Luke 8
8
The Story of the Farmer
1After this, Jesus traveled around from one town and village to another, announcing the good news of God’s kingdom. His 12 disciples were with him, 2and so were some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses. One was Mary Magdalene; seven demons had come out of her. 3Another was Joanna, the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household. A woman named Susanna and many others were also there. These women were using their own money to support Jesus and the 12 disciples.
4A large crowd was gathering as people came to Jesus from town after town, and he told a story. He said, 5“A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered the seed on the ground, some fell on a path. People walked on it and the birds ate it up. 6Some seed fell on rocky ground; when it grew, the plants dried up because they had no water. 7Other seed fell among thorns, and they grew up with it and crowded out the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It grew up and produced 100 times more seeds than were planted.”
After Jesus had said this, he called out, “Whoever understands should take this to heart.”
9His disciples asked him what the story meant. He told them, 10“You are being given the chance to understand the secrets of God’s kingdom. But to outsiders, I speak in stories. That way,
“ ‘They’ll see, but they won’t know what they’re seeing;
they’ll hear, but they won’t understand what they’re hearing.’
11“Here’s what the story means: 12The seed on the path is God’s message in the hearts of those who hear, but the devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts. They won’t believe and be saved. 13The seed on rocky ground stands for those who hear the message and receive it with joy, but who have no roots. They believe for a while, but when they are tested, they fall away from the faith. 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the message, but then, as they go on their way, are choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, so they don’t reach full growth. 15But the seed that fell on good soil stands for those who have good and honest hearts. Those people hear the message, keep it in their hearts, remain faithful, and produce a good crop.
A Lamp on a Stand
16“No one lights a lamp but then hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand so that anyone who comes in can see its light. 17What is hidden will be seen, and what is out of sight will be brought into the open and made known. 18Therefore, listen carefully. If someone has something, they will be given more. But if someone has nothing, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get near him because of the crowd. 20Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.”
21He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and do what it says.”
Jesus Calms the Storm
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and headed out. 23As they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. Then a storm came down on the lake. It was so severe that the boat was about to sink, so they were all in great danger.
24The disciples went and woke Jesus up, saying, “Master! Master! We’re going to drown!”
But he got up and ordered the wind and the huge waves to stop raging. The storm quieted down, and everything became completely calm. 25“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
They were amazed and filled with fear. They asked one another, “Who is this? He even commands the winds and the waves, and they obey him.”
Jesus Heals a Man Controlled by Demons
26Jesus and his disciples sailed to the land of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. 27When Jesus stepped on shore, a man from the town came out to meet him. This man was controlled by demons. For a long time he hadn’t worn clothes or lived in a house; instead, he lived among the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet. He shouted at the top of his voice, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do you want with me? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29The evil spirit was saying this because Jesus had commanded it to come out of the man. Many times it had taken hold of him, so that even though his hands and feet were chained and he was kept under guard, he was able to break his chains. Then the demon would force him to go out into lonely places in the countryside.
30Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31And they begged Jesus again and again not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. He allowed this. 33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank, ran into the lake, and was drowned.
34When those who were tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and countryside. 35The people came out to investigate. When they got to Jesus, they found the man from the town, now free of the demons, sitting at Jesus’ feet. He was dressed and thinking clearly. All this made the people afraid. 36Those who’d seen what happened told the others how the man who’d been controlled by the demons had been set free. 37Then all the people who lived in the land of the Gerasenes were so filled with fear that they asked Jesus to go away. So he got into the boat to leave.
38The man who was now free from the demons begged to go with him, but Jesus told him to stay. He said to him, 39“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went back and told people all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Jesus Heals a Dead Girl and a Suffering Woman
40When Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him back, because they had all been waiting for him. 41Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Jesus to come to his house 42because his only daughter, who was about 12 years old, was dying. Jesus went with him, passing through crowds so dense they almost crushed him.
43Among them was a woman who had a sickness that made her bleed. It had lasted for 12 years and no one had been able to heal her. 44She came up behind Jesus and touched the tassel on his clothes, and right away her bleeding stopped.
45“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everybody insisted they hadn’t done it. Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pushing against you.”
46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me. I know this because power has gone out from me.”
47The woman realized that she was going to be identified, and so, shaking with fear, she came and fell at Jesus’ feet. In front of everyone, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been healed in an instant. 48Then he said to her, “My daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” the messenger said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
50Jesus heard this but said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe, and she will be healed.”
