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.”
It is in the midst of this serious situation that Jesus shows very clearly His identity and His capability. Verse 24 says that Jesus “rebuked the wind and the raging waves” (verse 24). The wind and waves and storm and danger all just disappeared. Everything was calm. The chaos was gone. Peace was upon the sea. The picture we get is that this was not a gradual moving on of the storm or the boat sailed out of the storm, but that at the word of Jesus the wind and waves stopped and the storm ceased immediately.
I think it is important to know what other things or people or situations in the life and ministry of Jesus where Jesus did some rebuking. When did Jesus do this?
* Jesus rebuked demons to heal people (Matthew 17:18, Mark 1:25 9:25, Luke 4:35, 4:41, 9:42)
* Jesus rebuked Peter when he tried to deter Jesus from dying (Mark 8:33)
* Jesus rebuked James and John when they wanted fire from heaven to burn Samaritans (Lk 9:55)
* Jesus rebuked a fever from Peter’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:39)
* Jesus rebuked all the disciples for not believing He had risen (Mark 16:14)
* And of course… Jesus rebuked winds and waves (Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:39, Luke 8:24)
We look back and think ‘of course’ Jesus does all that when it comes to some of these passages about Jesus, but the disciples and others around Him were living this and they were experiencing all of this for the first time.
* Jesus was not normal!
* Seven demons being driven away from one person was not usual!
* The blind and paralyzed and sick being totally cured is not ordinary!
* A woman who has bled for years being healed by a touch is not typical!
* A young girl rising from the dead is not standard!
* Jesus is not normal!
The disciples are in shock from their fear and then I think another layer of shock layered on top of that as they saw what Jesus did and it was far from normal, but miraculous. They ask a key question in verse 25: “Who then is this, that He commands even winds and water, and they obey Him?”
The answer to that question is all around in Luke 8. If Luke 8 was the only chapter of Scripture we had access to, what is the answer to their question? The disciples ask: ‘Who is this’ and the entire chapter lays out the answer time after time.
* Jesus is the One Who brings the good news about the Kingdom of God (verse 1).
* Jesus is the Teacher of the twelve (verse 1).
* Jesus has command over demons and has all authority over the spiritual world (verses 2, 29).
* Jesus is at the same time the sower of the Word of God and the Word of God (verses 5, 11).
* Jesus is the revealer of some of God’s mysteries (verses 10, 17).
* Jesus is the Divine Big Brother in God’s Family and so much more (verses 19-20).
* Jesus is Master over nature (verses 22-25).
* Jesus is the Son of the Most High God (verse 28).
* Jesus is the sender of missionaries (verse 39).
* Jesus is the healer of the sick and the ultimate physician (verse 44).
* Jesus is the raiser of the dead (verse 54).
In Luke chapter 8 Jesus shows us over and over and over and over again Who He is. Jesus has God power and Divine ability and Ultimate authority. Jesus is the Son of God and He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and He has authority and power over evil spirits and sickness and death and His disciples and even nature.
TRANSITION
Once upon a time on a lake, we see the power of the divine command. So, what?
MEANING: JESUS’ IDENTITY
You and I need to believe and understand and hold tightly to the identity of Jesus Christ. Please do not forget that the One Who calmed the raging storm with a word is our Savior and our lord. The identity of Jesus makes all the difference for us dirty rotten sinners.
What do you believe about Jesus? It matters what you believe about Jesus.
It does not matter because I am telling you that it matters, but the Bible tells us that what we believe about Jesus is supremely important. Our believing loyalty is tied to our eternal destiny. Faith and belief motivate our obedience to Him. Even in this chapter of Luke Jesus says to those listening (verse 21): “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
READ MATTHEW 1:21 (ESV)
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
READ JOHN 14:6 (ESV)
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
READ ACTS 4:12 (ESV)
“And there is salvation in No One else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
READ ROMANS 10:13 (ESV)
“For “everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.”
It matters what and if we believe in Jesus. Our world tells us that Jesus was a figment of human imagination and a metaphor made up by religious wackos so that we would have a crutch to lean on when life gets bad. Our world will also tell us that, yes, Jesus was a historical figure, but He was a con artist Who duped backwards fisherman to follow Him and believe in Him. Our world will tell us that yes, Jesus was historical and a good teacher of morals and maybe even a prophet of some kind, but not the Son of God. There are many options for belief about Jesus.
ILLUSTRATION… Lion King Movie Scene
For some reason, the movie Lion King (also from… 1994) comes to mind.
