broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.

 

30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”

 

“Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.

 

32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.

 

So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the

lake and drowned.

 

34 When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35 People rushed out to see

what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed

and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 36 Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 And

all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.

 

So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. 38 The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him.

But Jesus sent him home, saying, 39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming

the great things Jesus had done for him.