What Jesus Did

[To the demon-possessed man,] Jesus demanded, "What is your name?"
"Legion," he replied, for he was filled with many demons. The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.

There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.

So Jesus gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and...

 

[After Jesus calmed the storm, he and the disciples] arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town.

As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, "Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don't torture me!"...

 

[While Jesus was napping in the boat, a fierce storm started on the lake. Then, the] disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, "Where is your faith?"

The disciples were terrified and amazed. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!"


—Luke 8:24-25 NLT...

 

One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.
The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.

—Luke...

 

Then Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn't get to him because of the crowd. Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you."
Jesus replied, "My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God's word and obey it."

—Luke 8:19-21 NLT

Key Thought​

You can be a part of Jesus' true family! You can be Jesus' brother or sister! God presented this gift to us as his way of grace. The word grace actually has...

 

[After explaining the parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus continued,] "No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
"So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But...

 

[Jesus concluded his explanation of the parable of the sower and the seeds:] "And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest."

—Luke 8:15 NLT

Key Thought​

Good soil! That's what the message of Jesus, the Good News of the Kingdom of God, is looking to find. What is that good soil? It is a heart that is open, honest, and good — a heart that is genuinely searching for the truth...

 

[Jesus continued his explanation of the parable of the sower and the seeds:] "The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity."

—Luke 8:14 NLT

Key Thought​

We live in a busy time. Most of us who read these devotionals on electronic devices have more things than most people who lived previously could have ever...

 

[Jesus continued his explanation of the parable of the sower and the seeds:] "The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation."

—Luke 8:13 NLT

Key Thought​

Sometimes the Good News starts to take hold in our hearts, but things get too tough. The evil one brings his times of testing. Difficulties in life mount. Friends reject us...

 

[Jesus began his explanation of the parable,] "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God's word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved."

—Luke 8:11-12 NLT

Key Thought​

As we share the message of Jesus, we need to know that there are all sorts of forces, powers, and people who will seek to destroy, corrupt, and negate that...