A Meeting Place for Believers in Jesus Christ 

The Saviour's Power​

​

Following The Steps of the Saviour has brought us to Luke ch 8.

Interestingly, it is a chapter where we find the Saviour holding women in high esteem.

 

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village,

preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God:

and the twelve were with him,

And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities:

Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna,

and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Luke 8 v 1 - 3

It begins with the names of three of the women who followed Him and who, from their substance, provided for the Saviour and His disciples. Only three are named, but there are many more according to Luke 8v3.

Although we are not given the names of all, we are sure that the Saviour knew them and took note of their kindness to Him, and will reward them in the day of review.

 

***

 

Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

And it was told him by certain which said,

'Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee'.

And he answered and said unto them,

'My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it'.

Luke 8 v 19 - 21

 

In the middle of the chapter, the mother of Jesus comes with His brothers.
These are also mentioned in Matthew 12v46-50, 13v55-56; Mark 3v31-35. Note that they are mentioned in Matthew 13v55-56 in the context of 'father, mother, brothers and sisters’, that is, in the context of a family: the earthly family of the Saviour.

Luke points out in 3v23 that Joseph was thought to be the Saviour's father;

by doing so, he reminds all of the truth of the Virgin Birth of the Saviour. 

Joseph was probably dead by the time of Matthew 13, but people who had known him believed him to be the Saviour's father. 

Matthew speaks of the Saviour's mother, telling us her name, then he helpfully gives us the names of the Saviour's brothers.

They are James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas ( not the traitor ).

He then adds a question ... " are not all His sisters with us? "

This tells us that Joseph and Mary had a normal relationship after the Saviour was born. It agrees with the way Luke writes in 2v7 where he refers to Jesus as Mary's firstborn, indicating that she had other children later.

​

The point here in Luke 8v19-21 is that the Saviour establishes a wonderful truth: that, while to be linked to Him naturally was a great privilege, the more important relationship is a spiritual one. The evidence of having a spiritual relationship with Him is hearing the Word of God and doing it. This does not establish or form the spiritual relationship, it gives evidence of it.

​

***

 

Finally, coming to the end of the chapter, that is, 8v41-56, we see two more women:
one still a child, the other a mature lady.
 

And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue:

and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying.

But as he went the people thronged him.

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years,

which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

​Luke 8 v 41 - 44

​

And he said unto her,

'Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace'.

While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house,

saying to him, 'Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master'.

But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying,

'Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole'.

​Luke 8 v 48 - 50

​

We shall look at these verses as follows:

• A Father's Despair

• A Woman's Defilement

• The Saviour's Delay

• A Girl’s Death

• The Saviour's Deed
  
  ***

 

A Father's Despair

It is hard to imagine the anguish of this father. His only daughter is dying and he is powerless to save her.
But he has heard of the Saviour and comes and falls at His feet, pleading with Him for his beloved child.
Note that this is the place of blessing, at the Saviour's feet. (In v47, the woman is found there too.)
Here it is the father of the girl, and the compassionate Saviour sets out to go to his home and heal his daughter.

The man's heart must have leapt with joy and with hope for his child.

 

***

​

A Woman's Defilement

This lady's haemorrhage would have made her ceremoniously unclean.

It would have drained her physical strength, as well as her purse, in going back and forth to physicians.

Perhaps this was her last hope, if she could only touch the hem of the Saviour's garment.

We cannot tell what sorrow people are going through, but we can point them to the all-powerful Saviour.

Her faith in Him was rewarded.

***

 

The Saviour's Delay

This incident tells us something of the Saviour's kindness and grace. 

Power has gone out of Him, a poor soul has been blessed.  

He knows what has happened, but wants her to publicly confess to the source of her secret blessing.  Also, He wants to tenderly speak to her words of comfort and assurance. Someone might ask ... 'but why?'

Well, according to the Jewish law, for her to touch anyone in her condition would have also brought them defilement.

This may have troubled her. Anticipating this possibility, the Saviour graciously puts her mind at ease, and tells her to go in peace.  A lovely point from Luke, the beloved physician.

​

***

 

A Girl's Death

The delay of the Saviour may have frustrated the father of the dying girl,

but the news from his home must have broken his already troubled heart.

His daughter was dead, it was too late, if only the delay had not happened !

Can it really be?  Was it too late?

The words were his greatest nightmare, his daughter was dead !

Like a cold blade they pierced his heart: 'dead, dead'.

The Saviour speaks again. Again His words are words of comfort, but also of hope. (See 8v50).

***

 

The Saviour's Deed

Arriving at his home the father probably embraced his wife and tried to comfort and assure her; perhaps even with the Saviour's own words spoken to him on the road: "Do not be afraid, only believe'.

Just believe.

It seems that six people entered to where the child was lying, but seven came out.

The Saviour spoke, not to the father or the mother, but to the dead girl.

Her spirit returned and she stood up. She arose alive.

The Saviour's power had brought blessing to the woman on the way,

that same power had brought the girl out of death.

What a mighty deed. But note, He tells them to give her something to eat.

He was not only powerful, but He was extremely practical - perhaps over the days or hours while she was ill she had not eaten; now the Saviour, understanding this, kindly says, "Give her something to eat."
 

***

 

What perhaps began as a hopeless day, ended a happy day for all:

the woman, the father and mother, and their child.

We are sure it was a happy day for the Saviour.

​​​

 

Oh Happy Day, Oh Happy Day!

When Jesus washed my sins away.

He taught me how to watch and pray

And live rejoicing every day,

Happy Day, Happy Day,

When Jesus washed my sins away!

 

***
 

The happiest day of anyone's life is when they personally trust the Saviour and have their sins forgiven and washed away.

Can you look back to a moment in time when you trusted Christ and were saved?

 

***
 

God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

​

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

But if we walk in the light, as H is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 

1 John 1 v5-9

​