Luke part 14

Intro

finishing chapter 8

three stories that should have made a chapter of their own

three stories that show the completeness of Jesus’ authority

Calming the Storm

going over to do good even outside of Israel

while he is taking a nap

its very possible to die on this giant lake

Jesus is not worried and is upset that his disciples are worried

even the winds and the water obey him

Releasing the Demons

outside of the Decapolis

an outcast with a thousand demons

Jesus doesn’t go into the city, he doesn’t make it too far away from the boat before he is asked to leave

he even commands the most powerful of the demons

the man asks him to come with him, but he gives him a mission

Healing the Hopeless

there is a dense crowd waiting for Jesus’ return

the ruler of the synagogue falls at his feet before Jesus

he comes to the man who has given hope in hopeless situations

as they go he feels power go out from him

stops to allow the woman to have her moment, that all might see that the true healing quality is faith in the one who gives life

the moment is interrupted by news of the daughter’s death

Jesus goes anyway, without a second thought, knowing the power of God in him that the others don’t understand

he is not just a healer or a doctor or a prophet

maybe they are upset that he took so long, maybe they are just upset with the situation, maybe they just don’t believe, but they laugh at Jesus

I like to think he smiles when he shows that even life and death bend to him in the face of doubt

Application

this is the God you serve who was fully embodied in the Christ

the one over the natural, the spiritual, and the mortal

3 groups with no option but to cling to him for life

they all recognized the gravity of their situation and came to see the role God wishes to play in it

have you recognized what the same things mean for you?