When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? Psalm 8:3-4.

I was struck in reading our chapter, Luke 8, that all the answers we long for are right there in Jesus’ words to us. And along with His disciples are the women who also traveled with Jesus – Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means. v. 2-3. And when there were crowds Jesus spoke in parables which He later explained to His disciples. The sower of seeds beside the road, on rocky soil, among thorns, and into good soil Jesus explained: “And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a little while, and in time of temptation fall away. The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. v. 4-15. And in the practical way one uses a lamp, “He puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given, and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” v. 16-18. By trusting Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, Jesus’ words are so real and true and amazing we wonder how we failed to see…“My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” v. 19-21. We all have physical fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters, and we and they have one Father who loves us all and one Brother who gave everything for us with the Father, and one Teacher and Helper as we are ready to turn to Him. And as we read about the disciples and their lack of understanding even while they lived with Jesus for three years, take heart. We are the same. We have the same need and that is growing in trust and faith He gives as we experience our lives with Him helping us. Every “storm” is new ground we haven’t yet walked. When storms come we can’t control, as with the disciples and Jesus in the boat in a storm, Jesus says to us, “Where is your faith?” And as He helps us through the storms of our lives, can we say with the disciples, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” v. 22-25. He is Creator God – our Father, Son, Spirit, and we are His! And then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, opposite Galilee. Try to imagine the impact of this man. And when He came out into the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,”; for many demons had entered him. They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss. v. 26-31. Jesus was talking to the demons. They were so afraid of the “abyss” – emptiness – that they needed connection with life of any kind. Satan is not life. Knowing they must leave the man, and seeing a herd of swine, life, they beg to be allowed to enter the swine. Jesus allowed it. The whole herd rushed to their death down the steep bank. Imagine! And this man, so separated from humanity, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. The people were so afraid they begged Jesus to leave them. Jesus told the man to stay, “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. v. 32-39. They were afraid of Jesus; but they could hear and be amazed at the man in whom so much had changed. I try to imagine the impact all of these healings had on the people healed and also on Jesus Himself. He offers Himself to bring healing to us. And a woman who had suffered bleeding for twelve years had only to have faith in Jesus when all others had failed her. She touched the fringe of His cloak. The cloak didn’t bring healing but Jesus knew her faith had reached out to Him. His answer to her faith? “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” And this incredible healing took place as Jesus was on the way to the daughter of Jairus. She died. Jairus watched the healing of the woman. Now hearing that his daughter has died, Jesus told him, “Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well.” That’s a big ask. How do we reconcile these amazing healings with “facts” we know in our experiences in our own lives and in the lives of those we know? In Jairus’ home there are already people weeping and lamenting. He said, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Child, arise!” And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened. v. 40-56.

We can read these amazing events and brush them off and go on about our “ordinary” lives. Soil not conducive to receiving understanding. But when we stop and really ponder and put ourselves into the story with these people – and then marvel and talk with Creator God, something changes. Our hearts, hardened to God before, become tender places to hear and receive the incredible love God, our Father, has for us. And our real journey with Him begins even as we continue to live our ordinary lives. The difference is, we live them with His help helping us and guiding our understanding. The richest and deepest blessing you will ever know is drawing near to Creator God and His love for you and me and all of us. His love is real!