51When Jesus arrived at the house, he didn’t let everyone go in with him. He took only Peter, John, and James, along with the child’s father and mother. 52During this time, all the people were crying and sobbing loudly over the girl. “Stop crying.” Jesus said. “She isn’t dead; she’s sleeping.”
53They laughed at him because they knew she was dead. 54But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55Her spirit returned and right away she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56Her parents were amazed, but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
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Luke 8
8
1-3He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village after village, preaching God’s kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. There were also some women in their company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s manager; and Susanna—along with many others who used their considerable means to provide for the company.
The Story of the Seeds
4-8As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along. He addressed them, using this story: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn’t have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?”
9His disciples asked, “Why did you tell this story?”
10He said, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren’t going to get it:
Their eyes are open but don’t see a thing,
Their ears are open but don’t hear a thing.
11-12“This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won’t believe and be saved.
13“The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn’t go very deep. It’s only another fad, and the moment there’s trouble it’s gone.
14“And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.
15“But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.
Misers of What You Hear
16-18“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you don’t become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.”
19-20His mother and brothers showed up but couldn’t get through to him because of the crowd. He was given the message, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside wanting to see you.”
21He replied, “My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God’s Word. Obedience is thicker than blood.”
22-24One day he and his disciples got in a boat. “Let’s cross the lake,” he said. And off they went. It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize. They woke Jesus: “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
Getting to his feet, he told the wind, “Silence!” and the waves, “Quiet down!” They did it. The lake became smooth as glass.
25Then he said to his disciples, “Why can’t you trust me?”
They were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, “Who is this, anyway? He calls out to the winds and sea, and they do what he tells them!”
The Madman and the Pigs
26-29They sailed on to the country of the Gerasenes, directly opposite Galilee. As he stepped out onto land, a madman from town met him; he was a victim of demons. He hadn’t worn clothes for a long time, nor lived at home; he lived in the cemetery. When he saw Jesus he screamed, fell before him, and howled, “What business do you have messing with me? You’re Jesus, Son of the High God, but don’t give me a hard time!” (The man said this because Jesus had started to order the unclean spirit out of him.) Time after time the demon threw the man into convulsions. He had been placed under constant guard and tied with chains and shackles, but crazed and driven wild by the demon, he would shatter the bonds.
30-31Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Mob. My name is Mob,” he said, because many demons afflicted him. And they begged Jesus desperately not to order them to the bottomless pit.
32-33A large herd of pigs was grazing and rooting on a nearby hill. The demons begged Jesus to order them into the pigs. He gave the order. It was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the lake and drowned.
34-36Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in town and country. People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had been sent, sitting there at Jesus’ feet, wearing decent clothes and making sense. It was a holy moment, and for a short time they were more reverent than curious. Then those who had seen it happen told how the demoniac had been saved.
37-39Later, a great many people from the Gerasene countryside got together and asked Jesus to leave—too much change, too fast, and they were scared. So Jesus got back in the boat and set off. The man whom he had delivered from the demons asked to go with him, but he sent him back, saying, “Go home and tell everything God did in you.” So he went back and preached all over town everything Jesus had done in him.
His Touch
40-42On his return, Jesus was welcomed by a crowd. They were all there expecting him. A man came up, Jairus by name. He was president of the meeting place. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his home because his twelve-year-old daughter, his only child, was dying. Jesus went with him, making his way through the pushing, jostling crowd.
43-45In the crowd that day there was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with hemorrhages. She had spent every penny she had on doctors but not one had been able to help her. She slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. At that very moment her hemorrhaging stopped. Jesus said, “Who touched me?”
When no one stepped forward, Peter said, “But Master, we’ve got crowds of people on our hands. Dozens have touched you.”
46Jesus insisted, “Someone touched me. I felt power discharging from me.”
47When the woman realized that she couldn’t remain hidden, she knelt trembling before him. In front of all the people, she blurted out her story—why she touched him and how at that same moment she was healed.
48Jesus said, “Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!”
49While he was still talking, someone from the leader’s house came up and told him, “Your daughter died. No need now to bother the Teacher.”
50-51Jesus overheard and said, “Don’t be upset. Just trust me and everything will be all right.” Going into the house, he wouldn’t let anyone enter with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s parents.
52-53Everyone was crying and carrying on over her. Jesus said, “Don’t cry. She didn’t die; she’s sleeping.” They laughed at him. They knew she was dead.
54-56Then Jesus, gripping her hand, called, “My dear child, get up.” She was up in an instant, up and breathing again! He told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were ecstatic, but Jesus warned them to keep quiet. “Don’t tell a soul what happened in this room.”
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.