Luke 8 opens with two great parables, and closes with four
powerful miracles. The two parables showed the importance of
being receptive and of letting your light shine. The four
miracles demonstrated Jesus' power over nature (Luke 8:22-25),
evil spirits (Luke 8:26-39), sickness (Luke 8:43-48), and death
(Luke 8:49-56).
Ministering Women
Luke points out that several women were actively involved with
the ministry of Jesus. In addition to the twelve disciples, Mary
Magdalene follwed Jesus. Jesus had expelled 7 demons from Mary
Magdalene (Luke 8:2). Joanna, Susanna, and many other women were
helping to support Jesus from their own resources (Luke 8:3).
Luke 8 Outline
8:1-3
Women contribute to Jesus’ ministry
8:4-18
Parables by the Sea (compare with Matthew 13)
8:4-15
Parable of the Sower
8:16-18
Parable of the Lamp
8:19-21
Mother and brothers of Jesus seek him
8:22-25
Jesus calms the Sea of Galilee
8:26-39
Legion of demons cast out of man
8:26
Arrival in region of Gerasenes (8:22)
8:27-29
Jesus encounters the violent man
8:30-34
Demons sent into a herd of pigs
8:35-37
Gerasenes ask Jesus to leave
8:38-39
Man asks to follow Jesus
8:40-56
Faith rewarded in Capernaum
8:40
Jesus sails to Capernaum and is met by crowd
8:41-42
Jairus asks Jesus to heal his daughter
8:43-48
Ill woman healed when she touches Jesus
8:49-56
Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter back to life
Parables
Parables are short illustrations that convey spiritual lessons.
They illuminate spiritual truths by placing them in an earthly
context.
Parables enabled Jesus to convey lessons to his disciples while
concealing the truth from unbelievers.
The Greek word for parable literally means “to place beside.”
Jesus drew parallels between characters in parables and real
individuals. Jesus made parallels between farmers and
evangelists, fishermen and angels, shepherds and Christ, and
fathers and God.
It's important to distinguish between parables and fables.
Parables were based on realistic situations that could
conceivably occur. Jesus presented common activities, like
farming or fishing, in his parables. Listeners could relate to,
and easily imagine these familiar settings.
Fables, on the other hand, often employed whimsical elements,
like talking animals, which defied the natural world. Jesus did
not fabricate wild stories to convey moral lessons.
Fast Facts
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Matthew chapter 13 is the largest collection of Jesus’
parables.
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Peter, James, and John were alone with Jesus at important
times. They were with him when he raised the daughter of
Jairus. They witnessed the transfiguration. And, Jesus asked
them to keep watch when he prayed in Gethsemane.
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According to Leviticus 15:19-33, the woman who was cured after
touching Jesus was ceremonially unclean because of the nature
of her illness.