Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 8 : 22-26 "REVIEWING LESSONS OF DISCIPLESHIP"
Day 99 – Luke 8
Text: Luke 8 : 22-26
REVIEWING LESSONS OF DISCIPLESHIP
The Disciples had learned many deep lessons already. Let’s take a quick review as to what Jesus had already taught them, by example, or by exposition. Among other things, we may take note of the following:-
1. By Example:-
a) A life of prayer
b) A deep knowledge of the Scriptures
c) A deep compassion for people
d) A strong sense of commitment to do God’s Work faithfully
e) A tremendous sense of courage when faced with opposition
2. By Exposition:-
a) What it means to be a Disciple
b) How to Love and appreciate God’s Word
c) Making necessary sacrifices in order to follow the Lord
d) Stamina and strength through following the example of the Lord
e) A growing sense of strength and faith in the Lord and His Word
SEEMINGLY INNOCUOUS WORDS
One day, Jesus said some very seemingly innocuous words to His Disciples. He got into a boat, and said simply,
“Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.”
Luke 8:22
What were the Disciples to make out of these words of their Teacher? These were ordinary words, were they not? What “hidden meaning” may be found in these simple words of instruction to His Disciples?
Luke gently wrote that even as Jesus and His Disciples were crossing the lake, the Master “fell asleep”. How tired Jesus must have been, from ministering to the multitudes day and night. We must remember that when Jesus donned flesh, He became subject to physical limitations. Thus He would feel tiredness, as all of us do, after many days of incessant, and demanding hard work!
Suddenly, a storm arose. Incidents of sudden “windstorms” were not uncommon. However, Jesus continued sleeping. The Disciples in the meantime became more and more desperate by the minute!
At last they could contain themselves no longer. What was their Teacher doing? How could He be sleeping at a time like this? How could anybody sleep through a windstorm?
Thus, with a great sense of urgency, they woke Jesus and said,
“Master, Master,
We are perishing!”
Luke 8:24
“WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?” Luke 8:25
It is often in times of greatest peril and stress, that one discovers the true state of faith in the heart. What had the Disciples actually learned after all the time they had spent with Jesus? Was He only “Master” to the Disciples? This term, “Master” (Gk. “epistata”) would usually be used to address a high ranking official. This term was used with a great sense of respect. Deference would be the order of the day.
“Master” was the word that Peter used when he first addressed Jesus. Then came the day when he saw Jesus perform a miracle that confirmed that Jesus was not just “epistata”, or “master”. Peter correctly called Him, “Lord” (Gk. “kurie”).
The Disciples had spent so much time with the Lord Jesus. They had seen Him do a number of very remarkable things:-
1. They had seen Him heal the sick
2. They had seen Him cast out demons
3. They had seen Him raise the dead
4. They had heard Him declaring forgiveness of sins
5. They had spoken to Him at length
6. They had seen Him close up
What had they learned all this while? Was it just knowledge that they had gained? Was it just experience? Wasn’t there other things they had learned? Did their faith not increase through all that they had experienced?
“Where is your faith?” – a startling question, in a set of circumstances that was deeply unsettling! Did Jesus expect them to have faith in a storm? What kind of faith was He talking about?
Jesus told His Disciples that they were going to go over to the other side of the lake to minister. His Mission in life was not yet over. His words were not just ordinary and casual human words.
His words always held power. He would speak just a word, ever so gently, and the sick would be healed. He would speak another word, and a demon would be forced to stop afflicting a human soul.
The Disciples had many more things to learn about their Master. Yes, they were already deeply impressed and impacted, and thus they called Him, “Master” – a term of high respect!
“AND THEY WERE AFRAID, AND MARVELLED” Luke 8:25
Whoever heard of a Man controlling the elements! In their wildest dream, they never expected that their beloved Master had power over a storm!
“Who can this be?
For He commands even the winds
And the water, and they obey Him!”
Luke 8:25
It was all about faith! The Disciples just must seek to deepen their faith in their Master. They must somehow transpose all that they had learned about Jesus into FAITH! Do we not need to do the same thing? Where is our faith in the Lord Jesus?