Luke 8:16-56

In the Light or In the Dark?

Have you ever heard the term “gray area”? It’s been a pervasive term since the creation of man. There’s just something about living in a gray area that people like. You don’t have to admit you are wrong, you make excuses for your lack of boldness, you can fudge the truth a little… A great example of a gray area is the little white lie. It’s a lie, yes, but not a real bad one. A gray area philosophy allows us to tip toe around the edges of right and wrong. It allows us to dance around being bold in our faith. It makes it easier for us to make excuses for why we don’t speak up, like “faith is just a ‘personal thing’.” The gray area philosophy allows for many shades of gray in all aspects of life. After reading today’s passage, I began to look at things a bit differently. No more gray area philosophy. Instead, as believers we need to look at things with a light and dark philosophy. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12. John 1:1-5 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.” When we see things as light and dark there are no gray areas. The absolute truth is, the absence of light is darkness and darkness can never overcome the light. Even a speck of light will chase away the dark. So, as we consider living a light and the dark philosophy, let’s look at the next few verses in chapter 8:

Vs 16-17 “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and come to light. Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

Jesus says, when you light a lamp you don’t cover it up with a basket or put it under your bed. Today, the consequences of this wouldn’t really be so bad. If we covered up our lamp with a basket, it just shuts the light out. In Jesus’ day though, putting a basket over a lamp caused a fire. Putting it under your bed cause serious damage both to property and yourself. Everyone listening to this were nodding in agreement. Of course they wouldn’t do that. That would be disastrous! But, they missed the point a bit so Jesus gives them something to think about. Nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed and nothing is hidden that won’t be made known when the light hits it. Light is always the great revealer. In a court of law you might say something like “fresh evidence has recently come to light”. Or, you might have heard the phrase, “to shed light on…” Both show us the power of light. The things we like to hide in the dark will be made evident, in a very public way, when light hits it. Jesus’ point is, we need to keep the light where it’s going to be the most effective. Where it is going to reveal and revile the darkest places in our lives. Let the light shine so all can see. When we live in this way, what people will begin to see is Christ in our lives. We will no longer hide in the dark, but shine the brightness of Christ.

Then Jesus says, “therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.” What is Jesus trying to tell us here? First the phrase “take care” in Greek is blepo, which means to look at something physical with spiritual discernment. This isn’t just about a lamp in your house, it’s about your spiritual condition. Jesus has just told them a parable about the seeds in many soils. Now he wants to shed light on their spiritual condition. Remember the Sermon on the Mount?  ”But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!” Luke 6:49. Take heed, or take care how you listen. Make sure you act on the words you hear. Otherwise, like the house on the ground without foundation, the collapse is inevitable. The seed will be choked out, eaten up or trampled on. But, if you listen and act, you will withstand the pressures and the seed will yield 100 fold.

Vs 19-21 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, but they could not meet with Him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.” But He replied to them, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.”

Sometimes, our understanding can be in the dark. We’ve seen all the evidence, yet we still can’t conceive the truth. This is where Jesus’ brothers and even His mother Mary to some extent, were at. They wanted to see Him. The Greek word for see here is horao which means to see, or to perceive with the mind or to gain spiritual perception. The same word is used when others come to Jesus wanting to see signs. There is a certain amount of denial here. They are in the dark and have come looking for evidence. But Jesus says, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.” Those who have come into the light will see. You have to stop living in the dark where you refuse to understand, needing constant evidence. Allow the light of God’s Word to penetrate your hearts and minds.

Vs 22-25 One day He and His disciples got into a boat, and He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they were sailing He fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. They came and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who can this be? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him!”

Sometimes, we, like the first three seeds, allow the world around us to trample, choke and eat us up. We have the Savior of the world in our lives. He has told us not to worry. He has said, “I am with you always even to the end of the age.” He has given us His Holy Spirit to comfort and guide. Yet, when the waves and winds come at us, we panic and creep back into the dark.” Where is God?” we ask. “I’m going to drown here!” We turn our back on the light, and look at all the ways we’re going to die! The disciples had witnessed Jesus healing, raising the dead, teaching, and performing many miracles, yet, they still didn’t horao. They still didn’t perceive with spiritual eyes. This is shown in their cry – “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” Jesus is included in the “we”. They didn’t get it. What does Jesus do? He simply gets up, rebukes the wind and waves and calm is restored once again. “Where is your faith?” Jesus asks. So often, the storm is swirling around and we’re like Henny Penny – “the sky is falling.” God will ask us once again, “Where is your faith? Come out of the dark into the light – I am faithful, steadfast, full of grace and mercy, with you always.”

Vs 26-39 Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When He got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met Him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me, Jesus, You Son of the Most High God? I beg You, don’t torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places. “What is your name?” Jesus asked him. “Legion,” he said—because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him not to banish them to the abyss. A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission. The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside. Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Meanwhile, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered. Then all the people of the Gerasene region asked Him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, He returned. The man from whom the demons had departed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He sent him away and said, “Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.

