*Luke 8:22-56
Jesus calms a storm on the sea, demonstrates his power over demons by healing a possessed man, and brings a young girl back to life.
- Calming the Storm:
- Jesus and his disciples board a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee.
- A fierce storm arises, causing the disciples to fear for their lives.
- Jesus, asleep in the boat, is awakened by the disciples’ distress.
- He rebukes the wind and the raging waters, and the storm subsides, leaving a calm sea.
- Jesus questions the disciples’ lack of faith, marveling at their astonishment at his power over nature.
- Healing of a Demon-Possessed Man:
- Jesus and his disciples arrive in the region of the Gerasenes, where they encounter a man possessed by demons.
- This man had lived among the tombs, unable to be restrained by chains and shackles due to the demonic possession.
- Jesus commands the demons to come out of the man, who falls at Jesus’ feet, healed and in his right mind.
- The people of the region, frightened by the miraculous healing, beg Jesus to leave their area.
- The healed man, now restored, begs to follow Jesus, but Jesus instructs him to return home and share the good news of his healing.
- Healing a Sick Woman and Raising a Dead Girl:
- Jairus, a synagogue leader, pleads with Jesus to heal his dying daughter.
- Jesus agrees to go with him, but as they make their way through the crowd, a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years reaches out and touches the edge of Jesus’ cloak, believing she will be healed.
- Instantly, she is healed, and Jesus stops to acknowledge her faith and pronounce her healing.
- While Jesus is still speaking to the woman, messengers arrive to inform Jairus that his daughter has died.
- Jesus reassures Jairus, urging him to have faith.
- Arriving at Jairus’ house, Jesus takes only Peter, James, and John along with the girl’s parents into the room where she lies dead.
- Jesus takes her hand, commands her to rise, and she comes back to life.
- The news of this miraculous healing spreads throughout the region, leaving witnesses astonished.
Luke 8:22-56 shows us that no problem is too big for Jesus. Whether it’s calming a storm, healing a sick woman, or raising a girl from the dead, Jesus shows His power and His care for people in every situation. This reminds us to trust Him in our own struggles, no matter how hopeless things seem. Just like the people in these stories, we are called to have faith—believing that Jesus is with us, that He hears our prayers, and that He has the power to bring peace and healing into our lives.
Luke 8:22-56 (WEB)
8:22 Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23 But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water. 24 They came to him and awoke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are dying!” He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; then they ceased, and it was calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” Being afraid, they marveled, saying to one another, “Who is this then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him. He wore no clothes, and didn’t live in a house, but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me!” 29 For Jesus was commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For the unclean spirit had often seized the man. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and fetters. Breaking the bonds apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered into him. 31 They begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss.32 Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into those. Then he allowed them. 33 The demons came out of the man and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.35 People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who saw it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed. 37 All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. Then he entered into the boat and returned. 38 But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your house, and declare what great things God has done for you.” He went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.40 When Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 Behold, a man named Jairus came. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come into his house, 42 for he had an only born daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him. 43 A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. Immediately the flow of her blood stopped.45 Jesus said, “Who touched me?”When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”46 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me.” 47 When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 He said to her, “Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”49 While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher.”50 But Jesus hearing it, answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.”51 When he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother. 52 All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.”53 They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, “Child, arise!” 55 Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat. 56 Her parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done.