In a court of law, when different witnesses tell their perspective of an event, you get different information.

The content in this chapter we have already seen in Matthew 8 and 9, and it’s also in Mark 4 and 5, but Luke includes new details.

Get out the freeze-dried food and camp stove. This is going to take a while.

THE WOMEN FOLLOWERS

It’s easy to imagine, (on our mental movie screen), that Jesus travelled around an idyllic countryside made of felted trees on a flannel background…

…or perhaps that He was surrounded with just 12 little cartoon men…

😐 Is it just me, or does the guy on the left in the purple look like a “Fat J.D. Vance” meme?

Don’t worry about that.

My point is – these images often overpower what the text actually says. There were a LOT more than the 12 who followed Jesus everywhere. In Luke 10 we will read that Jesus “appointed” 70 (or 72) additional disciples and “sent” them out in two’s. The words appoint and sent (appostello) are the same words used when the 12 were chosen.

In addition to them there were “many” women who travelled with Jesus from town to town.

Women weren’t technically allowed to follow a rabbi as a disciple, but Jesus welcomed them. They even financed His ministry and were among His most loyal followers.

😏 And probably fussed at the guys if they made rude sounds or forgot to wash up.

🤓 Hey, somebody’s gotta keep guys from behaving like savages.

Johanna was the wife of a man named Chuza, who was the palace administrator for none other than King Herod Antipas. She had money and connections. She may also have had a good deal of administrative know-how herself, having been married to a high-level manager. I’m sure Chuza ran his own household like a well-oiled machine. Johanna was one of the women who went to the tomb and found it empty.

Mary of Magdala is mentioned more in the Gospels than even many of the Apostles. She has come be known as Mary Magdalene but there really should be a “the” inserted – Mary the Magdalene; like Jesus the Naazarene. It’s not a last name. It’s the name of her town.

Luke and Mark tell us that Jesus cast seven demons out of her. That level of demonic entanglement makes me suspect she was involved in witchcraft and the occult. Perhaps even a medium. No wonder she loved Jesus and would not leave Him. He had set her free. She was at the cross when few others dared. She had already been to Hell and back. She wasn’t scared of Rome or anything else. She was also the first to see and speak to the risen Jesus at the tomb and the first to tell the disciples that Jesus was risen. I think Mary of Magdalene doesn’t get nearly enough credit or attention.

I feel like if there had been a female counterpart to Peter, James, and John – the inner circle of 3 – it would be Mary of Magdala, Johanna, and Mary of Bethany.

LONG SIDE NOTE ON MARY MAGDALENE AND THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS…

All of those theories about Mary Magdalene having a romantic relationship with Jesus – even marrying him and having children – that’s all Gnostic nonsense that was rejected by the early church and the people who knew the apostles and saints who knew Mary of Magdala personally. It’s not part of the Bible that was “lost.” The Gnostic “Gospels” were always known to be occult garbage from the beginning. They were rejected, not “lost.” Big difference. Don’t be fooled by those videos on YouTube trying to tell you and sell you about Bibles with “lost” or “hidden” books that “they” don’t want you to have.

Gnosticism comes from the Greek word gnosis [no-sis], meaning “to know.” It’s all about having secret knowledge that the masses don’t have. It’s also about the immaterial realm being far superior to the material realm. And it is alive and well in the 21st century. I even catch whiffs of it in Christian groups who think they have some secret thing figured out. And if you’ll buy their book or join their group, you too can unlock the secrets of the universe and float loftily above mere mortals with their limited understanding.

The Lord has revealed His Truth so plainly that even little children can receive it (Mt. 11:25, Lk. 10:21). It is “hidden from the wise” because it’s TOO simple and humble and requires humility to receive the fact that we are sinners in need of a Savior. He hasn’t hidden it in some kind of cryptic code only known by the Freemasons to be cracked by Dan Brown or Nicholas Cage in National Treasure. Any time we hear some Bible preacher or teacher speaking dramatically about the meaning of a text, heretofore unknown but now, during a supernatural encounter, revealed to THEM by a miraculous Holy Spirit download, our response should be somewhere on a scale from raised eyebrow to RUN.

This does not mean we can skip Bible study and have no need for digging into the scriptures. We still need to “study to show ourselves approved unto God,” and be workmen who need not be ashamed because we have learned to “rightly divide the word of truth,” (2 Tim. 2:15). But we don’t study in order to “unlock secrets.” That kind of approach invites an elitist mentality because WE are “enlightened” and everyone else is in the dark.

