Today Our Daily Bread Luke 8

Luke 8
Women Who Followed Jesus
1 Not long afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby cities and villages to announce the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women he had healed and from whom he had cast out evil spirits. 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.
Story of the Farmer Scattering Seed
4 One day Jesus told this story to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 "A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds came and ate it. 6 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. This seed began to grow, but soon it withered and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop one hundred times as much as had been planted." When he had said this, he called out, "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"
9 His disciples asked him what the story meant. 10 He replied, "You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I am using these stories to conceal everything about it from outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: `They see what I do, but they don't really see; they hear what I say, but they don't understand.'
11 "This is the meaning of the story: The seed is God's message. 12 The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but then the Devil comes and steals it away and prevents them from believing and being saved. 13 The rocky soil represents those who hear the message with joy. But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. They believe for a while, but they wilt when the hot winds of testing blow. 14 The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept 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 But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people who hear God's message, cling to it, and steadily produce a huge harvest.
Illustration of the Lamp
16 "No one would light a lamp and then cover it up or put it under a bed. No, lamps are mounted in the open, where they can be seen by those entering the house. 17 For everything that is hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light and made plain to all. 18 So be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them."
The True Family of Jesus
19 Once when Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, they couldn't get to him because of the crowds. 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 the message of God and obey it."
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and started out. 23 On the way across, Jesus lay down for a nap, and while he was sleeping the wind began to rise. A fierce storm developed that threatened to swamp them, and they were in real danger.
24 The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" So Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The storm stopped and all was calm! 25 Then he asked them, "Where is your faith?" And they were filled with awe and amazement. They said to one another, "Who is this man, that even the winds and waves obey him?"
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man
26 So they arrived in the land 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. Homeless and naked, he had lived in a cemetery for a long time. 28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell to the ground before him, screaming, "Why are you bothering 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 shackled with chains, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon's power. 30 "What is your name?" Jesus asked.
"Legion," he replied--for the man was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the Bottomless Pit. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons pleaded with him to let them enter into the pigs. Jesus gave them permission. 33 So the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake, where they drowned. 34 When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, for they wanted to see for themselves what had happened. And they saw the man who had been possessed by demons sitting quietly at Jesus' feet, clothed and sane. And the whole crowd was 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 that region 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 demon possessed begged to go, too, but Jesus said, 39 "No, go back to your family and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you." So he went all through the city telling about the great thing Jesus had done for him.
Jesus Heals in Response to Faith
40 On the other side of the lake the crowds received Jesus with open arms because they had been waiting for him. 41 And now a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell down at Jesus' feet, begging him to come home with him. 42 His only child was dying, a little girl twelve years old.
As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. 43 And there was a woman in the crowd who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years. She had spent everything she had on doctors and still could find no cure. 44 She came up behind Jesus and 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 told him, "No, someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me." 47 When the woman realized that Jesus knew, she began to tremble and fell to her knees before 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 Jairus's home with the message, "Your little girl 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 trust me, and she will be all right." 51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn't let anyone go in with him except Peter, James, John, 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 is 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, "Get up, my child!" 55 And at that moment her life 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.
New Living Translation (NLT)

~Lena’s Comments~
So why would we even want to know the meaning of the parable? Jesus said he spoke in this form on purpose, to see who really wanted to know (how God thinks), compared to those who really did not care to know (Him well). Those who truly want to know Him stand around long enough to even get up the guts to ask, and then they hang around long enough to hear an answer or explanation. But still, why would you want to know the meaning? Don’t you usually place yourself in the text when you read a story? Jesus wanted us to see where we are at in this parable and then to do something about it. If a farmer needs a harvest, but he finds "fault" with the soil type or condition, does he not simply adjust the type or condition? God is the farmer of the world, of the harvest of souls. If the conditions do not promote the reception of salvation, what would a good farmer do? Change it. Once identified the problem does not have to remain, in fact if one plans a harvest it must be changed. One would never change the situation if he did not know the need for change existed.
