In chapter 8 we see several miracles, the healing of the leper, the servant of the Roman soldier, Peter's mother-in-law, the casting out of demons of two men and many others.
Another miracle mentioned in chapter 8 is the calming of the storm. Which only one other miracle, casting the demons out of the men and into the pigs happened after the calming of the storm. We tend to shake our heads at the disciples who have seen all that they have and yet they say, Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” (verse 27). Yet, am I much better? How often am I surprised when God works in a miraculous way?? Sometimes I feel as dense as the disciples appear to be. Yet, just like the disciples Jesus loves me and is patient with me and has given me the Holy Spirit to teach me and guide me into all truth.
There are several things in this chapter I found interesting, what about you? Which miracle speaks to your heart?
Several things jump out at me too, but I really love the centurion's story. A man who understands earthly authority and recognized its heavenly form in Jesus. So awesome! How many of our leaders today (and not just politicians, LOL) get so wrapped up in who THEY can command that they forget that they're, at the core, unworthy? This guy got it. And the getting it MADE him worthy.
ReplyDelete21 Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
ReplyDelete22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”
This always bugged me a little, but I realize that we sometimes feel like we have more important things to do than listen to God's calling. Clearly, Jesus knows more about this disciple's father and family than we know.
~*~ The Message Chronicles ~*~
ReplyDelete**NEWS FLASH**NEWS FLASH**
The Madmen and the Pigs
They landed in the country of the Gadarenes and were met by two madmen, victims of demons, coming out of the cemetery. The men had terrorized the region for so long that no one considered it safe to walk down that stretch of road anymore. Seeing Jesus, the madmen screamed out, "What business do you have giving us a hard time? You're the Son of God! You weren't supposed to show up here yet!" Off in the distance a herd of pigs was browsing and rooting. The evil spirits begged Jesus, "If you kick us out of these men, let us live in the pigs."
Jesus said, "Go ahead, but get out of here!" Crazed, the pigs stampeded over a cliff into the sea and drowned. Scared to death, the swineherds bolted. They told everyone back in town what had happened to the madmen and the pigs. Those who heard about it were angry about the drowned pigs. A mob formed and demanded that Jesus get out and not come back."
THIS IS THE Message Chronicles REPORTING A DISTURBANCE:
The demons cry out: "What business do you have giving us a hard time? You're the Son of God! You weren't supposed to show up here yet!" Matthew 8:28-31
When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and bowed in worship before him—then bellowed in protest, "What business do you have, Jesus, Son of the High God, messing with me? I swear to God, don't give me a hard time!" (Jesus had just commanded the tormenting evil spirit, "Out! Get out of the man!") Mark 5:6-8
He hadn't worn clothes for a long time, nor lived at home; he lived in the cemetery. When he saw Jesus he screamed, fell before him, and bellowed, "What business do you have messing with me? You're Jesus, Son of the High God, but don't give me a hard time!" (The man said this because Jesus had started to order the unclean spirit out of him.) Luke 8:26-29
MAN ON THE STREET INTERVIEW Instead of rejoicing for the men, the people ask Jesus to leave because the pigs are drowned:
They told everyone back in town what had happened to the madmen and the pigs. Those who heard about it were angry about the drowned pigs. A mob formed and demanded that Jesus get out and not come back. Matthew 8:32-34
Those who had seen it told the others what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs. At first they were in awe—and then they were upset, upset over the drowned pigs. They demanded that Jesus leave and not come back. Mark 5:16-17
Later, a great many people from the Gerasene countryside got together and asked Jesus to leave—too much change, too fast, and they were scared. So Jesus got back in the boat and set off. The man whom he had delivered from the demons asked to go with him, but he sent him back, saying, "Go home and tell everything God did in you." So he went back and preached all over town everything Jesus had done in him. Luke 8:37-39
There we have it, countrymen, wrapping up accounts from Matthew, Mark, and Luke! Here is their recap:
MATTHEW: those who heard about it were angry about the drowned pigs
MARK: at first they were in awe—and then they were upset, upset over the drowned pigs
LUKE: too much change, too fast, and they were scared
READ ALL ABOUT IT here, in ~*~ The Message Chronicles ~*~
Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39
LOVE IT!
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