Luke Part 2 Week 5

Day 1

RECEIVE

Luke 8:47-48

47 When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. 48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Jesus felt healing power leave Him when someone touched Him. When Jesus asked who touched Him the woman realized she could not remain hidden any longer. She “fell to her knees in front of him.” She explained the reason for touching His garment and that she was “immediately” healed. Jesus replied, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

REFLECT

Think how relieved the woman was when her constant bleeding immediately stopped.

RESPOND

Before the woman was healed of her continual bleeding, she was ceremoniously unclean. Visit with a friend about what it must have meant to her for Jesus to promise peace. Likely she had none of that for 12 years. Read Romans 5:1-2 for the peace promised to those who have believed in Jesus and become right with God.

Day 2

RECEIVE

Luke 8:49-50

49 While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” 50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”

Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus’s daughter who was dying. His delay with the woman who touched Him gave time for another messenger to come from the house of Jairus. The daughter is dead, the messenger announced, so there was no need for Jesus to come. Then Jesus gave the great news to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”

REFLECT

Think of these comforting words of Jesus spoken to Jairus. Jesus wanted Jairus to have faith that his daughter would be healed.

RESPOND

Join with a friend and talk about verses in the Bible that have been of comfort to you. It’s good to memorize some of them so you can quote them when going through a trial or test. Consider Isaiah 43:2; 44:22 as examples.

Day 3

RECEIVE

Luke 8:51-52

51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. 52 The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

Jesus often took Peter, and brothers James and John with Him. Now He also took the girl’s parents as He went to be with their daughter. Many people were in the house “weeping and wailing” as they grieved over the girl’s death. Jesus told them, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” What would the grieving people think of such a comment?

REFLECT

What would you have thought if someone you knew was dead was described as only “sleeping”?

RESPOND

Jesus had used the term of sleep to refer to death at other times. Concerning Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus who had died, Jesus said “Lazarus has fallen asleep” (John 11:11-13). Believers who had died and gone to heaven are referred to as being asleep in Jesus (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13 where the Greek word for “have died” is “are asleep”). For believers in Jesus, when they are absent from the body they are present with the Lord (see 2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

Day 4

RECEIVE

Luke 8:53-56

53 But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. 54 Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” 55 And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.

Notice that Jesus is concerned about the physical needs of the body. After Jesus had brought the daughter back to life He told them to give her something to eat. Understandably, her parents were amazed by what occurred. Although Jesus had sometimes told others to tell others or go to the priest, here he tells the parents not to tell anyone. He was concerned people would try to make Him king before His time.

REFLECT

Think how amazed you would be if you saw a loved one brought back to life.

RESPOND

Someone coming back from the dead does not necessarily convince people to trust in Jesus. Join with a friend in reading what occurred after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (See John 12:9-11).

Day 5

RECEIVE

Luke 9:1-3

1 One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.”

Jesus gave the 12 apostles special power and authority to show they were His personal representatives. They were not to take anything extra with them. It was assumed that provisions would be made for the apostles by those who believed the apostles represented the Messiah. If they would not, the disciples were given instruction of what to do then.

REFLECT

Think of going out with so little and depending on others to provide. That would take faith in your Master’s instructions to work in the hearts of others.

RESPOND

Join with a friend in reading Matthew 10:5-15 about Jesus sending out the 12 apostles. In that passage there were instructions to go only to the people of Israel. No such limitations are given in Luke 9, as seen in later verses.