Re-starting: Highlights from this Summer’s Readings

I wrote my previous post on May 7^th. Today is August 29^th. What happened? Summer, of course—some travel, some family times, a beach visit here, a good book there. One constant through the last three plus months—our men’s group continued to meet twice a week so that those who were not traveling could continue our summer program:

Wednesday mornings at 6:00 a.m. we read and discussed my wife Cheryl’s book, Pray Through Your Day Learn to Pray the Benedictine Way, available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle.

Friday mornings at 7:00 a.m. we continued our study and discussion of Luke’s gospel. Alternating between a practical study on praying “the hours” with careful readings in Luke created a balanced weekly rhythm that we will continue to explore as Summer turns to Fall.

Re-starting our journey with Jesus in Luke 8, I realize why I’ve been reluctant to “catch up.” There’s simply so much ground to cover! Luke 8 is as full of important lessons as my Summer was full of all kinds of diversions and distractions!

  

Luke 8 begins with Jesus traveling from one town and village to another “proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.” With him are the twelve and a remarkable group of women. Jesus had cured these women of evil spirits and diseases. Luke, who often draws attention to the role of women in his gospel, explains they are financially independent women who are supporting Jesus’ ministry using their own resources (Luke 8:1-3).

Read the Parable of the Sower Luke 8:4-8, and Jesus’ explanation of the story when the disciples ask him to interpret it for them in Luke 8:9-15. 

As N.T. Wright comments “If Jesus was telling this story today, he might well include other categories as well. What about the seeds that were planted in good soil but were ruined by acid rain? What about the plants that were coming up nicely but were bulldozed by occupying forces to make room for a new road?” (Luke for Everyone, Westminster, John Knox Press, 2001, 2004, page 93).

The thought-provoking teaching continues, with Jesus reminding everyone that his “mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice” (Luke 8-16-21).

Anyone exploring the question “who is Jesus?” will want to look closely at the second half of Luke 8.  First, Jesus calms a storm on the lake when his disciples thought they were going to drown (Luke 8:22-25).

Next, Jesus commands an impure spirit to come out of a demon-possessed man who had been kept under guard and chained. He was named “Legion” because so many demons had entered him and taken over his life. This distraught man becomes completely sane and calm after Jesus commands the evil spirits to leave him (Luke 8:26-37). Although he then begs Jesus to take him with him, Jesus sends him away saying “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” Luke adds “So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him (Luke 8:38-39).

Jairus, a synagogue leader, throws himself at Jesus’ feet because his 12-year-old daughter is dying.

On the way to Jairus’ house, the crowds following Jesus nearly crush him. In the midst of the swirling throng Jesus feels power leaving him, sensing a desperate touch by a suffering woman longing for healing. She had experienced twelve years of bleeding that no doctor had been able to heal. But when she managed to touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak, her bleeding stopped immediately. “Who touched me?” asks Jesus.

In the presence of all the people, she explains herself, and how she was instantly healed. “Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace’” (Luke 8:47-48).

While Jesus is still speaking, messengers arrive from Jairus’ home to report that his daughter has died. Jesus startles everyone when he tells Jairus “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed” (Luke 8:50). When Jesus takes her by the hand, he says “My child, get up!” Luke reports that her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. “Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened” (Luke 8:55-56).

To summarize, in one fast-moving chapter, Jesus demonstrates his unique power and authority over—

• The natural world (by calming the storm)
• The spirit world (by healing Legion)
• The physical nature (by healing the suffering woman)
• The realm of death (by raising Jairus’ daughter back to life).                                                      

 N.T. Wright's commentary helps summarize what we've seen and heard in Luke 8: "Luke has been patiently pointing out, through one story after another, who Jesus really is . . . in whatever problem or suffering we face . . . the presence of Jesus, getting his hands dirty with the problems of the world, is what we need and what in the gospel we are promised" (Luke for Everyone, Westminster, John Knox Press, 2001, 2004, page 105).