Luke 8, Part Two

Jesus stills the storm (vs. 22-25)--Luke lumps a series of miracles together here to show Jesus’ absolute power over all elements of existence. Much of this I’ve discussed in earlier gospels, so I won’t go into as much detail here. In this event, Jesus demonstrates His authority over nature by stilling a violent storm. He and His disciples were journeying to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee when a strong tempest broke out and the boat began to be filled with water. Jesus was asleep, but upon being awakened by His frightened disciples, He “rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm” (v. 24). He then rebuked His followers for a lack of faith (v. 25). They “were afraid, and marveled” (v. 25). Man had never been in the presence of such awesome power before. We are at the total mercy of nature and her elements. Nature and her elements are at the total mercy of the God Who created them.

The healing of “Legion” (vs. 26-39)--This second miracle reveals Christ’s authority over the spirit world. The boat arrived in the country of the Gadarenes (Garasenes, KJV), and they were met by a man who had been grievously tormented by demons “for a long time” (v. 27). Matthew tells us that there were actually two men, but obviously one of them was dominant. Jesus held an interesting conversation with the demons, including asking their name. “’Legion,’” because many demons had entered him“ (v. 30). I would figure that most demons probably do not have names, so Jesus was asking the man his identity, but the power of the demonic host within him answered instead. These evil spirits recognized Who Jesus was--they came from the same realm--and, realizing His deity, showed great deference and humility (v. 31). Because of that Jesus granted them their request not to be cast into the abyss (it would certainly be interesting to learn more about that place, but if demons didn’t want to go there, then we probably do not, either), but rather to be sent into a herd of nearby swine (vs. 32-33). The swine were destroyed by running down a hill into the lake (v. 33). The keepers of the animals reported to a nearby city what had happened (v. 34). The people came out, and they, too, “were afraid” (v. 35) when they saw for themselves what had happened. Once again, such power demonstrated over something man had no control over was an awesome and frightening thing. Who is this and what might He do next? The people were so afraid that they asked Jesus to leave (v. 37), but the man from whom Jesus had cast the demons wanted to go with Him (v. 38). However, Jesus told him, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you" (v. 39). And the man went “and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him” (v. 39). He got it right--Jesus is God.

The daughter of Jairus and the bleeding woman (vs. 40-58)--Luke now presents two miracles where Jesus shows His power over the flesh and over death. There is nothing He is not Lord of. Jesus returned to the other side of the lake (v. 40) and was met by a “ruler of the synagogue” (v. 41), named Jairus, who confronted Him with the news of his grievously ill daughter. Jesus went to his aid (vs. 41-42). But on the way, a woman who had had a bleeding disease for 12 years touched “the border of His garment” (v. 44) and was immediately healed. Jesus dealt with the matter and commended the woman’s faith (v. 49). After that, the news arrived that Jairus’ daughter had died, thus “do not trouble the Teacher” (v. 49). Forget it, Jairus, Jesus can’t raise the dead. But, of course, He can, and did. So we see in these four miracles Christ’s power (authority) over nature, the spirit world, the flesh, and death. What else is there? He came to prove that He is God, and thus His atoning sacrifice would be effective for the cleansing of our sins. He accomplished His mission.