Luke 9:12-17 FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH FEED FIVE THOUSAND PLUS

FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH

FEED FIVE THOUSAND PLUS

Luke 9:12-17

The feeding of the 5,000 men plus women and children is the only miracle of Jesus, other than the resurrection, recorded in all four of the gospels. (Matt. 14:15–21; Mark 6:35–44; John 6:4–13)

Luke 9:12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

Susan: The Twelve felt intimate and comfortable enough with Jesus to offer Him advice. They saw that evening was getting close and pointed out to Him that they were in a desolate, isolated area; and they urged Jesus to send the people away so they could find food and a place to stay for the night.

Luke 9:13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

Susan: To their advice, Jesus answered, “No, I want you to provide food for them.” They replied that all they had to share with the enormous multitude is fives loaves of bread and two measly fish.

Susie: Where did they get the bread and fish? John explains further:

John 6:7-9 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Susan: One little boy’s lunch was not going to cut it, and the idea of buying food for over 5,000 people was preposterous.

Luke 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

Susie: Jesus never really answered the question of whether to go out and try to make a deal for food or how to meet the need. Instead He commanded the disciples to organize the people into groups of about fifty each and have them sit down.

Luke 9:15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.

Susan: The disciples may have remembered Mary’s instructions to the servants at the wedding in Cana just before Jesus turned the water into wine, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5). They immediately obeyed instructions and organized the crowd.

Luke 9:16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Susan: Jesus looked toward Heaven, the Source of His power, and blessed the Father for His provision for the people.

Susie: Then Jesus broke the bread and fish into smaller pieces and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the crowd. The Bible does not tell us if they kept coming back to Jesus for refills or if the food just continuously multiplied in their baskets so that they never ran out. 

Luke 9:17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

Susan: Jesus did not just set out food for the crowd on a first come, first served basis. Every individual there ate until they were satisfied.

Susie: And after everyone had filled their bellies, the disciples gathered up the leftovers. John’s Gospel clarifies that Jesus commanded them to pick up the food that was left.

John 6:12 (CJB) After they had eaten their fill, he told his talmidim, “Gather the leftover pieces, so that nothing gets wasted.”

Susie: This may not have been just to show that He provided more than enough. It was not proper to throw out leftovers:

Complete Jewish Study Bible note on John 6:12

According to halakhah, traditional Jewish law, the destruction of food was prohibited. In feeding the multitudes, Messiah honors the edicts of Judaism by stating, “Gather the leftover pieces so that nothing gets wasted.”

Susie: We are not told what they did with the twelve baskets of food. Perhaps they used them for their own journey the next day or distributed them to the local needy people, but they had seen that Jesus was able to provide abundantly for their needs.

Susan: The disciples were learning that Jesus was guaranteed to have their backs in every situation as they walked in obedience to His will.

Ponder this and Apply it: The men closest to Jesus, the Twelve, looked around and tried to find a logical solution to feeding the crowd. There was no good answer. This was an opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate His ability to supply all their needs. When the situation looks impossible, when there seems to be no earthly solution to your problems, stop looking around you and look up to the Father. Many times, His provision comes in unusual ways. Live in obedience to His will and ways, and the answers will come in HIS time and HIS way. 

Luke 9:7-11 WHO IS THIS MIRACLE MAKER?

WHO IS THIS MIRACLE MAKER?

Luke 9:7-11

Luke 9:7-8 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;  And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.

Susie: The news of Jesus’s teaching and miracles had reached the highest levels of government. Herod Antipas was called “Tetrarch” because after the death of Herod the Great who ruled when Jesus was born, the kingdom was divided among his sons. Herod Antipas ruled the region of Galilee which was a fourth of the original kingdom. Tetrarch derives from “tetras” (four) and “arche” (government).

Susan: Herod was fearful of being brought under God’s judgement for killing John the Baptist. He was superstitious and thought Jesus might be John returned from the dead to exact retribution for his life being cut short by Herod’s decree.

Susie: Even if Jesus was a resurrected Elijah, Herod would have reason to be concerned because Elijah fought against another evil king and his queen, Ahab and Jezebel who had killed God’s prophets. Elijah slew 400 prophets of Baal, and Jezebel ended up as dog food.

1 Kings 21:23 And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.

2 Kings 9:35-36 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:

Susan: Herod was wrong in supposing Jesus to be Elijah, one of the other prophets, or John the Baptist come back to life. He was the Messiah prophesied of old.

