Luke 8

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 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[a] 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.’[b]
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 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,[c] 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 a cemetery 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[d] 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.[e]
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.
Jesus Heals in Response to Faith 40 On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him. 42 His only daughter,[f] who was about twelve years old, was dying.
As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. 43 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding,[g] and she could find no cure. 44 Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” 47 When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. 48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”
51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. 52 The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”
53 But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. 54 Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” 55 And at that moment her life[h] returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.




That was good. Jesus did alot in this passage, and i didn't realize it untill the second time reading it. Like in the first part when the women followed Jesus. This is just another instance when Jesus decides to forget about the barriers of society. First off it tells us the He casted out 7 deamons from Mary Magdalene. That means that she was possed, and now she is hangin out with the son of God. That tells me there that no matter how nasty i am, no matter how many things i have done, Jesus loves me and he isn't ashamed of it.

I like the parable about the farmer scattering seeds. I've read it tons of times but i just started looking at it in the right way. I used to think that God put the seeds on the path, or on the rocks, or in the torns. But i just realized he just spreads the seeds, it's up to us where they land. The way i see it is that God wants all of us to land in fertile soil, if he didn't why would he give us his awesome word?? Beats me.
I just want to take a minute and think about where we land somtimes. I think that I would land in the thorns. It seems that after i read some awesome stuff, i will forget about it soom after, or i will worry about what people think about me. It's not 'till reasantly that i started being really bold with my faith. I've read the Bible, and have been going to church all my life.But i never changed. I would think that it was awesome when i heard it (I only read the Bible when i was in trouble, cuz my mom would make me copy it down.) but after words i would just go on living like hell. It's not because i would hear lies from the devil, but because i cared about what my friends thought. I see now that i just had no back bone. I couldn't Man Up, because i was a pansy. I thought i was the man when really i was a punk follower. You want to be strong, be different.

I like the parable about the Lamp, because it means alot to me. When ever i give a message as a guest speaker, 9 times out of 10 it will be about reflecting Jesus. I normally use this parable, because it calls us to be light to the world and not to hide or try to be covered. But it turns out the parable means so much more. My youth pastor, Bary Russle, Did a series about being in the dark. And just a cool thing that i picked up is that the definition of Dark is the absence of light. If you have a pich black room, and you shine a laser pointer in the room, it's called penatration. Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, it just can't. So to me this parable can be so hopeful. We can't be stuck in the dark, JESUS LIVES. No matter how down "in the bacement" you are, your never in the dark. When you allow the light in your life, nothing can hide. When you turn on the lights in a dark room, i promise you bugs hide. That can't happen inside of you. When you accept the light of Jesus in you life, sin can't escape. It blows my mind how much my Jesus loves me, and it's crazy cool how much he loves you to!

Jesus calms the storm. Thats rad already. I just picture Jesus laying on a hamach (spelled wrong) with his dreadlock, just passed out asleep during this storm. And i can see his disciple running around with buckets trying to get the water out of the boat and screaming at Jesus to wake up. And Jesus just pokes one eye open tells them whats up, calms the storm and goes back to sleep.
My Jesus is so rad. I seriously see that every time i think of that. Just how humble he is and how powerful he is, it's amazing. I can't fathom it. And i love it when the desciples are like "who is this dude." I don't know, i just wish i could have been there, cus i would have peed myself, it just sounds funny to me.

Jesus heals a demon possesed man. Thats cool. Jesus once again touches the untouchable. He once again shows his love to someone hated/feared by everyone else. And what else can someone do after Jesus fixes them except for worship him.
Another thing that is cool to me is how scared the demons are. They are freaking out. So Jesus does what any one else would do, he sent them into the pigs and they drowned --love deviled ham :)--! The people who witnessed this were scared, i would have been to cuz if i saw some guy tell demons to go into pigs, and then all the pigs die, i would freak out.
But one thing really sticks out and it is this "37And all the people in the region of Gerasense begged Jesus to go away and leave them slone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jeus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake."
That confuses me. I have this friend who lost God, he's just convinced that Jesus dosn't love him. And it kills me, so me and one of my friend's, Jeremy, love on him all we can. Last night he cussed Jeremy out. So i'm wondering if since left these people alone when they told him to leave, it Jeremy and i should leave our friend alone. I really don't know, so i'm going to ask that 'yall pray for jeremy and i, as well as our friend.

In the next section Jesus does another cool thing, crazy right it's almost like Jesus love to do awesome thing:). He goes to heal this girl, and on his way he walks through a big crowed, and a women who had been bleading touched him and she was healed. Jesus's reaction is priceless, "who touched me." Thats a funny question cus your walking through an enoumess crowd. plus you the son of God and you already know, come on Jesus what are trying to teach us hear. I think what your trying to tell us is to be intentional when we want you. And i think that when Jesus said that he felt healing powers leave him, he didn't really mean it the way some of us might take it. What i think is that He wants the women to know the he is looking for her, and that he knows what she did. I don't think that it is Jesus's robe that saved the women, i think that it was her faith. (After reading the Bible, i came to a conclusion that Jesus's was a big dude, because everyone is scared of him. Just sayin)
Also Jesus was a funny guy. You have to be funny to go to a funeral and say that the girl isn't dead. Eather funny or crazy awesome, or both. And i love that he brings her back to life and then he said, get her somthing to eat. Yeah, if i was dead and i came back to life i would be pretty hungary.





There is somthing on my heart tonight. Like a said earlier, my friend has lost God. I was him tonight, and it broke my heart. I saw him from behind and i was so stoked to see him. But then he turned around and i could see no life is his eyes. His eyes are dead. everytime i saw him i was on the verge of tears. He had cuts down his rist and that was just twisting the knife, because this kid used to have such faith, and now it's gone. Jeremy and i wanted him to stay for the service, but he left.
But it just scares, because i now see what happens when you let the devil get a foothold on you. The devil is such a pansy. He finds your weekness and he attacks it, then while your down he will beat you. This kid now thinks that Jesus dosn't love him, he looks completely dead on the inside. So I just want everyone reading to pray for him, and for everyone to shine God onto him. I don't know what i can do except for love on him. Please just pray for him.

In Christ,
Stewart Ryall