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Advent Challenge Day 8


Luke 8



We all know about Jesus’ 12 disciples, the men who were chosen to accompany him on his missionary journey – but Luke gives credit to the women who supported his ministry too.  They were there too when Jesus preached and healed as he passed through the towns and villages. Many people criticise the Bible as being "[artistic" - male-centric - but Jesus and the early church accepted the ministry of both male and female, exactly mirroring the Creation when God made both male and female to be equal.  



The parable of the sower and the seed is well known, and often told – we need to see it here amid the arguments with the Pharisees.  Followed by the parable about shining your light for God, the two parables highlight the need for those who proclaim Jesus’ words must bear fruit and shine to the world.



In the middle of another long chapter, we have two related stories show Jesus’ power over both the natural world with the stilling of the storm, and the spiritual world with the release of the demoniac, a man possessed by so many demons that they referred to themselves as “Legion” – 1000 men in a Roman army.  Following his restoration, the people of the region were that frightened that they demanded Jesus to leave the area!



Back on the Jewish side of the lake, Jesus is once again welcomed by the crowds.  Here then we have a leader of the synagogue, Jairus, whose daughter is dangerously ill.  On his way to safe her, Jesus is touched by an ill woman, who is healed immediately.  She eventually confesses what had happened, despite the worry that her healing might have been revoked, but Jesus commends her faith.


Back to Jairus’ daughter, who had now died, Jesus is scorned by the crowds for denying that he was too late, only to have the last laugh when the child gets up at Jesus’ command – the second child raised from the dead by a gracious Saviour.  Never give up on your prayers and faith, our God can answer the big and the small issues!

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