A crazy baboon, my favorite character, named Rafiki meets Simba the runaway lion and tries to remind him of his identity. At one point, the baboon says, “You are the one who is confused. You don’t even know who you are!” And Simba says, “Oh and I suppose you do?” And Rafiki says, “Sure do, you are Mufasa’s boy. Bye!” My favorite character in the movie then shows the young lion his reflection in a pool and Simba only sees himself. Rafiki says, “Look harder.”
The movie is an imperfect illustration, but the principle remains the same. Simba the lion forgot and let loose his identity as the king’s son and he ran away. What he believed about himself was not important.
What do you believe about Jesus and His identity? It matters what you believe about Jesus.
I would like you to know today that what you believe about Jesus and what you believe about what Jesus has done inside you is extremely important.
You and I need to believe and understand and hold tightly to the true expressed identity of Jesus Christ and hold that belief near and dear to our hearts. Don’t let that go. It is our defense against life that wants to trash us and toss us and topple us over and over. Please do not forget that the One Who calmed the raging storm with a word is your Savior and your lord. The identity of Jesus makes all the difference for us.
TRANSITION
Once upon a time on a lake, we see the power of the divine command. So, what?
ENCOURAGEMENT: PEACE IN STORMS
This is the part of the sermon that I almost did not preach because I never want to make a passage of Scripture say what I think it says rather than what it actually says. I hope that makes sense. This is the part of the sermon that makes my eyes roll because I have issues. This is the part of the sermon some of you need to hear.
Luke 8:22-25 is a passage about the nature-centered miracle that Jesus calmed wind and waves and rain and shows us clearly that nature is under His authority. This is an actual miracle where Jesus controlled physical weather. This passage is not full of symbols. The storm in this passage is not a metaphor for something else. Jesus literally and actually calmed a blowing rainy dangerous life-threatening storm.
And yet the metaphorical meaning exists and is also Truth.
Our lives are not always calm and peaceful and wonderful. I wish that when we become believers in Jesus that He promises no issues. That is not true. Trials and tribulations and sins and mistakes happen in life and we often and with good reason call those situations and seasons “storms.” We may not be in a literal hurricane or tornado, but a storm of life.
A storm of life could be:
* We lose a job or our paycheck we earn does not meet all our bills
* Someone close to us dies and we have a hard time coping
* We wreck our car and this creates chaos in our family and getting where everyone needs to go
* Our marriage has 99 problems and our spouse is every one of them
* Our marriage has 99 problems and we are every one of them
* We worry about a lump and have to have a doctor’s appointment
* School and classes are so hard and we don’t know how to do better
* We have friends who we thought were friends, but act unfriendly and we feel alone
Take your pick, life is rarely fair and those times can be called “a storm.”
What happened with the disciples in this chapter physically is often the same with us spiritually or emotionally or mentally. Testing and tribulations and life issues come. They will always come because life is not fair, we sin, and others around us sin.
It is in these times that we recognize our desperate need for a Savior and One Who is in control. We need Someone to make everything right again and give us peace. I would like to encourage you that Jesus Christ has proven Himself trustworthy and in control through all of life’s storms… actual storms… and also those that are mental, emotional, and spiritual.
When you are in the midst of a trial or a test or a storm of life, I want to encourage you to have Jesus as the Chief Passenger of your life. Please do not try and live life and make decisions without Him and go your own way. That never ends well. Ever. Please hold to Jesus tightly and pray to Him when the storms of life kick up. Read His Word and obey His way when life is tempting and testing and hard. Have faith that Jesus is in control and has more peace to speak into your life than any other source.
It could be that you are Lieutenant Dan strapped to the mast of a sailboat and your life is beating your up right now. It could be that you are lost Simba forgetting who you are and to whom you belong. The encouragement is the same:
Hold onto Jesus.
Hold onto Jesus Who is the Master and Commander of all demons and unclean spirits.
Hold onto Jesus Who has planted the Word in you and will see it grow to completeness.
Hold onto Jesus Who is Truth.
Hold onto Jesus Who expects you to be obedient even when it is hard.
Hold onto Jesus Who is our healer and giver of peace.
Hold onto Jesus Who is the One Who calms all storms.
Hold onto Jesus.
CONCLUSION IN PRAYER
INVITATION
It could be that as we chatted today about Luke 8 that you know without a doubt that you are in the boat of life by yourself. You have never accepted Jesus. You have never asked Him to be Lord of your life or confessed Him as Savior and Lord. You have never been immersed in Him and received forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. You know without a doubt that you are in the boat of life by yourself. Won’t you accept Him today?