Luke 9:9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

Susie: More detailed accounts of the murder of John the Baptist are found in Matthew 14:1-12 and Mark 6:14-29. The condensed version of his demise is that John had spoken out against Herod’s marriage to his brother Philip’s wife. She manipulated Herod into having John beheaded by allowing her daughter to dance before Herod at a banquet. When drunken Herod offered her a reward for the dance, her mother told her to demand John’s head on a platter.

Susan: Herod wanted to personally lay eyes on Jesus to see exactly who He was and to know what manner of man he was dealing with. In Herod’s mind, Jesus was his opposition.

Susie: There is no record of Herod traveling to see Jesus or having Him brought before him. However, his desire to see Him was fulfilled later when Pilate sent Jesus to be judged by Herod since He was from Galilee.

Luke 23:6-7 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

Luke 9:10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

Susie: After that brief aside about John the Baptist’s death and Herod’s desire to see Jesus in person (possibly because the Apostles’ mission had made him even more aware of Jesus), Luke returns to the Apostles missionary adventures.

Susan: Jesus took the Apostles away from the city in order to give them respite time to refuel and allow them to tell Him about their mission. The people were always relentless in their pursuit of Jesus and the Apostles as well now that they had demonstrated the same authority Jesus had to heal and deliver.

Luke 9:11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

Susie: This day was no exception because the people managed to follow Jesus and the disciples even to the deserted place in which they planned to rest. However, Jesus did not send them away but graciously taught them and healed those who were sick among them.

Susan: Even though the press of the public was probably annoying, Jesus did not rebuke them. In His humanity, He may have been tired, and it is certain the Apostles were exhausted. However, Jesus received the people with complete compassion.

Ponder this and Apply it: Jesus did many signs and wonders that people could not explain. Therefore, rumors flourished that He was one of the prophets of old, Elijah, or even John the Baptist. Only those whose eyes were opened by the Lord could process the truth that Jesus was truly the Messiah, the Son of the One true God. Have you ever shared the Gospel with someone who just cannot get past the miracles and keeps trying to find a logical, scientific explanation for them? When that happens, pray for the Holy Spirit to enable them to see and believe truth. Continue to live your changed life before them and point them to the word even if they find it hard to believe. Our responsibility is to share. The results of our sharing must be left to God.

LUKE 9:1-6 TWELVE SENT OUT WITH ONLY THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACKS

TWELVE SENT OUT

WITH ONLY THE CLOTHES

ON THEIR BACKS

LUKE 9:1-6

Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Susie: Whenever the Gospel writers refer to the twelve, they are referring to the disciples that Jesus had specifically designated as Apostles.

Susan: Even though the terms seem to be used interchangeably, they have different meanings:

American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828

DISCIPLE, noun [Latin , to learn.]

1. A learner; a scholar; one who receives or professes to receive instruction from another; as the disciples of Plato.

2. A follower; an adherent to the doctrines of another. Hence the constant attendants of Christ were called his disciples; and hence all Christians are called his disciples, as they profess to learn and receive his doctrines and precepts.

APOS'TLE, noun [Latin apostalus; Gr. to send away, to sent.]

A person deputed to execute some important business; but appropriately, a disciple of Christ commissioned to preach the gospel. Twelve persons were selected by Christ for this purpose; and Judas, one of the number, proving an apostate, his place was supplied by Matthias. Acts 1:2.

The title of apostle is applied to Christ himself, Hebrews 3:1. In the primitive ages of the church, other ministers were called apostles, Romans 16:7; as were persons sent to carry alms from one church to another, Philippians 2:1. This title was also given to persons who first planted the Christian faith. Thus Dionysius of Corinth is called the apostle of France; and the Jesuit Missionaries are called apostles.

Among the Jews, the title was given to officers who were sent into distant provinces, as visitors or commissioners, to see the laws observed.

Susie: Webster’s thorough definitions help us to see that “disciples” applies to all who follow and seek to learn from a teacher, in this case Jesus. “Apostles” were those Jesus specifically sent out as His ambassadors or emissaries to spread the message He taught, in this case the Twelve.

Susan: Jesus imparted the power to deliver people from illnesses and to free others from the bonds of demonic spirits to the Twelve Apostles before sending them out on mission.  

Susie: Not only were they to minister by healing the sick and casting out demons, but they were commissioned to preach the good news that the Kingdom of God was near as well.

