2. Luke 8

3. 1. Exposure (Luke 4:16-8:18) 2. Identification (Luke 8:19-9:27) ▪ Focus on getting people to identify Jesus correctly. 3. Understanding (Luke 9:28-19:28)

4.  Jesus’ Parables Are About Real Things That People Could Relate to and Understand.  They Contain Something Unusual or Shocking.

5.  Strange feature: Sower sows seed everywhere, but seed is precious.  Why is it 1 st ?  It is a parable about listening to Jesus’ parables.  Note climatic v 15  honest and good heart (6:20) – the essence of the kingdom.  Mention of perseverance (one of Luke’s emphasis).

6.  Strange Feature = Covering a Lamp  Strange Feature = You Can’t Hide Anything  What is the point?  Be Careful How You Listen.  Jesus is looking for those who will embrace His teaching and live it. Don’t just listen and then ignore it.

7.  Jesus’ Family Came to “See” or “Call” Him, But Why?

8.  Mark 3:21, 31 “And when His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, ‘He has lost His senses’” … And His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him, and called Him.”

9.  Jesus’ Family Came to “See” or “Call” Him, But Why?  Bottom Line = They Didn’t Know Who He Truly Was.  Jesus Identifies His True Family.  So Blood Was Not Thicker Than Water For Jesus. Or Was It?

10. “Somewhere along the line, the meaning probably got reversed. Noteworthy authorities have suggested that in ancient Middle Eastern times, in the world of the Bible, the saying likely originated with the idea, ‘The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.’”  Mike Wilson, Inside Out (12).

11.  Jesus Is Sleeping vs. Apostles Are Fearful  Jesus’ Perfect Confidence vs. Their Lack of Faith.  Jesus’ Words Have Power.  There Is a Connection With the OT.

12.  “Sea” is Used as a Symbol of Danger and Chaos in the OT.  Psalm 107:23-32  “Ps 107:25-26 “For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, Which lifted up the waves of the sea. They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; Their soul melted away in their misery.”

13.  What’s The Point?  Jesus Does Something the Bible Says God Does.  The Apostles Need to Have Faith in Jesus.  This Comes By Knowing Who He Is.

14.  This Is One of the Most Detailed Cases of Demon Possession and Healing.  Why?  It Was Believed Others Could Cast Out Demons.  Matt 12:27 “And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judge”  The 7 Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:14).

15.  So Luke tells this story to show that Jesus can do what others can’t.  This Is The Worst Case of All Worst Cases.  Jesus’ Words Have Power…Again.

16.  A Story Inside a Story – There Are a Few of These in the NT.  The Healing of Jairus’ Daughter  The Healing of the Hemorrhaging Woman

17.  Both have 12 years  Both stories involve touching  Both stories about faith in Jesus  Both are given their lives back…in a sense.  One Shows the Greatness and Power of Faith.  The Other Shows the Power of Jesus’ Word.