Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Luke 8: Actions And Reactions

Isaac Newton's third law states, "For every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction."  Though Newton was describing the physics of motion, he could have just as easily been describing the behavior of human nature.

In Luke 8, Jesus is going about preaching and teaching, healing and working miracles.  As He does so, His actions garner quite a bit of different reactions.

Some supported Him.  Jesus led a team of twelve men that He had prayerfully selected to be His disciples (Luke 6:12-16).  In addition, a number of women He had helped traveled with Him, too, and helped Him from out of their resources (vs. 2 and 3).

Some gawked at Him.  "A great crowd gathered and people from town to town came to him" (vs. 4).  Jesus had earned quite a reputation by this point, and the response was that crowds came to see Him, and what He could do.  Here, He speaks a parable about the mystery of spiritual growth to them, but works no miracles for their amusement.

Some feared Him.  Besides the disciples struck with awe and wonder at Jesus' stilling of a storm (vs. 22-25), the people of the Gerasenes were also filled with fear when Jesus cast out a legion of demons in their country (vs. 35).  "Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, for they were seized with great fear" (vs. 37).

Some loved Him.  The demoniac that Jesus had healed does not fear Jesus.  Instead he is attracted to Him and "begs" to become a follower (vs. 38).  Whether it is because the man is a Gentile or because God has another plan in mind for him, Jesus instead tells him to go and be a witness for Christ.  This the man does.

Some were desperate for Him.  Jairus and the woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years both seek Jesus out for healing.  Falling at His feet, Jairus begs Him to come and restore his twelve-year-old daughter.  The woman secretly approaches Jesus and stealthily touches the edge of His clothes.  In the end, both receive the miraculous healing they were looking for.

Some laughed at Him.  When Jesus arrives at Jairus' house, He proclaims to the mourners, "'Do not weep; for she is not dead, but sleeping.'  And they laughed at him, knowing she was dead" (vs. 52 and 53).  How foolish they must have felt when, a few moments later, Jesus leads the girl back to life by the hand.  Jesus had the last laugh that day!

How have you reacted to Jesus in your life?  What response is He calling forth from you through His actions toward you?

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