Is it natural blood birth that makes us family? Yes, and not only that. God calls us children, sons & daughters, etc which are all family names. How does family that is not natural become established and maintained? This family is of an eternal nature and begins with the eternal birth by receiving Jesus Christ. Once we have received Him, He also receives us into His large, large family of the spirit. God is a covenant God and covenant is based on promises kept. I’ve often thought of how we make promises based on truth presented and from our desire to embrace truth and live and walk in it. Yet think about it, do we ever fully know how to keep a promise when it is made? When you got married did you know what "I do" meant? How about when you swore an oath for a job or said "yes" to being a parent or signed a mortgage? We rarely know full well what we’ve gotten ourselves into when we promise. BUT God, being a covenant God expects us to keep our word, just as we expect Him to keep His. Only through His strength can we really and truly keep covenants and the key to keeping them is listening to His wisdom and walking in obedience to His ways. If we do not at least purpose to do this we will find it almost impossible and unbearable to keep our promises, But He is making us like Him, men and women of integrity whom others can also believe in and follow after the words of. How else will any storm of life ever obey us if we have had, exercised, practiced and lived with no integrity. If we live this way, we will see power arise from our very beings. The wind and waves have to do with us, the crazy man has to do with others. We’ve got to obey and become empowered by that obedience to God for our own lives first, THEN we can cross over and release that power that is just like or just as, in the same form as God’s power towards the needs of others. This whole passage is about the power in God’s words and how they should be used in the earth. How they can be released in the earth being birthed in us first as we enter God’s family and join in with His ways and speak forth His truths.
~ For Olga …
От Луки 8
1 После сего Он проходил по городам и селениям, проповедуя и благовествуя Царствие Божие, и с Ним двенадцать, 2 и некоторые женщины, которых Он исцелил от злых духов и болезней: Мария, называемая Магдалиною, из которой вышли семь бесов, 3 и Иоанна, жена Хузы, домоправителя Иродова, и Сусанна, и многие другие, которые служили Ему имением своим.
4Когда же собралось множество народа, и из всех городов жители сходились к Нему, Он начал говорить притчею: 5 вышел сеятель сеять семя свое, и когда он сеял, иное упало при дороге ибыло потоптано, и птицы небесные поклевали его; 6 а иное упало на камень и, взойдя, засохло, потому что не имело влаги; 7 а иное упало между тернием, и выросло терние и заглушило его;
8 а иное упало на добрую землю и, взойдя, принесло плод сторичный. Сказав сие, возгласил: кто имеет уши слышать, да слышит! 9 Ученики же Его спросили у Него: что бы значила притча сия?
10 Он сказал: вам дано знать тайны Царствия Божия, а прочим в притчах, так что они видя не видят и слыша не разумеют. 11 Вот что значит притча сия: семя есть слово Божие; 12 а упавшее при пути, это суть слушающие, к которым потом приходит диавол и уносит слово из сердца их, чтобы они не уверовали и не спаслись; 13 а упавшее на камень, это те, которые, когда услышат слово, с радостью принимают, но которые не имеют корня, и временем веруют, а во время искушения отпадают; 14 а упавшее в терние, это те, которые слушают слово, но, отходя, заботами, богатством и наслаждениями житейскими подавляются и не приносят плода; 15 а упавшее на добрую землю, это те, которые, услышав слово, хранят его в добром и чистом сердце и приносят плод в терпении. Сказав это, Он возгласил: кто имеет уши слышать, да слышит! 16 Никто, зажегши свечу, не покрывает ее сосудом, или не ставит под кровать, а ставит на подсвечник, чтобы входящие видели свет. 17 Ибо нет ничего тайного, что не сделалось бы явным, ни сокровенного, что не сделалось бы известным и не обнаружилось бы. 18 Итак, наблюдайте, как вы слушаете: ибо, кто имеет, тому дано будет, а кто не имеет, у того отнимется и то, что он думает иметь. 