Susan: The Kingdom of God of which Jesus was teaching did not refer to physical throne and realm. Jesus did not, at that time, come to be crowned as King over Israel. His earthly, physical Kingdom will be manifested when He returns in the future.

Susie: When Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God was “at hand.” He was referring to the spiritual rule of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who trust in Jesus. God’s kingdom in our lives delivers us from enslavement to sin and Satan to live as free people who are now subjects of a loving Sovereign, our Father God.

Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

Matthew 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Susan: Jesus instructed the Twelve not to take even what we would call a carry-on or overnight bag. They were not to take extra provisions of food, clothing, or money. The point was for them to trust in Jesus to provide what they needed by placing it on the hearts of people in each city to show them hospitality.

Susie: In Matthew’s account (Matthew 10:1-42), more of Jesus’s instructions are reported. He did point out that the needs of those who preach the Gospel should be provided by those who benefit from their ministry (Matthew 10:10).

Luke 9:4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

Susan: When they found a worthy person (Matthew 10:11) to stay with, they were encouraged to set up their home base at their house for the duration of their stay in that city.

Luke 9:5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

Matthew 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Note on Matthew 10:14 in MacArthur Study Bible:

shake off the dust from your feet. It was common for Jews to shake the dust off their feet—as an expression of disdain—when returning from Gentile regions. Paul and Barnabas also did this when expelled from Antioch (Acts 13:51). This was a visible protest, signifying that they regarded the place as no better than a pagan land.

Susan: Shaking the dust off their feet was a demeaning gesture.

Susie: To me it seems as if this meant, “This place is so bad, I don’t even want to carry any of its dirt with me.”

Susan: It symbolized their agreement with the eventual but certain reality that God’s judgement was coming to that place.

Matthew 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Luke 8:6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.

Susan: The Twelve set out on their journey to obey in both letter and spirit all that Jesus had commanded them.

Susie: They spread the Good News that Jesus had come to usher in the Kingdom of God. They healed and delivered people from village to village, perhaps preparing the way for Jesus to visit them later.

Ponder this and Apply it: We do not know how long this mission lasted; but we do know that for the duration of their journey, the Apostles were to depend on God’s provision through His people. Sometimes the ministry God has for us involves giving up all other means of support and trusting God to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19). He supplied the Israelites fleeing from Egypt with manna from Heaven. However, now the Lord supplies the needs of those in full time ministry through the generosity of fellow believers, the familyship of God. Even those who are not in ministry benefit when they realize that every good thing they have is given to them by the Lord (James 1:17). Trust the Lord to meet your needs and ask the Lord to bless you to the point that you can help to meet the needs of His servants.

LUKE 8:40-56 A MIRACLE ON THE WAY TO PERFORM A MIRACLE

A MIRACLE ON THE WAY

TO PERFORM A MIRACLE

LUKE 8:40-56

Luke 8:40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

Susie: Jesus and the disciples returned to Capernaum on the opposite shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had performed many miracles in that city, including delivering a man from a demon in their synagogue (Luke 4:33-37). Since He was famous in the area, a huge crowd of people were waiting for His return.

Luke 8:41-42 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

Susie: Since he was a ruler of the Synagogue who had the duties of preparing things for the Sabbath service and choosing those who would read the scriptures, Jairus had probably been there the day Jesus delivered the man from the demon.

Susan: Jairus’s one and only, precious treasure, his twelve-year-old daughter lay at home at death’s door. Jairus took a position of humility at the feet of Jesus, and entreated Him to come to his house to heal his daughter.

Susie: However, Jairus was not the only person in need of a miracle that day. The crowd jostled him and Jesus as they made their way back to his house.

Luke 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

Susan: None of the doctors this woman had seen gave her any help or any hope, and both she and her money were completely spent.

Susie: Because of her issue of blood, this woman would have been considered “unclean” meaning she could not go to the synagogue or really participate in society at all.

Leviticus 15:25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.

Luke 8:44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

Luke 8:44 (CJB) came up behind him and touched the tzitzit on his robe; instantly her hemorrhaging stopped.

Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Susie: Malachi 4:2 always puzzled me when I was newer to reading the Bible. I knew it was a prophecy concerning the Messiah; but as far as I knew, Jesus did not have wings. Recently, in reading the account of the woman healed by touching the hem of Jesus’s garment in the Complete Jewish Study Bible, the lightbulb finally came on! You may have noticed the Hebrew word ‘tzitzit” in the Complete Jewish Bible translation of Luke 8:44 above. This word referred to the fringe on the edge of a garment to remind the Jewish people to obey God (Numbers 15:38-40, Deuteronomy 22:12). What the note in the CJB translation pointed out was that this fringe was also referred to as “the wings” of the garment. Since the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years probably knew the prophecy of Malachi 4:2, it would make sense for her to reach out to touch Jesus’s “wings”. By doing so, she was demonstrating faith that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah of God who had “healing in His wings.”

Luke 8:45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

Susan: Jesus was not referring to just any touch but a touch with faith within it, a touch with a purpose. Someone had intentionally touched Him, rather than just bumping into Him in the crowd.

Luke 8:46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

Susie: Jesus, being omniscient, certainly knew who had touched Him and why. Perhaps He was giving her an opportunity to publicly glorify God for her healing. Or it could be that her healing needed to be made public in order for her to be officially declared “clean” and be able to participate fully in society.

Luke 8:47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

Susan: The woman was bound to be weary after having this illness for so long. She was probably used to being ostracized due to her uncleanness and felt completely worthless and unworthy, devoid of value.

Susie: That would account for her trembling timidity to be made known publicly and to address the One she believed to be the Son of God directly! She fell at His feet and declared to all how she had bled for twelve years but had been completely healed when she touched the fringe of Jesus’s garment.

Luke 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Susie: This was the only time recorded in Scripture of Jesus using the tender term of endearment “daughter” to address a woman. And she was His daughter. Through placing her faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, she was adopted into the family of God.

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Susan: The trust that the woman placed in Jesus to heal her had brought about her healing which gave her freedom once again. Jesus told her she could go in peace. Jesus had made her completely whole and wholeness always brings peace. The Hebrew word for peace, Shalom, has the connotation of “nothing missing, nothing broken.”

Luke 8:49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

Susie: The rejoicing over the woman’s healing was cut short by the bearer of bad news. A man approached Jairus and told him not to bother Jesus anymore because his little girl had died.

Luke 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Susan: Jesus, standing near Jairus, heard the report of the messenger. He matter-of-factly instructed Jairus not to be afraid but to have faith in Him, and he and his family would have the miracle he sought.

Luke 8:51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

Susan: Jesus only allowed His inner circle and the girl’s parents to be present to see the miracle He was about to perform.

Susie: Peter, James, and John were privileged to witness this miracle, accompany Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, and to stay closest to Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were definitely His closest earthly friends.

Susan: Those three were much closer than even His biological half-brothers. They enjoyed a close kinship with Him through the Holy Spirit.

Susie: The mourners and the skeptics were left outside.

Luke 8:52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

Susie: There may have been “professional mourners” as well as grieving family and friends as that was customary in that time and place. However, Jesus told them all to stop crying and carrying on, saying the girl was merely sleeping. Jesus was not denying the fact that the girl was dead, but He knew His plan to awaken her from death.

Susan: My question is, “Who on earth aspires to be a professional mourner?!”

Susie: I really don’t know, but I’ve read in multiple places that these people existed. I guess they were the type we would label “drama queens.”

Luke 8:53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

Susan: They doubted the veracity of His words and their mourning turned to derision as they mocked Him for thinking the child was only sleeping when they knew for a fact that she was dead.

Luke 8:54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

Susie: Jesus sent all but the parents and the three disciples out of the room.

Susan: He sent the mourners away and kept only those who believed with Him. Then He took the little girl by the hand and told her to get up. His words returned the breath of life back into her body.

Luke 8:55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

Susan: Immediately, she had the strength to rise from her bed, come to the table, and receive nourishment.

Luke 8:56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Susie: Even though Jairus had demonstrated enough faith to seek Jesus out to heal his daughter, he was still flabbergasted to see her rise from death!

Susan: Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about the miracle, but everyone would soon know anyway because the mourners had seen with their own eyes that she was dead and now she lived again. Jesus’s popularity was already at a fever pitch and needed no boost. He may have asked them not to make any immediate announcement so that the people would not try to crown Him king. He may have also been protecting the little girl and her family from the crowd as well.

Susie: Jesus, unlike the Pharisees, was not ostentatious. He did not purposely draw attention to Himself but rather glorified the Father. Making a big, public fanfare about this miracle would have drawn the attention of those Scribes and Pharisees who opposed Him, and it was not yet time for Him to be arrested and condemned to the cross.

