True Disciples

True Disciples Series: The Gospel Truth Text: Luke 8:1-21

Introduction: (What?)

In addition to the 12 (Apostles) there were many other people who followed Jesus during His earthly ministry, and some of them were women. From this we learn that a person does not need a title or an elected position in order to do Kingdom work.  I read this week “Not all Christians are disciples, but all disciples are Christians”. By definition a disciple is “One who believes the doctrine of Jesus, rests in His sacrifice, imbibes His Spirit and imitates His example.” Jesus considered His disciples to be as much family as was his flesh and blood relatives.

Examination: (Why?)

1. Women who followed Jesus

Lk 8:1-3 “Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her); Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.”

Rabbis normally did not have women as disciples. Jesus was an exception. In this passage only two women are named, but the phrase “and many others” indicates there were others.

Mary was called Magdalene because she was from the town of Magdala. While some commentators believe that she was the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet at the dinner party hosted by a Pharisee, others do not. It seems that if Luke i.d.’d her by name here, he would also have done so in the previous passage. We know that she had been freed from demonic oppression, but we have no proof that she had been a prostitute.

Joanna, was married to a man, Chuza, who had a very responsible position (steward) under Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. She also had been healed either of sickness or demonic oppression. Given the position of women in that day, if she was a follower of Jesus it would have been with the permission of her husband. His name means “seer, or prophet” while Joanna means “grace or gift of the LORD”. In Bible Wiki, Chuza is said to have been a Roman Galilean, who was a Christian. This couple could have been the reason that, when Jesus was brought before Herod in Luke 23:8 “Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him.”

Susanna is only mentioned in this passage. We know nothing else about here other than she also had been healed by Jesus. These three, along with the “many others”, financially supported Jesus and the twelve in their ministry. They did this out of their own “possessions”.

2. The Parables of the Sower and the Lamp

Lk 8:4-18 “As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.” Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. As for the seed that fell amon thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. But the seed in the good ground---these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.”

The sower would “broadcast” his seed, and really had no idea of where some of it landed or was blown. Usually the field itself would have been freed from rocks and plowed to make the soil open to receive the seed. However, especially near the edges of the field, some of the seed would fall on unplowed areas which would be hard packed and the seed would not penetrate it. Some believe that this is a reference to the stubborn Jewish Leaders who were constantly harassing Jesus during His ministry.

The “rocky soil” would describe very shallow soil with a layer of rock just below the surface. John McArthur suggests that this could refer to the “fickle” mob that followed Jesus primarily out of curiosity to see a miracle. On the surface they looked OK, but beneath the surface they were hard as rock. They exhibit excitement when they see first hand the miracles of Jesus or experience His presence, but, because they have no “root” or source of spiritual sustenance, quickly fade in their fervency.

The “thorns” (weeds, tares) describe the wild plants that grew naturally near the edges of the garden. Any seed that landed there would be overwhelmed by the more hardy thorns and thistles. Again McArthur suggests that this refers to those who are so bound to their material possessions that the seed of the gospel is quickly pushed aside and choked.

The lesson for those who seek to “sow” the gospel is two-fold. Preparation of the soil (life) through relationships will make it more accepting to the gospel. This happens in families and among friends and acquaintances. However, don’t spend so long in developing the relationship that you never get around to sowing the seed. The second lesson is that “broad-casting” or sharing the gospel with strangers or those whom you hardly know is not a bad thing. After all, when Jesus preached to the multitudes, He was broad-casting the gospel. We are called to be witnesses to what Jesus has done for us. As we witness, even among those we don’t know, some will be open and accepting. If they will “hear” (understand and believe) the word and “hold” (obey) it and will produce fruit.

Luke 8:16-18 ““No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light. Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.””

In this second parable, Jesus communicated that the “light” (gospel) is for everyone. It is not just reserved for a favored few. Someone has said that everyone should hear the gospel at least once before anyone hears it twice. The church has the responsibility of seeing that those in the area where they are placed by God have access to the “light”. That is why we are doing “TLP”. Every person in Lake Placid who has not surrendered to Jesus in in the darkness. We are the “lighthouse” that God has placed here with a mandate to function as light for those who are sailing blindly on the sea of life. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said to His followers, Matt. 5:14-16 ““You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” If Christ dwells in us, we have the source of light. Our job is to see that the light is made visible to those around us. The job of a lighthouse keeper is to continuously clean the lens and to make sure the bulb is shining brightly. We keep the light within us shining by spending daily time with Christ through His Word and prayer. We keep the lens clean by confessing every sin the Holy Spirit shows us, and deliberately bringing God into our conversations.

3. The True Family of Jesus

Lk 8:19-21 “Then his mother and brothers came to him, but they could not meet with him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.””

Jesus was not putting down his physical family when He said this. Instead He was elevating those who heard and did the Father’s Word to the level of family. As He spoke, He gestured toward those sitting around Him. That is why we sometimes refer to fellow believers as “brother” or “sister”. I have discovered that wherever I travel either domestically or abroad, I find brothers and sisters in Christ. We have the same Heavenly Father and Jesus is our spiritual brother. Paul mentioned this in Ro. 8:29 “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” All believers are in the same family.

Application: (How do I show I am a disciple?)

Have you become a brother/sister of Jesus? You do that by surrendering to Him.

Are you “broad-casting” the gospel in the neighborhood where you live?

Does your “lens” need cleaning or you bulb need brightening? You do that through regularly confessing any sin God shows you and by spending quality time with God/Jesus through His Word and prayer.