If you want to get a better understanding of Gnosticism and why Mary Magdalene was hijacked to be an important figure for them, here is a 24min video by Catholic scholar Dr. Taylor Marshall explaining the 10 key points. If you have a little more time, here is an hour-long interview on the subject that gets into how Gnosticism shows up in the world today. If you’re in a hurry, (I have NO idea who this dude is) but he sums up the basics of Gnosticism nicely in this short clip.

OK – LONG SIDE NOTE ENDED.

Other women followers of Jesus:

• Susanna – Nothing is known of her except her mention here in Luke. The text groups her with women who supported Jesus financially and who had been healed by Jesus from a combination of demonic influence and physical ailment (often paired)
• Mrs. Zebedee, the mother of James & John, wife of Zebedee – she was listed among the women at the crucifixion “watching from a distance” [Mt. 20:20, 27:56,
• Mary the mother Jesus is rarely called “the mother of Jesus” after the Nativity narrative. She is more often called the mother of James (the Small/Little/Least), Joses, Judah, and Salome. I think James’s nickname probably came about later. It distinguished him from James the brother of John and James the son of Alphaeus. Perhaps like Paul, James considered himself “least among the apostles,” or the least among the Jameses. (Mk. 6:3, 15:40, 16:1; Mt. 13:55)
• Aunt Mary, the wife of Cleopas, was Jesus’ aunt; the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus. She was also at the cross. (Jn. 19:25)

Jesus had women among His followers. Some of them were moms with children in tow. This was absolutely unheard of.

Jesus honored men and women equally. And He was about the business of redeeming all of humanity and making a new kingdom family of brothers and sisters who loved and honored each other.

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THE PARABLE OF THE LAMP

This little addendum after the parable of the seed and soils seems to be unpacking that message a little further.

After telling the parable, Jesus says, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” The disciples ask Jesus what the parable meant. And Jesus said to the disciples:

“To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬ ‭LEB‬‬

Jesus is kinda like the lady in Costco or Sam’s Club giving out the little samples. If you taste it and you like it, then you’ll generally pick up a whole package. But some people have no intention whatsoever of buying the product. They just want the free sample.

The parables separate the serious students from those who just want the free sample. The serious students will continue to follow, listen, learn, think, ask questions, consider some more, and take it to heart. In short, they prove themselves to be the “good soil.” The other soils are the people who only want the free sample. The parables test the hearts. Do you care enough to give Jesus’ words more than 10 seconds of thought? Are you serious about God and eternity?

By weeding out the non-serious people, I think Jesus may also be doing something very merciful: lessening their guilt. If the full light of the kingdom was shone upon them, and they rejected it (as their hearts show they would) they would have greater guilt and therefore greater punishment.

“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus isn’t going to cast the pearls of the Kingdom before uninterested swine to be trampled on and only increase their guilt.

Jesus offers a simple lamp in the darkness.

Those who desire the light will come to Him and more light will be given to them. But the people who think they are getting away with things in the dark will eventually (in the judgment), be exposed too.

In other words, everybody is going to end up in the light of Truth one way or another. We can humble ourselves and step into the spotlight of God’s Truth and have our own wretched sinfulness exposed and weep over it and repent and receive mercy. OR, we can be drug into blinding light of Truth before the Lord on the Day of Judgment and have our wretched sinfulness exposed and judged when there is no longer an opportunity for repentance. We can take our pick. But keeping sin hidden is not an option on the table.

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JESUS CASTS OUT THE LEGION

We have already looked at this encounter so I will only comment on the demonized man and an interesting Greek word not used in the parallel accounts in other Gospels.

In verse 27 he is described as naked, homeless, and living among the tombs. He is a running around as a madman under the control of demons.

Once Jesus casts out the demons he is the complete opposite. He was running around wildly, now he sitting quietly. He was naked, now he is clothed. He was refusing to live among people in a home and out of his mind among the dead, now he is in his right mind.

In the book of Job, the Satan is described as “going to and fro, walking up and down” in the world. There is a restlessness and inability to be still and quiet. Look around at our frenetic culture. Barely clothed. In need of constant stimulation. Rejecting hearth and home for a nomadic existence without family or community. Fascinated with death, witchcraft, horror, blood, and gore.

The Legion are still in the earth today. Still influencing people (many of whom also cut themselves and try to find answers from the dead). We need to be filled with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may calmly and with authority and compassion confront their influence and drive them out.

The Legion are still around because Jesus didn’t send them to the abyss.

We need to look at this word.

Outside of Revelation (where it is the infamous “Bottomless Pit” from which the Beast and demon hordes arise and into which Satan himself is imprisoned), the word abussos is used only here and in Romans 10:7.

