Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 35
8:13-27
Luke–ACTS
23
the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from
believing and being saved. 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. 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. 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.
“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 for those who are not listening,
even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
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.”
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. 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!”
So they 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.
