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Jesus takes the offensive
8
Women provide for Jesus
1 Now it happened after this that He started going around town by town, village by village, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God, and the twelve were with Him; 2 also certain women who had been healed of malignant spirits and infirmities: Mary (the one called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had gone out; 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, an official of Herod; and Susanna, and many others—these were providing for Him*The Greek manuscripts are divided between ‘him’ and ‘them’ (I follow the best line of transmission), which in practice would amount to the same thing—since He would not eat alone, any providing would have to include the twelve. from their substance.
Parable of the soils
4 Now when a large crowd had gathered, with people coming to Him from town after town, He spoke by a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed some fell along the road, and it got trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock ledge, and upon sprouting it withered, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and springing up together the thorns choked it. 8 The rest fell into the good ground, and growing up it produced fruit a hundredfold.” Upon saying these things He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The purpose of parables
9 Then His disciples asked Him saying, “What does this parable mean?” 10 So He said: “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest only in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’†See Isaiah 6:9. The Lord plainly states that He used parables so that people would not understand. It follows that doctrine should never be based on a parable—however, if the parable is explained, the explanation may be used.
The parable of the soils explained
11 “Now here is the parable: The seed is the Word of God. 12 Those along the road are those who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, in order that they not be saved, having believed.‡The Lord here states a terrible truth: Satan has access to the human mind. See also 2 Corinthians 4:3-4. 13 Those on the rock ledge are the ones who, whenever they hear, receive the word with joy; yet these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of testing fall away.§Note that with the exception of those along the road all the seeds germinate—there is life. 14 Now that which fell into the thorns: these are the ones who heard, yet as they go they are choked by cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But that on the good ground: these are the ones who having heard the word with a noble and good heart, hold on to it and produce fruit with perseverance.”
All will be exposed
16 Upon saying these things He called out: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!*Most (if not all) versions omit “Upon saying these things He called out: He who has ears to hear let him hear!” following 45% of the Greek manuscripts. I follow the best line of transmission, which is part of the 55% here. Jesus was calling attention to what He was about to say. No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but he sets it on a lamp stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 17 Further, there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, nor anything concealed that will not be made known and come into the open. 18 So be careful how you hear:†Spiritual growth is like going up an incline on a bicycle with no brakes; if you stop pedaling, you start going backwards. Either we grow, or we start losing what we have. There is no standing still. So be careful how you hear! Because whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
Relationships redefined
19 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and they could not get near Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was told Him by some saying, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21 But in answer He said to them, “My mother and my brothers are these, the ones who hear the word of God and do it!”‡Our primary commitment should be to Christ and His Kingdom, not to our physical family. There are times when the Kingdom ‘trumps’ family.
Jesus stills a storm
22 Now it happened on one of those days that He got into a boat with His disciples; and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. A windstorm descended on the lake, and they were being swamped and were in jeopardy. 24 So they came and awakened Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the waves of water—and they stopped, and there was a calm!§Agitated water does not calm down immediately, even if the cause stops, so there was a double miracle here—Jesus undid the consequences of the wind. 25 So He said to them, “Where is your faith?”*In other words, He is telling them that they could, and should, have done something about it themselves. Had we been there, would we have done any better? But being terrified they marveled, saying to each other: “Who can this be?†This puzzles me; after all the miracles they had seen, they still wonder who Jesus is! Well, maybe controlling nature is in a ‘higher league’ than controlling sickness and demons. Still, what were the options: human, angel (good or bad), or God. Because He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”
Jesus handles demon infestation
26 Then they sailed to the district of the Gadarenes,‡The eclectic text currently in vogue, following just 4 Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, against 1,700, reads ‘Gerasenes’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, etc.). For a full discussion of this question please see the Appendix: “The ‘Legion’ and the pigs; where was it?” which is opposite Galilee. 27 Well when He stepped out on the land, a certain man of that town met Him, who had had demons for a long time—he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house, but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus he gave a yell, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice he said: “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?§The disciples may not have known who Jesus was, but the demons did! I beg you, don't torment me!” 29 because He had commanded the unclean spirit to get out of the man (it had seized him many times—he would be bound with chains and shackles, being kept under guard; then bursting the bonds he would be driven by the demon into deserted places). 30 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”*I assume that Jesus knew the demon's name without asking, so why did He ask? I would say that He wanted it to be part of the Record, to teach us that demon infestation can and does occur. And he said, “Legion” (because many demons had gone into him). 31 And he†The boss demon does most of the talking, representing his cohort. kept imploring Him that He would not order them to go away into the Abyss.‡The Text has ‘the Abyss’, presumably the same one mentioned in Revelation 20:3. The demons knew something that most of us do not.
32 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding there on the hillside; and they started begging Him that He would allow them to go into those; so He gave them permission. 33 Then the demons exited the man and entered the pigs—and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned!§I very much doubt that the demons engineered that reaction; it would have been counterproductive, leaving them without a ‘home’. Animals often show more good sense than do humans, and they may have preferred death to demons. (And I suppose it is possible that Jesus Himself commanded the action, since pork was proscribed for God's people.)
34 Well when the herders saw what had happened they ran away and reported it in the town and in the countryside. 35 So they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus; they found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.*With good reason; a supernatural power was at work, obviously. 36 Also, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demonized man was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude from the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, because they were overcome by fear.†The loss of all those pigs was a severe economic blow. So He got into the boat and returned.‡And apparently He never went back; they had had their chance.
38 Now the man from whom the demons had gone out had started begging Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your house and recount how much God has done for you.” So he went his way and proclaimed all over town how much Jesus had done for him.§‘How much God’ becomes ‘how much Jesus’, which amounts to the same thing. The man witnessed to such good effect that many in that area believed.
A desperate father
40 Now it happened, when Jesus returned, that the crowd welcomed Him, because they were all waiting for Him.*If you go around doing what Jesus did, you become public property. 41 And then, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue; he fell down at Jesus' feet and started begging Him to come to his house, 42 because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying.
A desperate woman
Now as He was going, the crowds were pressing against Him. 43 And a woman—suffering with a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent her whole livelihood on physicians, but could not be healed by any— 44 approaching from behind touched the border of His garment; and immediately the flow of her blood stopped! 45 So Jesus said, “Who touched me?”†He was referring to a purposeful touch. When all denied it, Peter and those with him said: “Master, the people are pressing against you and crowding in, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ”‡Perhaps 1.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “and you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). 46 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, because I noticed power going out from me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she could not hide, she came trembling, and falling down before Him she told Him in the presence of all the people§That was not easy, but she was desperate. the reason why she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 So He said: “Courage, daughter, your faith has healed you. Go into peace.”*Again, ‘into’ not ‘in’. Her life was now going to be different. Perhaps 1.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “courage” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).
Jesus raises a dead girl
49 While He was still speaking, here came someone from the synagogue ruler's house, saying to him: “Your daughter has died. Don't bother the teacher.” 50 But upon hearing it Jesus reacted by saying to him, “Don't be afraid; just believe and she will be healed.” 51 When He arrived at the house, He allowed no one to go in except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother. 52 Now all were weeping and mourning for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” 53 They started ridiculing Him, knowing that she had died. 54 So He put them all outside, and†Perhaps 1.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “put them all outside, and” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). grasping her hand He called, saying, “Child, arise!” 55 Then her spirit returned, and she got right up! And He directed that she be given something to eat.‡Nothing like being practical! 56 Her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.§Of course that would be difficult, because all the people who knew the girl had died would see her going about normally, and would want an explanation.

