Luke

By Joyce Webb 2020

Chapter 8 Vs. 26-56

Verse 26 The disciples have gone across the Sea of Galilee. They came to the area known as the Gadarenes.

Verse 27 They met a man who had demons in him. These demons made the man do strange things. He did not live in his house any more but he lived where the tombs were. Long ago many people were buried in caves. In later years, they were buried in stone boxes above the ground.

Verse 28 When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, with a loud voice, he said: “What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of God most high? Please do not torment (hurt us, be mean) us.”

The demon in the man knew who Jesus was. The demon knew that Jesus was not just a man, but the Son of God.

Verse 29 Jesus had told the demon to come out of the man. The demon had made the man go around naked. He made him live in the cemetery and in the wilderness. Sometimes the man had been bound with chains because he was so wild, —-but the demon made him so strong—he broke the chains off.

Verse 30 Jesus asked the demon, “What is your name?” Jesus would have known his name, so he must have asked so the other men could hear.

The demon said, “My name is legion, (meaning ‘many’ ”. The demons asked again to not be sent to ‘the deep’ –meaning hell.

There was a large group of pigs nearby. Jesus allowed the demons to go into the pigs. The demons made the pigs run crazy–and the ran down the hill into the sea and drowned.

The men who took care of the pigs saw what happened. They went back into town and told everyone what happened.

The people came out to where Jesus was to see what happened. They saw the man that was filled with demons—he was now in his right mind and had clothes on.

The people became afraid. Who had such power to do these things? They were so afraid, they asked Jesus to go away and leave their town.

(I also wonder if they were angry about the pigs.)

Verses 37-40 So Jesus went back to the boat to leave. The man whom Jesus cast out the demons wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go back home and show the people what God had done for him.

So the man went back home and told everyone what happened.

Verse 41 One day a man named Jarius came to Jesus. He was a leader in the Jewish church. He bowed down at Jesus feet and asked him to come heal his daughter.

He only one daughter, about 12 years old, and she was very sick and dying.

Verse 43 As Jesus was walking to Jarius’ house—a woman in the crowd–reached out to touch Jesus’ robe.

The woman had been bleeding (from her female parts it seems) for 12 years. She had spent all her money on doctors trying to get help. But none of them could help her.

When the woman touched his robe, Jesus felt healing power go out of him toward the women. He stopped walking and asked, Who touched me.

The disciples were surprised—they said, “There is a crowd of people—everyone is bumping everyone.” Jesus said, “No this was different, I felt power go out of me.”

The woman had not wanted any one to notice her. But now she had to say what she did. She was afraid, but she told Jesus why she touched him.

Jesus was not angry with her. He said to her “Do not be afraid, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Verse 49

While Jesus was talking with the woman, someone came to tell Jesus that he did not need to come to Jarius’ house, because the girl had died.

Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, believe, she will be made well.”

Verse 51 When Jesus got to the house—

He said to the people waiting there, Do not cry, and be sad. She is not dead, but is sleeping.

The people laughed. They knew dead when they saw it.

Jesus put all the people out of the house,–, he did not let anyone in with him —except Peter, James, John and the girl’s parents.

Jesus went into the room. She took the girl’s hand. He said to her, “Young girl, get up.” The girl’s spirit came back into her, and she got up.

Jesus told the parents to give her something to eat.

Her parents were amazed !! The girl was dead—and now she is alive !!

Jesus told them not to tell anyone about it.

(Jesus often said this to people whom he healed. I do not know why. Maybe he thought there would be even bigger crowds coming to see him.

Usually the people did not keep it quiet. Usually they told everyone—because they were so happy.)