Luke 8:19-34 Bible Teaching

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Okay, let’s read where we left off last week – picking it up at verse 19 of chapter 8.

Luke 8.19-34
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September 15th 2019
19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
22 ¶ Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

And back to verse 19

Luke 8:19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

There has been a difference of opinion about the persons who were meant here; some supposing that they were children of Mary his mother, others that they were the children of Mary the wife of Cleophas or Alpheus his cousins, and called brethren according to the customs of the Jews.

In Mark, when Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath in the synagogue in his own hometown the men were cynically astonished at his teaching and said of him

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

From this it seems pretty obvious that Jesus had siblings – children of Mary and Joseph. But there is an entire religious bent – Roman Catholicism – who resist this tradition claiming that Mary his mother remained a virgin all her life. What can we do?

In any case – verse 19 says that Mary, Jesus mother and either his brothers or His cousins tried to get to him but couldn’t because of the crowds.

20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Jesus was a teacher. This wasn’t an expression of disrespect to His mother or family. He merely used this opportunity to point out the eternal view of the family of God – that those who followed the commands of His Father were truly His family in that light – which was the focus on His earthly ministry.

This brings us to a truism often overlooked in Evangelical Christianity but one that is over-emphasized in the LDS faith – the fact that some will become the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior and King.

Let me explain the differences.

Mormonism teaches a non-biblical pre-mortal state of all people before coming to physical life on earth. As spirits in this premortal existence, created by a Heavenly Father, Jesus was one of us, actually the first of God’s spirit-children, making Him our Elder Spirit Brother.

And this is why the LDS refer to Him as their brother or Elder Brother.

According to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Himself, all human beings are from below (the dust) and therefore need to be born from above (born again) in order to

Become the children of God, and
Even “see” the Kingdom of Heaven.

At the moment of spiritual rebirth, we are given the power to become the Sons and Daughters of God in this life.

And guess who Jesus was? The Only Begotten of the Father – His only Son by birth.

Since Jesus is His Only human Son, and we, through faith in Jesus can become Sons and Daughters, Christian do see the idea of Jesus being our brother as viable – just not from the beginning, and not literally as spirits in the beginning like the LDS doctrine teaches.

Nevertheless, the idea that human beings can become Joint Heirs with Jesus is biblical, and Jesus himself, here in Luke 8 makes the potentiality of this relationship with Him clear, saying:

Those who do the will of my father is my mother and my brother. I like the fullness of what He says in Matthew’s account at chapter 12:50 when he says:

“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Remember, this is something Jesus said. His purpose is to bring us, lead us, take us, reconcile us to God His Father in heaven.

We worship Him as Lord, Savior and King – for these things He truly is. Over the all things – including the Human race. As all things have been given Him by His father – and our father – if we receive it.

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, speaking of Jesus:

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Remember what he said to Mary Magdalene when she tried to touch Him?

John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Recall Romans 8:29

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

What we forget, or miss sometimes, is that by and through His shed blood all who are sanctified are made the Sons and Daughters of God. That is what His shed blood does in those who allow the power of God to reign over them – it makes us actual literal Sons and Daughters of God.

We are not making ourselves Sons and Daughter of God – we become His Sons and Daughters by His shed blood applied if we are those who allow the Power of God to do its work upon us.

That is why Hebrews 10:14 says (Listen to this really closely folks)

Hebrew 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Isn’t that wild? It takes the shed blood offered and cleanses all who have allowed the Power of God to work in their lives and forever perfects them, making them the actual Sons and Daughters – just like His Only Begotten Son naturally was His Son.

Powerful stuff.

22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

This was on the sea of Tiberias. The ship in which they sailed was probably a small open boat, with sails, such as were commonly used for fishing on the lake.

And when it says with His disciples it probably means not only the apostles but other followers too.

Mark explains that there were other boats present as well which makes what is about to happen even more amazing.

23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

Historians confirm that this lake was subject to sudden and violent storms which in all probability was the result of a super strong wind rolling in over the surrounding hills and stirring the water up to a great swell of churning danger.

Mark says that the billows dashed against the boat and Matthew adds that the waves covered it – so much so that the boat was in danger of sinking.

Very few things like being in the midst of a body of violent water – at night – and thinking your are gonna sink. Very frightening.

And yet, according to Mark, Jesus, locating himself on the hinder part of the vessel, was asleep on a pillow.

I love this for a couple of reasons. First, He knew that He was not going to be exposed to sinking there in the stormy midst – He has a mission to accomplish and was in the hands of his father, God almighty. So in His mind there was NOTHING to fear.

This state of mind allowed him to sleep amidst the storm.