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*8:3 The Greek manuscripts are divided between ‘him’ and ‘them’ (I follow the best line of transmission), which in practice would amount to the same thing—since He would not eat alone, any providing would have to include the twelve.

†8:10 See Isaiah 6:9. The Lord plainly states that He used parables so that people would not understand. It follows that doctrine should never be based on a parable—however, if the parable is explained, the explanation may be used.

‡8:12 The Lord here states a terrible truth: Satan has access to the human mind. See also 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.

§8:13 Note that with the exception of those along the road all the seeds germinate—there is life.

*8:16 Most (if not all) versions omit “Upon saying these things He called out: He who has ears to hear let him hear!” following 45% of the Greek manuscripts. I follow the best line of transmission, which is part of the 55% here. Jesus was calling attention to what He was about to say.

†8:18 Spiritual growth is like going up an incline on a bicycle with no brakes; if you stop pedaling, you start going backwards. Either we grow, or we start losing what we have. There is no standing still. So be careful how you hear!

‡8:21 Our primary commitment should be to Christ and His Kingdom, not to our physical family. There are times when the Kingdom ‘trumps’ family.

§8:24 Agitated water does not calm down immediately, even if the cause stops, so there was a double miracle here—Jesus undid the consequences of the wind.

*8:25 In other words, He is telling them that they could, and should, have done something about it themselves. Had we been there, would we have done any better?

†8:25 This puzzles me; after all the miracles they had seen, they still wonder who Jesus is! Well, maybe controlling nature is in a ‘higher league’ than controlling sickness and demons. Still, what were the options: human, angel (good or bad), or God.

‡8:26 The eclectic text currently in vogue, following just 4 Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, against 1,700, reads ‘Gerasenes’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, etc.). For a full discussion of this question please see the Appendix: “The ‘Legion’ and the pigs; where was it?”

§8:28 The disciples may not have known who Jesus was, but the demons did!

*8:30 I assume that Jesus knew the demon's name without asking, so why did He ask? I would say that He wanted it to be part of the Record, to teach us that demon infestation can and does occur.

†8:31 The boss demon does most of the talking, representing his cohort.

‡8:31 The Text has ‘the Abyss’, presumably the same one mentioned in Revelation 20:3. The demons knew something that most of us do not.

§8:33 I very much doubt that the demons engineered that reaction; it would have been counterproductive, leaving them without a ‘home’. Animals often show more good sense than do humans, and they may have preferred death to demons. (And I suppose it is possible that Jesus Himself commanded the action, since pork was proscribed for God's people.)

*8:35 With good reason; a supernatural power was at work, obviously.

†8:37 The loss of all those pigs was a severe economic blow.

‡8:37 And apparently He never went back; they had had their chance.

§8:39 ‘How much God’ becomes ‘how much Jesus’, which amounts to the same thing. The man witnessed to such good effect that many in that area believed.

*8:40 If you go around doing what Jesus did, you become public property.

†8:45 He was referring to a purposeful touch.

‡8:45 Perhaps 1.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “and you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

§8:47 That was not easy, but she was desperate.

*8:48 Again, ‘into’ not ‘in’. Her life was now going to be different. Perhaps 1.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “courage” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

†8:54 Perhaps 1.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “put them all outside, and” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

‡8:55 Nothing like being practical!

§8:56 Of course that would be difficult, because all the people who knew the girl had died would see her going about normally, and would want an explanation.

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD