Welcome to the third installment of Bible Chapter 8:1-8. Chapter 8 of Luke begins with naming the women who followed Jesus’s ministry. Just before this, Jesus has his feet washed and is anointed by the woman with the alabaster jar of nard and her hair and tears.
8:1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—
I believe Jesus sensed how short a time he had on earth. He made the most of that time. As his repeseatives on earth, we need this sense of urgency as we minister during the relatively short span of time we are here on this planet.
–Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.
Look at the devotion of these women. They lived in a culture that placed little value on women and their contributions to society. Jesus set them free from the bondage of demons, illness, infirmity, and insignificance. These liberated women joyfully provided for his needs of sustenance and lodging.
4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:
Notice that Jesus waited for a crowd to gather. What follows is an oft quoted passage for sermons, pertinent in light of those we share the gospel with and needs for discipline them. Keep in mind the agrarian society these people lived in.
“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.”
Have you been trampled down and devoured? Did you spring up quickly without much nourishment, withering away? Have you been choked out by weeds? Did you spring up in a fertil place with a loving mentor?
When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Do you have ears to hear what Jesus was saying? In other moves of God, many fell by the wayside. Many false religions and teaching rose up to fill the spiritual hunger caused by times like we are living in now.
This era of God’s move is meant to be sustained. Revival is meant to continue. We are to realize the failure of previous moves, and all of us are necessary to make this move of God’s Spirit continue. I leave you with two words: love and discipleship.
Musings along life's journey 