Year 7, Day 217: Luke 8

Theological Commentary: Click Here

As we’ve looked at Jesus, we’ve seen that He came to fulfill God’s plan.  We’ve also seen that He came to break the mold.  Just when we think we have Jesus figured out, we find there is a new dimension that we never would have considered.  When we think we’ve got God all figured out, that’s the same moment that we often stop following Him and start following ourselves.

What, then, is the secret?  I don’t think that it is that hard.  In Luke 7 we have the parable of the sower, which would truly be better called the parable of the seed or even better the parable of the soils.  We know that point of the parable as Jesus explains it to His disciples.  The types of soils are the types of hearts among human beings.  Some hearts are hard and have no room for growth.  Some hearts are open, but not capable of true depth.  Some hearts are open for a while, but cannot stay focused of God for too long amidst the pull of the world.  Still others are fertile ground, giving fruit of the harvest of God.

The truth lies without our heart.  God cannot be completely understood because there are so many people among human beings.  He needs to reach us all, and we don’t fit into a box!  God cannot be completely understood because there are so many human experiences into which God needs to speak, and our lives don’t fit into a box!  The breadth of God is so incredible because He desires to reach a humanity that has incredible breadth!

Much of the rest of the chapter bears out this truth.  Do you see the comments about the women who follow Jesus?  First of all, note that we are talking about male and female followers.  There’s diversity right there!  Among the women, there is Mary Magdalene, who could have been anything from an average woman who had demons cast out of her to perhaps even a prostitute.  There is also the manager of Herod’s household.  There are many others.  The point here is that women of all walks followed Jesus.  It wasn’t about the rich or the poor.  The followers of Jesus followed because of the condition of their heart, not their worldly condition.

Then, of course, there is the story about Jesus’ mother and brothers.  Jesus defines His family not as a matter of blood but as a matter of obedience to God.  Anyone can be God’s family as long as they are willing to be obedient to Him. Again, we have reason to think of God as being broad and unable to be put in a box.

We end the passage with two neat stories.  The demon possessed man of the Gerasenes, who is told not to follow Jesus personally so he instead spreads the message of Jesus’ work in the area of the Decapolis – perhaps even laying the groundwork for the feeding of the four thousand!  He is asocial reject who becomes a highly passionate follower of Christ.

Then we have the healing of Jairus’ daughter.  Here is a highly respected man within the Jewish community who comes to Jesus and submits to Him.  Jesus is willing to reach all people regardless of their place.

Look back over the chapter.  We have demon possessed men and women following Jesus.  We have respected religious leaders.  We have managers of Herod’s household.  We have ordinary everyday people, too.  When we look at Jesus and the Father that He came to reveal, we truly see that it is the condition of our heart and not our outward appearances that matter.

<><