Philippians 2:6-7 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

Ponder this and Apply it: Both Jairus and the unnamed woman with the issue of blood demonstrated faith in Jesus. They each placed their need before Him believing He could meet that need. Jesus can and does still grant healing. However, sometimes we do not see a miracle immediately or ever in this life. However, the greater reward of our faith is knowing that Jesus is real and present and that, ultimately, all who place their faith in Him will be completely restored to health when we live with Him forever. We say incorrectly that a person was not healed because their body dies here on earth. If that person was a believer, the minute the spirit left their earth-suit, they were made completely whole in the presence of their loving Lord.

LUKE 8:26-39 SOWERCIDE?

SOWERCIDE?

LUKE 8:26-39

Luke 8:26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

Susie: After Jesus calmed the storm, it was smooth sailing the rest of the way to the far side of the lake (Sea of Galilee). They landed in the region of the Gadarenes which appears to have been populated mostly with Gentiles rather than Jews. As noted in the previous lesson, Jesus had given no reason for the journey across the water; but God had a divine appointment for Him there.

Luke 8:27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

Susie: Matthew’s account tells of two men. Perhaps Mark and Luke described only the more vocal of the two.

Matthew 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

Mark 5:2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Susan: An interesting detail noted by Luke was that the man was wearing only his birthday suit.

Luke 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

Susan: The demons within the man knew that Jesus was the Son of God and had the authority to do with them as He wished. They took the humble attitude of begging Jesus not to torture them, throwing themselves at the mercy of God.

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Luke 8:29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

Susie: Luke points out that Jesus had already commanded the demons to leave the man or men. The townspeople had tried to control the madness of the demon-possessed man by chaining him up, but the demons strengthened him to be able to break the chains. He would flea to the surrounding countryside.

Luke 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Susie: A Roman legion had anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 men. (http://www.bible-history.com/archaeology/rome/3-legions-bb.html)

Susan: When Jesus address the naked man, he said his name was “Legion” because he was overwhelmed with the multitude of demons that possessed him.

Luke 8:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

Susie: Once again the demons begged the Almighty One not to send them into the Abyss just yet. Instead they asked to be sent into a large herd of pigs. We are not sure why Jesus granted their request. Perhaps it was to have the crowd see a visual of what happened to the demons.

Luke 8:33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Susie: Mark’s Gospel tells us that there were about 2,000 pigs in this herd! This could signify two things: 1) There were many Gentiles dwelling in the area since Jews did not eat pork and 2) there were a great number of demons possessing the two men.

Mark 5:13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

Susan: The pigs went absolutely crazy and committed hoggercide or would it be sowercide?

Susie: Either way they ran down a cliff and drowned themselves. The pigs were dead, and the demons were gone.

Luke 8:34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

Susan: The hog herders ran and spread the news about the demolished herd far and wide in the city and country to all who would listen.

Luke 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Susie: Those who heard the bizarre tale of demons entering into pigs, went out to see for themselves. What they found was Jesus teaching and the formerly demon-possessed man freed from the demons, fully clothed, and seated as a disciple at the feet of Jesus.

Susan: The man was now completely in his right mind, listening to the Teacher and hanging on His every word.

Luke 8:36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

Susan: Those who had been eye witnesses to the demons causing the pigs to drown explained to the crowds who had gathered that it was Jesus who had cast them out of the man and into the herd. The people responded in fear rather than faith and asked Jesus to leave the region.

Susie: They were frightened to be in the presence of such a powerful person.

Luke 8:38-39 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

Susan: Out of gratitude for his deliverance and faith that Jesus was the Son of God, the man wanted to follow Him as one of His disciples. Rather than have the man literally follow by walking along with Him, Jesus gave him a specific assignment.

Susie: Jesus told the man to tell the folks back home how he had been delivered from the demons and allow his changed life to be a witness to the power of the Messiah, the Son of God.

Ponder this and apply it: Sometimes it is tempting to spend all our time “sitting at the feet of Jesus” by studying the word, attending worship gatherings, and fellowshipping with other believers; and we need to do those things. However, Jesus has given us the specific assignment to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) both near and far. We are to tell others about what Jesus has done for and in us and allow our changed lives to be a testimony of His power and grace. GO AND TELL!