Next, Jesus and his disciples come across a man who is so possessed by demons, he no longer had the ability to live in a house or function in society. He is living in the darkest of dark. We don’t know how this man first became possessed, but we do know that demon possession requires an invitation. There are many ways in which people can invite the power of Satan into their lives. It might start with, what seems like harmless, dabbling in the occult, idolatry, superstition, and even drugs. All of these can lead to a certain amount of demonic control. It is the reason God warns us against it in Leviticus 19:26, “You are not to eat anything with blood in it. You are not to practice divination or sorcery.” We find many instances when the nation of Israel turned to idols and many kings who blatantly ignored God’s commands on this. King Manasseh is a great example: “He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did a great amount of evil in the Lord’s sight, provoking Him.” 2 Kings 21:6. Today we find many religions that continue to worship idols, allowing Satan to direct their steps. We find many people dabbling in the things of Satan, opening up their lives to his influence.

When the demons encounter Jesus, they fully understand who they are dealing with. “What do You have to do with me, Jesus, You Son of the Most High God? I beg You, don’t torment me!” They know the gig is up and they are going to have to leave their nice host body. They also know Jesus has control of their destiny: “And they begged Him not to banish them to the abyss. A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.” And so, when they enter the herd of pigs, their true intention is demonstrated. The pigs rush over a steep bank and drown. All along, these demons sought to kill, maim, and harm. No matter what lies they tell us, they only want to destroy us. A good example is the “one ring” in Tolkien’s wonderful allegory, The Lord of the Rings. The possessor of the ring was always corrupted by it, some, like Gollum, more than others. Even Bilbo Baggins and Frodo, as good as they were, could not withstand it’s power of corruption. Only when they cast the ring aside did they come back into their own.

But, if we think the man is the only one living in the dark in this story, we are mistaken. The whole town has heard of the great pig incident and they all show up to see for themselves. What they find is a man who has come from the dark into the light. He is sitting calmly at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. Instead of a great celebration, they are afraid. So afraid, they ask Jesus to leave them. They chose to stay in the dark that day. They chose to ignore the light that was right in front of them. They shut their eyes to the wonders of God, and instead, mourned the loss of an economic money maker. They allowed their fear to override their joy. The one in the dark has come to the light and the town didn’t want to see it. It is a power message for us as we navigate the economic woes of our current time. Instead of looking at what is going wrong, let’s look to see what God continues to do in the lives of people all around us.

Vs 40-56 When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him. Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house, because he had an only daughter about 12 years old, and she was at death’s door. While He was going, the crowds were nearly crushing Him. A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years, who had spent all she had on doctors yet could not be healed by any, approached from behind and touched the tassel of His robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped. “Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are hemming You in and pressing against You.” “Someone did touch Me,” said Jesus. “I know that power has gone out from Me.” When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured. “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” While He was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the Teacher anymore.” When Jesus heard it, He answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be made well.” After He came to the house, He let no one enter with Him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But He said, “Stop crying, for she is not dead but asleep.” They started laughing at Him, because they knew she was dead. So He took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then He gave orders that she be given something to eat. Her parents were astounded, but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

And so we find the last example of light and dark in this chapter. Jesus comes into a town where another crowd has come to listen to Him. A leader of the synagogue comes to Jesus begging Him to come and heal his daughter. As Jesus is going to Jairus’ house, the crowds follow, nearly crushing Him. Let’s set up this scene in a modern context. Imagine a scene where the rock star is trying to get to their car while a crowd is pushing and shoving trying to get a glimpse of him. This is what it was like. So, as Jesus continues to make his way, a woman in need of healing reaches out and touches the kraspedon, or tassel male Jews wore on the corners of their outer garments, of Jesus garment. Jesus stops and asks, “Who touched Me?” Even His disciples are a bit perplexed by the question. “What do you mean who touched you? Everyone is touching You.” And here is where we find the lesson of the light and dark. Jesus shows us the difference between incidental touches and a touch in faith. There are many who encounter Jesus incidentally. They go to church each week, do a few good deeds, talk the talk… But, there are few who reach out intentionally in faith. The crowd bumped into Jesus, but the woman reached out to Jesus in faith. And Jesus knew the difference. There were those who was came out of curiosity to see another miracle. Then there was the one who really believed, and in faith, reached out and touched Him.

It’s easy for us to walk with the crowd, bumping into Jesus every once in a while. It’s easy to be like the crowd who lived in fear after their world got upended economically. It’s easy to see the wind and rain instead of keeping our eyes on the One who can calm the storm. Today, God is offering us light. He is asking us to leave the dark behind and follow Him. So, don’t hide your light under a basket, or under your bed. Put your light on a stand so all can see. God is calling us to reach out in faith and touch Him. God is calling us to “run with endurance the race that lies before us,  keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter (teleiótés – completer) of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1b-2 God is calling us to live in the light.