19 И пришли к Нему Матерь и братья Его, и не могли подойти к Нему по причине народа.20 И дали знать Ему: Матерь и братья Твои стоят вне, желая видеть Тебя. 21 Он сказал им в ответ: матерь Моя и братья Мои суть слушающие слово Божие и исполняющие его. 22 В один день Он вошел с учениками Своими в лодку и сказал им: переправимся на ту сторону озера. И отправились. 23 Во время плавания их Он заснул. На озере поднялся бурный ветер, и заливало их [волнами], и они были в опасности. 24 И, подойдя, разбудили Его и сказали: Наставник! Наставник! погибаем. Но Он, встав, запретил ветру и волнению воды; и перестали, и сделалась тишина. 25 Тогда Он сказал им: где вера ваша? Они же в страхе и удивлении говорили друг другу: кто же это, что и ветрам повелевает и воде, и повинуются Ему? 26 И приплыли в страну Гадаринскую, лежащую против Галилеи. 27 Когда же вышел Он на берег, встретил Его один человек из города, одержимый бесами с давнего времени, и в одежду не одевавшийся, и живший не в доме, а в гробах. 28Он, увидев Иисуса, вскричал, пал пред Ним и громким голосом сказал: что Тебе до меня, Иисус, Сын Бога Всевышнего? умоляю Тебя, не мучь меня. 29 Ибо [Иисус] повелел нечистому духу выйти из сего человека, потому что он долгое время мучил его, так что его связывали цепями и узами, сберегая его; но он разрывал узы и был гоним бесом в пустыни.30 Иисус спросил его: как тебе имя? Он сказал: легион, --потому что много бесов вошло в него. 31 И они просили Иисуса, чтобы не повелел им идти в бездну. 32 Тут же на горе паслось большое стадо свиней; и [бесы] просили Его, чтобы позволил им войти в них. Он позволил им. 33 Бесы, выйдя из человека, вошли в свиней, и бросилось стадо с крутизны в озеро и потонуло. 34 Пастухи, видя происшедшее, побежали и рассказали в городе и в селениях.35 И вышли видеть происшедшее; и, придя к Иисусу, нашли человека, из которого вышли бесы, сидящего у ног Иисуса, одетого и в здравом уме; и ужаснулись.36 Видевшие же рассказали им, как исцелился бесновавшийся.
37 И просил Его весь народ Гадаринской окрестности удалиться от них, потому что они объяты были великим страхом. Он вошел в лодку и возвратился.38 Человек же, из которого вышли бесы, просил Его, чтобы быть с Ним. Но Иисус отпустил его, сказав: 39 возвратись в дом твой и расскажи, что сотворил тебе Бог. Он пошел и проповедывал по всему городу, что сотворил ему Иисус. 40 Когда же возвратился Иисус, народ принял Его, потому что все ожидали Его.
41 И вот, пришел человек, именем Иаир, который был начальником синагоги; и, пав к ногам Иисуса, просил Его войти к нему в дом, 42 потому что у него была одна дочь, лет двенадцати, и та была при смерти. Когда же Он шел, народ теснил Его. 43 И женщина, страдавшая кровотечением двенадцать лет, которая, издержав на врачей всё имение, ни одним не могла быть вылечена,
44 подойдя сзади, коснулась края одежды Его; и тотчас течение крови у ней остановилось.
45 И сказал Иисус: кто прикоснулся ко Мне? Когда же все отрицались, Петр сказал и бывшие с Ним: Наставник! народ окружает Тебя и теснит, --и Ты говоришь: кто прикоснулся ко Мне?
46 Но Иисус сказал: прикоснулся ко Мне некто, ибо Я чувствовал силу, исшедшую из Меня.
47 Женщина, видя, что она не утаилась, с трепетом подошла и, пав пред Ним, объявила Ему перед всем народом, по какой причине прикоснулась к Нему и как тотчас исцелилась. 48Он сказал ей: дерзай, дщерь! вера твоя спасла тебя; иди с миром. 49 Когда Он еще говорил это, приходит некто из дома начальника синагоги и говорит ему: дочь твоя умерла; не утруждай Учителя. 50 Но Иисус, услышав это, сказал ему: не бойся, только веруй, и спасена будет. 51 Придя же в дом, не позволил войти никому, кроме Петра, Иоанна и Иакова, и отца девицы, и матери. 52 Все плакали и рыдали о ней. Но Он сказал: не плачьте; она не умерла, но спит. 53 И смеялись над Ним, зная, что она умерла. 54 Он же, выслав всех вон и взяв ее за руку, возгласил: девица! встань. 55 И возвратился дух ее; она тотчас встала, и Он велел дать ей есть. 56 И удивились родители ее. Он же повелел им не сказывать никому о происшедшем.
Russian Synodal Version (RSV)
Public Domain