Luke 8b Commentary
Do you have to plan for eventualities when you can always solve problems? Probably no. There is no need to carry life jackets when you know the winds and water report to you. But when you disguise yourself and wear a human body, elements of the weather are bound to strike without respect.
And so they did. Consequently, we have one of the ‘rebukings’ of the chapter. The winds and the water quickly hear the voice of the Boss and quiet down.
Another rebuke would come when the demons took the wrong accommodation. Unlike the winds, the demons have a mind and can negotiate, hence one of the many ‘pleadings’ of this chapter.
The pleading by the demons is interesting. We can observe a couple of items. Demons are spirits that need a body to function. They need permission to live in any of the elements of God’s creation, be it trees, animals, or even stones.
In this moving story, they reduced a man to nakedness, violence, and insanity. They reduce men and women to alcoholism, sexual immorality, vanity, deformity, and all sorts of sicknesses. They seek to distort and disturb God’s creation. See how the pigs misbehave! This is an important teaching aid, albeit very costly. This is what demons do; they lead to death.
Another pleading. The townspeople plead with Jesus. He has to leave their region. This is how economic concerns make us chase Jesus from our lives.
Another pleading. The healed man wants to follow Jesus. Request denied. The man is instead ordained as an evangelist on the spot. His only equipment is his testimony. Forget the seminary!
Another pleading, and it’s Jairos’ time. His twelve-year-old daughter lies sick and dying. Jesus is implored to resolve this problem, but time isn’t on Jesus’ side. But who cares? Can you ever mind if you can reverse anything? Eventually, Jairos’ daughter is restored to life.
Another special pleading, and it’s the woman with an issue of blood. Her faith is such that the vestments of Jesus could heal. She wasn’t wrong! But the key lay in her spirit. Life is such that everyone has problems. In fact, their presence and their crowding—nearly crushing Jesus—are evidence. All these multiple contacts with Jesus never brought any of them healing, as these ‘contacts’ were both purposeless and zero on faith.
The woman is called a daughter. So touching! The dead child is called “My child,” and she comes back to life. This is Jesus’ family! “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” Verse 21.
Another order. Death is ordered to loosen its hold on the child. It obeys immediately, without question.
Another order. Let Jairos and team keep quiet about the miracle. So strange. We probably understand. Salvation isn’t preached through breaking news items. It is propagated through faith.
“Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” Or, “My child, get up!” What can beat this tenderness, this impossibly greater feel of parental bliss—a baby in the secure and everlasting arms of the Creator God.
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