Once Upon A Time On A Lake Series

JUST JESUS: CHAPTER BY CHAPTER THRU LUKE

Once Upon a Time on a Lake

Luke 8:22-25

#JustJesus

INTRODUCTION… Luke 8 (p)

There are some passages or chapters in the Bible that are epically long. For example, Psalm 119 is 176 verses long and has about 2445 words. If I wanted to preach one sermon on Psalm 119 or even do one Bible study on Psalm 119, I do not think it would be possible. John 6 has 70 verses and Luke 1 has 80 verses and so sometimes there is much in one chapter. Luke chapter 8, where we are today, is a long chapter of 56 verses packed full of Jesus’ life and ministry and teaching and miracles and I do not think it is possible to preach one sermon.

* Luke 8 begins with a general statement about Jesus’ ministry and introduces us to Mary Magdalene (verses 1-3)

* Luke 8 contains the Parable of the Sower (verses 4-8) and then an explanation about parables and the explained meaning of the Parable of the Sower (verses 9-15)

* The chapter then discusses evangelism and hidden truth (verse 16-18)

* We then see Jesus teaching in a very blunt way about obedience to God (verse 19-21).

* Verses 22-25 shares with us one of several stories about Jesus on the Sea of Galilee.

* Luke 8 then contains the story of Jesus driving out demons into pigs in verses 26-39.

* The chapter concludes in verses 40-56 with a miracle sandwich of Jairus’ daughter on either side and a bleeding woman in the middle.

What do we focus on?

What is important for us?

All of it really, but as I prayed my attention centered on verses 22-25 which has Jesus on the Sea of Galilee and He does something amazing and unexpected and miraculous and teaches us about Himself and how we are to respond to Him.

Let’s read from Luke 8:

READ LUKE 8:22-25 (ESV)

22 One day He got into a boat with His disciples, and He said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So, they set out, 23 and as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even winds and water, and they obey Him?”

TRANSITION

Once upon a time on a lake, we see the power of the divine command.

EXTREME SITUATION: THE STORM

The situation that the disciples were in was not good. The words used in verse 23 to describe the situation in the boat are not words that are used often in the New Testament and they are all pretty extreme words.

The word used in verse 23 to mean storm is a specific word that means “a whirlwind” or “violent attack of tempestuous wind” and is further explained as “never a single gust nor a steady blowing wind, however violent, but a storm breaking forth from black thunder clouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and throwing everything topsy-turvy” (biblestudytools.com/lexicons). Again, this is a serious situation. It is the same word used in 2 Peter 2 when he speaks of hell and what ultimate fate awaits those who are false prophets and teachers. This is a serious word about a serious situation.

The word used in verse 23 to signify the danger means “to be in jeopardy” or “to be in peril of one’s life.” It is the word used in Acts 10 when there is a violent riot and the Apostle Paul and his companions’ lives were about ended. It means death is about to happen. It is a serious word about a serious situation.

ILLUSTRATION… Forrest Gump Storm Scene

For some reason, the movie Forrest Gump (1994) comes to mind.

Forrest Gump his friend Lieutenant Dan are caught in a hurricane during a shrimpin’ expedition. Lieutenant Dan is already extremely frustrated at life because he wanted to die a war hero like family members, but Forrest rescued him and as a result he lived, but both his legs are amputated. He was incredibly bitter and hopeless.

During the storm, Lieutenant Dan is as high as he can be on the mast and straps himself to the mast. He is shouting at God, cussing at the storm, and challenging life to bring it on and he expresses all his anger and hopelessness during the storm.

The next morning after the storm is completely gone and from what I remember Forrest and his boat are the only surviving shrimpin’ boat in all of Louisiana. Lieutenant Dan has a look of peace on his face for the first time in who knows how long. He plunges himself into the water and takes a relaxing swim. Forrest watches and comments, “I guess Lieutenant Dan made his peace with God.”