Daily Bread for Oct 30, Luke 8-9

Today’s readings are Luk 8-9.

Luke 8:1-3 provides insight to the type of people surrounding Jesus. Luke mentions the twelve but is also careful to say that there were several women, some of them influential, who followed Jesus and supported him financially.

The parable of the sower is retold in Luk 8:4-15. It is much like the version we read in Mat 13. Jesus retains the central theme; believers are to sow everywhere they go letting the Holy Spirit do the work of transforming those who hear. This perspective on the sower and the seeds is emphasized by the comments Jesus makes about hiding a lamp (Luk 8:16-17). Our job as His children is to tell everyone about Christ. The more faithful we are to that calling, the more fruit we will bear for the sake of the gospel (Luk 8:18).

As a way of affirming the Lord’s teaching, Luke depicts Jesus performing several miracles (Luk 8:22-5) albeit in a somewhat different order than the other synoptic gospels.

Addendum - There are a few things to keep in mind regarding chronology in the Scriptures.

The eastern mindset plays loose with chronology placing a higher priority on making a point than in getting an accurate order of events. It is likely that none of the gospels are spot on with the order of events particularly considering some gospels mention specific events while others do not. The early cleansing of the Temple implied in John 2:13-22 is a good example.

By and large, the three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, fill in gaps for each other. It's also likely that Jesus repeated His teaching from time to time and we get similar input from different events. This would explain the difference between the full version of The Lord's Prayer in Mat 6:5-14 and the abbreviated version in Luk 11:2-4. It doesn't make Luke's inferior, just contextually relevant to the time and place in Luke. They complement each other.

Nonetheless, there is significant evidence pointing to Mark being the first gospel written and, in some cases, a bit more detailed in order of events. This is because of Mark's close relationship with Peter. Many believe Mark's gospel is Peter's eyewitness version of what happened. Upon examining phrasing and language use, along with the order of events, many assume Matthew, Luke and John borrow heavily from Mark in many instances. That Mark is the one they adopt from is evident by the fact that Mark seems to be the common denominator between the four, more so than any other comparison of the four will reveal.

Another possibility is that there was one original document that all four gospels borrowed from. This writing has been labeled "Q," a lost document that all four gospel writers were familiar with. Most scholars like to speculate on the existence of "Q," but are quick to emphasize that this is mere speculation and has no bearing on the doctrine of inspiration. Even if Q were to be unearthed, it would not meet the qualifications for cannization. In other words, it would not be included in the Bible. However, If Q is ever discovered it will, like the Dead Sea Scrolls, bring clarity to some passages, augment others and affirm them all.

In Luk 9:1-6, as in Mar 6, the Apostles are sent out and told to take nothing with them. Their ministry of the gospel will be entirely dependent on God for their provision, protection and power. The implication, which is easy to miss, is that God will provide for them in and through the people they minister to.

Peter calls Jesus "The Christ of God" (Luk 9:18-20). With this revelation, a turning point in Jesus' ministry occurs. He begins talking about His death. He also begins to enumerate the cost of following Him (Luk 9:21-27).

With His death prophesied and the high cost of being one of His followers established, we see the transfiguration (Luk 9:28-36). It is an assurance that this is the work of God and an encouragement to His followers that any sacrifice they may have to make will be worth the glory to come. To put an emphatic coda on the victory believers will have in Jesus, we see the "majesty of God' in the healing of the boy with an unclean spirit (Luk 9:37-42). This miracle assures His followers that Jesus has all authority and power and that the glory of God is not only on the mountaintop but is in the valley as well.