Author: Bill Hall

Luke 8:23 “But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.”

   So if Jesus is God then He should have just kept anything bad from happening, right? I mean if Jesus could calm the storm then surely He could have prevented it altogether. So why didn’t He? What was the purpose of intentionally allowing this windstorm to overtake them?
   Jesus is infinitely more powerful than we can imagine. What He can do and what He does do are often different things. This is an important thing to understand about God. He could do a lot of things with our world that He just doesn’t do. And why? It is because of His nature.
   God is totally different from the imagined gods of mankind. He isn’t fickle, limited, lazy, petty, or capricious. He is good, tremendously good, and extremely holy. He does only the most perfect things all of the time. He never does anything evil, but He also never does anything incorrectly. He doesn’t make mistakes.
   Jesus didn’t need to make the disciples lives a veritable smorgasbord of supernatural blessings in order to teach them what they needed to know. On the contrary, it seems He chose to do things the way He did in order to teach them better. He didn’t keep them from hardship or fear, but delivered them and told them not to be afraid right in the middle of all of it. And this is because their lives would be the same once He had returned to heaven.
   God doesn’t put an invisible bubble of complete protection around His children. At least, not the way we see it. He does indeed protect us, but again not as we might think. He will allow hardship, hurt, and pain to be a part of our daily lives. He wants us to love Him in the middle of all that. And why is that?
   The devil once said that Job, a great servant of God, served the Lord only because God had blessed Him. This was not the case, but God worked out the proving of this fact. And He does similar things in our lives today to show us how to have a relationship with Him in spite of anything that might come into our lives in the meantime.

   Heavenly Father, though we often have a hard time understanding, we know Your way is perfect. You know exactly what You are doing. If we can trust You today, we can trust You tomorrow. Thank You for approaching us the way You do. You are gracious, kind, and loving. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 8:22 “Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.’ And they launched out.”

   Jesus knew what would happen next. He was altogether aware of everything. Yet, He had decided to take a nap. At least that seems to be one of His purposes. His other, more primary, purpose was likely to give His disciples a test of faith. And He had everything under control.

   Heavenly Father, thank You for always having everything figured out. Never once have You been mistaken about anything. It is good to know that in our world of uncertainty. There is so much deceit and misinformation that we come into contact with all the time. Your truth is dependable! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 8:21 “But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

   It is not to be supposed that Jesus completely shunned His earthly family. Even on this occasion He likely went and met with them. But, on many occasions He took the opportunity to teach this important lesson about the family of God. Blood was not to be thicker than the Spirit. Though Christians are to love an care for their families, the family of God takes precedence. This is especially applicable when it comes to making a choice between the two. If family demands that a person take one course, and Jesus asks for another, the Lord should win the day.
   This was controversial in Jesus’ day and in that cultural setting. Families followed certain rules such that children and parents had certain expectations that were not to be shunned. As a result, family could control a person’s marriage, career, location, and many other aspects of life.
   Jesus did not teach a cult-like attachment to the church. Cults operate on principles of coercion and control that should never be found in the church. But, He is teaching that the individual is free to personally choose Christ over family demands as long as it is consistent with following Christ to do so. Jesus and the Apostles upheld many of the biblical teachings about our responsibility to family. So, this doesn’t teach carelessness, but freedom. Over and over Christians are told to love and care for their families. But if the your family can’t stand Christ and won’t consent to Him ruling your life, Christ takes precedence.

   Heavenly Father, thank You for clarity. It is wonderful that You minister Your truth to us. You are wise and mighty. Your words are precious to us. Each of Your precepts brings comfort to our souls. In every nuance we find a new blessing. You are amazing! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 8:20 “And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”

   The desire to see Christ is strong among His followers. We long to see His face. And yet His earthly family were familiar with it. It was difficult for them to accept His significance. They knew Him, and yet they didn’t know Him. And for us now it is the other way around. We know Him, but have not yet seen Him. However, the great comfort we have is that when we shall see Him, we will see Him as He truly is, in all of His glory.

   Heavenly Father, I long to understand. I long to know and see and experience You and the Son directly. But, as it is, I am so glad that in my spirit I know and experience You. Without that we are all truly lonely in this world. Thank You for Your presence in our lives! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 8:19 “Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.”

   We know little for certain about Jesus’ earthly family. We cannot even be sure of the purpose of this visit. In any case we know He did care for them and saw especially to the needs of His mother. And we know that His brothers were not converted until after the fact of His resurrection.

   Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us just what we need. You care for us and nurture us. This world seeks to tear us apart, but You seek to make us whole. Thank You for the wholesomeness of Your goodness. I love You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 8:18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

   The beginning of this verse is really a key for this whole passage. He tells His disciples have a care for ‘how’ they hear. The word can also be translated ‘that’ in this context. And ‘take heed’ can be a warning. So it can be translated ‘Beware that you hear’ and be quite true to the passage.
   What Jesus follows this up with is surely meant to be a warning. Indeed, the word ‘seems’ is pregnant with meaning. Its meaning includes the idea of self-judgement. Meaning that many have an opinion of themselves, which may or may not be shared by others, concerning their knowledge of the things of God. Jesus confirms, however, that these folks do not actually have anything. And yet that ‘nothing’ will be taken away.
   Is that double-talk? How can ‘nothing’ be actually removed? Jesus is here helping us to understand that the LORD will not leave anything undone when it comes to final judgment. As it is said elsewhere, the secrets of men will be judged. God isn’t going to leave anyone hanging on to some perceived idea of understanding. All will be made aware of the accuracy, or ignorance, of their ideas about God.