The second thing I love about this is had the apostles also KNOWN in their hearts that this was the Messiah and that He had a mission to accomplish, they too could have slept!

Instead, however . . . (verse 24)

24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish.

This brings me to the third thing I love about this scene – they went to a man sleeping on a pillow amidst a ferocious storm, and waking him, said:

“Master, we are about to perish.”

Certainly there were some fishermen on that boat with him – Peter, James, John – in all probability. And we know that these men made their living prior to being called as Apostles as fishermen on this very lake.

So why go to Jesus, a non-fisherman?

Because the storm reminded them that when everything comes down they did in fact look to Him in faith and trust.

It was like Peter standing out ON the water, again a fisherman, and when he started to sink cried out to the only one who could have helped him in that scenario – the one standing ON the water.

We have a tendency to really despise chaos in our lives that produces situations which appear to have no real solutions. They really challenge us, scare us and cause us to abandon even the will to live.

This was one of them as these people crossed the stormy seas. What on earth can a person or people do when a massive storm takes charge? Only so much. And that is only up until the time that they people are relegated to prayer alone.

Often these horrifying events cause us to look to God – bottom line – as He is often the only solution to the problem. And that being said, He may be a solution in a manner that we don’t expect.

Sometimes, God will let the boat sink, and sometimes he will let people drown – amidst our prayers. But even in those situations He remains the solution – to providing comfort in the storm, hope amidst hopelessness, guidance in our darkest moments.

In this case, as we will read, Jesus came to the rescue. But in the end the principle of reaching out to Him and waking Him and asking Him is something we begin to do in the storm, and the thing we need to do once it passes and the only thing left in its wake is devastation.

(beat)

So the rest of verse 26 reads, after they woke him:

Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Matthew has him saying prior to doing this, apparently as he gets up:

Oh, ye of little faith.

Luke adds this line next, but it is interesting that IN FAITH they went to the Lord to do something about it, but in Matthews account he still states that they were of little faith, suggesting that in Jesus mind THEY could have either not worried about the storm OR that they could have done something about it themselves through prayer or calling upon the name of God!

In any case, Jesus stood and “rebuked the winds and the waves and there was a calm.

When we think about it, once His ministry began, this was a common theme surrounding almost everything that he did.

By the power of God He altered the elements of water changing it to wine.

He triumphed over devils inhabiting the minds and souls of others.

He had victory over death in the passing of several people.

He multiplied fishes and loaves, healed the invading hoards of disease, knocked the temple soldiers over, beat blindness, deafness, leprosy and ailments suffered by people from birth, in children, in women.

He befuddled accusers, challenged religious authorities and perspectives, and essentially was systematically restoring the original state of the earth back to its rightful place.

The calming of wind and waves was just another expression of this.

25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, “What manner of man is this!” for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

This question, What manner of Man is this,” is one of the most important questions a seeker of truth can ask themselves in my estimation.

WHAT MANNER of MAN is Jesus?

The first point to realize is Jesus was a man to them. Jesus was a man. Flesh and blood. Was tempted and did die.
He was born of a woman like all human beings.

But, secondly, WHAT MANNER of Man was He?

One unlike any other in many ways. For He was a man who had the living God as His actual father.

He was a man that could forgive sin. A man who overcame elements of physical mortality water, death, disease, possession, evil, illness, waves, winds, demons, Satan, donkeys, you name it.

A man who was tempted in all things and yet did not sin.

A man who loved unconditionally and perfectly and without fail.

A man who obeyed God His Father without exception.

A man who did miracles, a man who paid for the sins of the world, a man that even the grave could not hold Him.

A man who ascended to the right hand of His father and in whom God Himself placed all things in His hands. AS far and wide and high as you can go – Jesus is over it all.

This was no ordinary man. He was God with us in the flesh of a Man.

How do you answer that question – as it is answered in so many different and diverse ways.

26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

Matthew says that the country was Gergesenes. Luke says Gadarenes as does Mark. Simply put, this was akin to someone saying he came into Salt Lake and another saying he came into Mount Olympus. (verse 27)

27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

Matthew adds that he was “exceedingly fierce” and that all men were fearful in trying to pass by his presence.

There is an issue with this story if we compare the same one to Matthews accounts because he says

“and there met him two possessed with devils.”

And Luke continues with the story in the singular.

This difference of statements has given rise to considerable difficulty among some people.

We note that neither Mark nor Luke say that there was no more than one. And while that might sound like hairsplitting its true.

Perhaps they each chose to focus on just one of the two. Perhaps.

All we can say is that if Mark or Luke said there was ONLY one we would have a contradiction. But they don’t.

It was common for the Jews to locate their graves in the walls of caves that were typically outside of the city limits.