The abyss is a synonym for the place Peter calls by its technical Greek term:

In Greek mythology, Tartarus was said to be as far below the underworld as the earth was below the sky. It was where the rebel Titans were thrown after rebelling against their heavenly father (literally the sky god – Uranus). I suspect that there is some very twisted kernel of truth remaining in that myth. It aligns with the rebellion of the sons of God in Genesis 6; which is what Peter is talking about when he uses the term:

“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but held them captive in Tartarus with chains of darkness and handed them over to be kept for judgment,”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭LEB‬‬

The demons in the Gadarene man are SO terrified of Jesus that they are begging to be sent to the Supermax Prison of the universe.

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RAISING JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER

Jairus was the ruler of the synagogue. His responsibilities were like a combination of church elder, minister, and deacon. He would organize the services and decide who would read scripture and lead the prayers. He would invite visiting rabbis and teachers (like Jesus) to speak. He would maintain order in the service, oversee the meeting facility and finances. He was a community leader and who might also help resolve local disputes.

This man begs Jesus to come and heal his twelve year old daughter. We are rarely told the age of anyone in scripture so keep this in mind. It’s significant. But we won’t unpack it for a couple more days.

Before Jesus arrives at Jairus’ home, a servant arrives with the news that the girl has died. The family and household staff and community are already engaged in the eastern practice of mourning. Westerners have, for many centuries, been conditioned to face death with courage, stoicism, dignity and decorum. Perhaps it’s the influence of Christianity and Paul’s admonition that we not grieve like the rest of the world who have no hope in the resurrection (1 Thess. 4:13). In many other places in the world death is met with loud – and I mean LOUD – chants, wails, songs and cries.

Jesus sends everyone out of the room and allows only Peter, James, John, and Jairus and his wife to be in the room. He didn’t need a bunch of doubters, mourners, and scoffers in the room.

Which kinda makes me feel just a bit preachy… so if you’ll excuse me a moment… I feel like preachin.’

If we have something in our lives that has died – a calling, a ministry, a relationship, hope, peace, confidence – whatever… Maybe it was just hanging on and we went to Jesus to ask Him to come heal it. And then while we were waiting… and waiting for Jesus to heal it, it died. And there is no life left in it.

If Jesus is gonna get about the business of resurrecting that precious thing, you gotta send the doubters and the mourners and the scoffers out the door. They may not even be real people. They may be thoughts in your head. Send them out. And shut the door. It’s only gonna be Jesus and you in that room with maybe one or two of Jesus’ closest friends when He raises the dead. The doubters, mourners, and scoffers can’t be in there.

The doubters will tell you to be rational. Realistic. Since when was God limited by what was “realistic?” Dead things coming back to life isn’t realistic. Jesus is not governed by what is realistic. Miracles are not realistic, but they are very REAL.

The mourners will say, “Oh you poor thing. If only people understood how hard it has been for you. I’ve got a bottle of wine and a pint of ice cream. Let’s have pity party. It’s all over now. All hope is gone. Let’s just gather up as much sympathy as we can and live in the past and what might have been…” You tell the mourners to get out of your house.

Shoot… somebody get me a Hammond organ. 🎹

(Click here to hear what’s in my head.)

The scoffer’s voice will say “Ha! You’re such a loser. You think that thing is recoverable. Don’t you know death when you see it?”

Well PAR—DON me… Yes, I do know death when I see it. I’m not in denial. But I also know the Resurrection and the Life when I see Him. And I need you, Mr. Scoffer-pants to step out of my life while Jesus wakes this thing up from nothing but a nap.

Somebody help me praise the LORD!

We can go ahead and praise Him in faith.

Hallelujah…

And like the preacher says, “Y’all may be seated if you can….”

So… what did Jesus do?

Very gently, as if she had only been asleep, Jesus says, “Little girl, wake up.” And she does. Her spirit returns to her body (from Sheol where it had gone) and she comes back to life.

I find it interesting that Jesus instructs them to give her something to eat. When Jesus rises from the dead, He’s hungry too (Lk. 24:41-42). He appears in the room, shows them His nail-scarred hands and feet then He’s like, “Y’all got anything to eat?”

🤓 I guess getting raised from the dead works up an appetite.

🤔 Well, the little girl DID travel to and from Sheol in a single day. I’d be hungry too.

Jesus charged the parents to tell no one what happened, but how on earth do you keep something like that a secret?

I’m sure I couldn’t.

😏 Nope. You’d have a Hammond Organ playin’ shoutin’ music and you’d be preachin’ about it. “Let me tell ya what the LORD has done…”