God’s Word of Life
Introduction
Luke 8:22-39: As Jesus and his disciples cross Lake Galilee, a storm erupts, and Jesus quiets the wind and waves. When they arrive on the other side of the lake, they encounter a man possessed by demons.
Scripture Reading
Jesus Calms a Storm
(Matthew 8.23-27; Mark 4.35-41)
22One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they started out. 23As they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly a strong wind blew down on the lake, and the boat began to fill with water, so that they were all in great danger. 24The disciples went to Jesus and woke him up, saying, “Master, Master! We are about to die!”
Jesus got up and gave an order to the wind and to the stormy water; they quieted down, and there was a great calm. 25Then he said to the disciples, “Where is your faith?”
But they were amazed and afraid, and said to one another, “Who is this man? He gives orders to the winds and waves, and they obey him!”
Jesus Heals a Man with Demons
(Matthew 8.28-34; Mark 5.1-20)
26Jesus and his disciples sailed on over to the territory of Gerasa, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27As Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a man from the town who had demons in him. For a long time this man had gone without clothes and would not stay at home, but spent his time in the burial caves. 28When he saw Jesus, he gave a loud cry, threw himself down at his feet, and shouted, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God! What do you want with me? I beg you, don’t punish me!” 29He said this because Jesus had ordered the evil spirit to go out of him. Many times it had seized him, and even though he was kept a prisoner, his hands and feet tied with chains, he would break the chains and be driven by the demon out into the desert.
30Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is ‘Mob,’” he answered—because many demons had gone into him. 31The demons begged Jesus not to send them into the abyss.
32There was a large herd of pigs near by, feeding on a hillside. So the demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he let them. 33They went out of the man and into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the side of the cliff into the lake and was drowned.
34The men who had been taking care of the pigs saw what happened, so they ran off and spread the news in the town and among the farms. 35People went out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were all afraid. 36Those who had seen it told the people how the man had been cured. 37Then all the people from that territory asked Jesus to go away, because they were terribly afraid. So Jesus got into the boat and left. 38The man from whom the demons had gone out begged Jesus, “Let me go with you.”
But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39“Go back home and tell what God has done for you.”
The man went through the town, telling what Jesus had done for him.
Today’s Key Verse: Luke 8:39a
[Jesus said:] “Go back home and tell what God has done for you.”
Reflect
In the midst of the storm, why did Jesus question the disciples’ faith? Why were the people in Gerasa afraid of Jesus after he had healed the man? What did the man do after he was healed? If you were told to tell what God has done for you, what would you say? What do these two stories teach you about Jesus?
Pray
Lord Jesus, I seek to follow you and proclaim the good news of your love and salvation. I thank and praise you for your calming presence in my life. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Luke 8:40-56: An official from a local synagogue begs Jesus to heal his daughter.