These graves – because they were outside of where people lived – were often inhabited by the alienated of society – similar to today.

For some reason the demented and demon possessed then – and now, enjoy locales that are not conducive to comfortable or luxurious lifestyles. They like deserts, gravesites, abandoned areas void of life which of course include graveyards.

Isaiah describes these places in his book as being filled with wild beasts and birds that hovel in the hollowed abandoned chambers and interestingly, when Jesus tells the parable of an unclean spirit exiting a man he says:

Matthew 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Anyway, back to Luke 8:28 where we read:

28 When he (the demoniac) saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

A number of scholars believe that this should be translated:

“What hast thou to do with us?” Meaning, why do you trouble or disturb us?”

And notice what the devils call Jesus. Not, “God the Son,” but, “Jesus, thou Son of God most high.” Which is exactly who and what He was.

This title immediately separates Jesus from the Prophets before Him and places Him in a position of superiority over all men, for none are Sons of God by birth but He.

Hebrews 1:1 makes the superiority of His identity clear when we read:

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom He (God) has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He (God) made the worlds; (spake them into existence)
3 Who (Jesus) being the brightness of his (God’s) glory, and the express image of his (God’s) person, and upholding all things by the word of his (God’s) power, when he (Jesus) had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (God)
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Bottom line – I trust the devils names for God in the Apostolic record over the creedal definitions imposed upon us some 1500 years ago.

And so the demon says to the Lord , falling down before Him (verse 28):

What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

Don’t inflict punishment upon me . . . yet . . . proving that the demon knew Jesus, God with us, had it within his power to do just that. Luke adds:

29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Matthew doesn’t use Legions name but Mark does. And a legion, in the Greek, is LEG-EH-ON which is taken directly from the Latin and referred to a regiment of the Roman army with the number of men composing which differed at different times.

Originally it consisted of three thousand men, but in the time of Christ consisted of six thousand, exclusive of horsemen, who were (in number) a tenth of the foot-men.

It may not be literal here when used by the demon but representative of a large number. Its interesting but we know from Jesus own mouth, Mary Magdalene and now Legion that a lot of demons were able (or are able) to inhabit a single person.

And these particular demons were not to pleased with the idea that they would now be tormented, or cast out “into the deep. (lets read the next passage – verse 31)

31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

Because they were surrounded by water on one side it seems that the deep refers to the depths of the ocean.

Last week in Milk we read where Paul called Satan the Prince of the Power of the Air and we contrasted that area of command with Joseph Smith’s claim that Satan had power over the water.

Well, the fact that these demons did NOT want to get cast INTO the deep tells me that, like cats, demons ain’t to fond of water (if that is what the deep means here) – therefore it’s unlikely that they reign over it. Verse 32

32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Now, Gadara was not necessarily a territory of Judea and there is a potential that the owners of the swine were Gentiles, or a mixture of Gentiles and Jews.

I was always under the impression that Jesus sent the evil spirits into the Swine because it WAS a Jewish territory and of course they should not have been raising swine as Jews.

This was a mistake on my part. In all likelihood these swine were gentile owned or at least owned by both parties, and that sort of ruins my former hypothesis.

Of course swine were unclean animals to Jews and it was unlawful for them to eat them according to Leviticus 11:7.

Their own laws which the Jews developed over time forbade them to even keep them, therefore if any Jews were involved in this herd they were in violation of the law.

When the swine went wild and ran to the sea their keepers took of – perhaps they were terrified by the sight, perhaps they were fearful that God was punishing them for keeping swine, perhaps they sought to avoid further destruction of the property they oversaw.

We aren’t told.

This is one of three instances where Jesus takes over the property of others – in some detrimental way or another. Can you name the other two?

He overturned the tables in the temple and He cursed the fig tree.

I think that the fact that he actually does do some damage is important in the scope of knowing Him and His father.

He was coming back with judgment AND reward. And these instances when He walked the earth among His own clearly illustrate that He was not entirely without the capacity to knock things over and destroy them.

Of course critics of this mistreatment of animals will charge Jesus with the wrongful and unauthorized violation of destroying another persons property.

Was He? Unauthorized?

Not if He was God with us.

But more to the point, Jesus did not send the spirits into the Swine. He gave them permission to leave the man and enter them. So in reality, the Demons were responsible for the carnage, not the Lord.

This often takes critics to remark that Jesus should have stopped them from entering these animals.

And in this is an endless argument that boils down to a Good God, in the face of Free will, and operating in and around it all justly.

Which is for another day. Last verse

34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

We will read how the city responds to this event – next week.

Questions/Comments
Prayer Nancy/Jax/Brian/Militia