January 24, 2020

Walking Securely

Luke 8:26–56

Allison Wulfert
Friday's Devo

January 24, 2020

Friday's Devo

January 24, 2020

Central Truth

God can use the weakest or the strongest of faiths to bring Himself glory. No matter where you are or what you are going through today, you can walk securely in the peace that is found only in our perfect Savior.

Key Verse | Luke 8:48

And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

Luke 8:26–56

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon

26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, 1 8:26 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; others Gergesenes; also verse 37 which is opposite Galilee. 27 When Jesus 2 8:27 Greek he; also verses 38, 42 had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed 3 8:36 Greek daimonizomai (demonized); elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons man had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus's Daughter

40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, 4 8:43 Some manuscripts omit and though she had spent all her living on physicians she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter 5 8:45 Some manuscripts add and those who were with him said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Footnotes

[1] 8:26 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; others Gergesenes; also verse 37
[2] 8:27 Greek he; also verses 38, 42
[3] 8:36 Greek daimonizomai (demonized); elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons
[4] 8:43 Some manuscripts omit and though she had spent all her living on physicians
[5] 8:45 Some manuscripts add and those who were with him

Dive Deeper | Luke 8:26–56

In each of the three stories of this passage, people show different levels of faith. First, the demon-possessed man opposed the power of Jesus. The demons did not want to be tormented, and they begged Jesus to show mercy (Luke 8:28-31). In the story of Jarius' daughter, the people had faith in Jesus’ power to heal when the girl was alive, but they doubted—and even laughed at—Jesus after she had died (Luke 8:53). They knew, but didn't fully believe in, the power of Christ. Finally, the hemorrhaging woman had so much faith that she knew if she could only touch the hem of Jesus' robe she would be healed. She knew and fully believed in the power of Jesus, and her faith made her whole (Luke 8:48). Jesus, in His perfect kindness, met all three of them exactly where they were.

At different times of my life, I have been like all three of these people. I've been the broken high school student who felt completely alone, looking for my identity in the approval of others. I have been like Jairus' family, walking confidently toward Jesus until a close friend passed away, causing me to question God's goodness. And I have experienced the sweetness of being the woman on the street stretching for just a touch of Jesus' cloak. The complete peace, comfort, and freedom that come with walking securely in the faith and identity we can find in our perfect Savior is what God intends for us.

The beauty of these stories is that Jesus not only demonstrates His power in physical healing, but also demonstrates His concern about the eternity of those He helps. He tells the woman on the street to "go in peace" (Luke 8:48), knowing that she would experience this peace only in Him. God can use the weakest or the strongest of faiths to bring glory to Himself. 

No matter where you are or what you are going through today, I encourage you to walk securely in the peace that is found only in our perfect Savior.

Discussion Questions

1. We see three levels of faith in these passages: the demons who opposed Christ's power, the father who believed in Jesus but doubted His power as soon as the girl had died, and the woman who had full faith and trust. Which of these stories do you relate with the most? If you answered with either of the first two stories, what is keeping you from fully trusting Him?

2. Think back on a time when you felt hopeless but God completely took care of you. Do you allow that hope to shine through in your life now?

3. Are you walking in the peace of Christ, or are you trying to walk by your own strength?