   Heavenly Father, it is such a blessing that You even allow us to know You! And, if we know You, You delight to give us more knowledge of You. Truly fortunate is the man who understands and knows You! What could be more important or valuable? No riches of this world are worth giving that up for. It just isn’t anywhere close to worth it. Father thank You for revealing Yourself to us in Christ. He is truly wonderful! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 8:17 “”For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.”

   This had an immediate meaning as well as a long term meaning. The gospel age has brought forth answers to many of the questions that were still unanswered in the ancient times of the Old Testament. And so Jesus spoke of that revelation of the truth that was coming shortly to the Jewish people. Much of what God’s people knew and understood about Him was enhanced and added to during this time.
   But also, Jesus is speaking of things yet future even today. There are many things we still do not understand. Not everything has been revealed, though much of it has.
   Beyond this, though, Jesus also was speaking of the truth in an individual’s heart. He ministered to people who would grow in their understanding of the truth. When we are seeking to know the eternal God, there will be growth in our understanding. God has always revealed Himself by a little and a little. He doesn’t just flash in upon us all at once, but He comes softly and slowly permeates our minds with His powerful and delightful truth.

Heavenly Father, there is nothing so wonderful as being able to speak to You. To ask You and to hear Your answers is the most amazing blessing anyone could hope for. Thank You for being a willing party to revealing Your plan and ways to us. Though there is so much we do not understand, Your desire for a relationship with us is such a delight and pleasure! I love You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 8:16 “”No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.”

   Jesus might seem to be changing the subject here. But really He is just continuing it. Back in verse 10 He had commented on the fact that the disciples were given the opportunity to know things that others were not. Here He is stating a general principle in relation to that. When you turn a light on it is your intention to keep it lit and to bring light to an area. You generally do not cover it so that it will not shine.
   What Jesus means is that though He spoke in parables His purpose was not ultimately to confuse people or keep them ignorant. His intention was to share the truth and allow it to grow in the hearts of those who sought for it. And, this is true even today. Those who are looking for the truth out of a genuine heart will find it, and the truth will grow in their heart.

   Heavenly Father, thank You for Your truth! You have given us so much by which we may know You and understand You. You have given us some mystery, but You are not hiding. We can truly know You as a person. You are not far far away where we can never have a relationship with You, even though You are as far above us as anything can be. Thank You for loving us in Christ! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 8:15 “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.”

   This verse is quite interesting because of the description of the heart of the persons represented by the seed on the good ground. Jesus says that these folks have a ‘noble’ and ‘good’ heart. Is Jesus saying that the only people that will be saved and bear fruit were good people to begin with? This seems inconsistent with His doctrine and with the rest of Scripture.
   The best way to understand this is as an ‘in comparison to’ statement. In other words, these people have a noble heart as hearts go, or a good heart as hearts go. Individuals in this category are those who had retained some sense of the need for good in the world. The word ‘noble’ speaks of their being commendable. These are they who would rather see good done than evil. They have held onto the idea that there is good and evil and these matter for life. The word ‘good’ means to be upright or morally principled. In other words, these people are those who, before believing, had some idea of how we ought to live.
   This does not mean they were sinless. On the contrary Scripture makes it clear that many who were saved were guilty of very egregious things. But, they had felt guilt and shame. Their heart was still, in some part of it, tender to the things of God. Even those who wander in sin for many years may still be like this. They have not completely turned their back on the idea that they need God.

   Heavenly Father, thank You for Your work in our lives! Without Your grace we would never find our way. We would live in a maze. You have shed light on everything. I will praise You forever! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Luke 8:14 “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”

   This seed among the thorns is important to take notice of. Jesus doesn’t say specifically that they are believers or saved. But, both things are confirmed by His words because He says that they do not bring fruit to maturity. These are those who are saved ‘so as through fire’ as we read in 1 Corinthians 3:15. This is the story of a life wasted, and it is a story oft repeated.
   The enemy knows that once the gospel has taken root in a life, he cannot remove it. However, though that soul be lost to his kingdom, it need not be a bother to him. Among the thorns it finds so much to keep it from good growth. Christian after Christian lives a neutralized life, paralyzed, never growing or bearing fruit.
   Some will argue with this assessment. Indeed I myself have wondered if this is possible. But not only is the proof in the Scripture, but it bears out in practice. How many of our brothers and sisters do we see who have a testimony, but have never yet shared their faith? How many live as if for Christ and yet only in a corner of their lives? How many if put on trial for their faith might be acquitted due to lack of evidence? It is a sad malady, but it surely touches many of us.

   Heavenly Father, thank You for Your working in our lives. Without it we would have no hope of living a life of meaning. You give us purpose and a cause to fight for. You are so good and wise and kind. I will serve You and love You forever! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.