A woman we are quite familiar with was among them. Her name is Mary Magdalene. Jesus had healed her of seven demons (mentioned in Luke 8:2) and she became a follower and supporter of Jesus, following Him all the way to His death, burial and resurrection. Jesus showed her much love by getting rid of her demons and her response to His love and blessing was to love Him back. She expressed her love by giving away the rest of her life to follow, support and love Him. A great example of what should be our response for being given freedom from our sins with the promise of eternal life.
Jesus then gave His followers the parable of the scattered seed. The seed in the parable represents the Word of God.
A farmer threw his seed to create a field to one day harvest. Some seed fell of a footpath to be trampled and eaten by birds. That represents those who hear the Word but then the devil comes and takes it away from their hearts preventing them from believing and being saved. (Believing the Word of God will lead one to Salvation) Some fell among the rocks where it grew but died for lack of moisture. That represents those who hear the Word and receive it but without deep roots they only believe for a time and fall away in times of temptation. Other seed fell among thorns and grew but was choked out by the thorns. This represents those who hear the Word but the Word is crowded out by the cares, riches and pleasures of life and they never grow into a mature faith. Other seed fell on fertile soil and it grew giving a crop that was a hundred times larger than what was planted. Last the good, fertile soil represents honest, good hearted people who hear the Word and cling to it letting it guide their lives and patiently grow into maturity and produce a great harvest. (This is how God wants us to respond to His Word. This is what each of us is to become...a people who produce a great harvest.)
Before Jesus explained the parable, the disciples asked Him what it meant. In verse 10, Jesus answered them, "You (the disciples, those who have the Word of God and are following Jesus) are permitted to understand the secrets (or mysteries) of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach others so the Scriptures might be fulfilled."
(Jesus continued in verse 10 referring to the words of the scripture to be fulfilled)
"When they look, the won't really see. When they hear, they won't understand."
The actual scripture that was to be fulfilled was Isaiah 6:9, "And He (the Lord) said (to Isaiah) Yes, go, and say to this people (all of Judah) Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely but learn nothing."
(Jesus said that just before He explained the parable of the seed.)
Jesus continued with the Parable of the Lamp. Speaking about how those who know the things of God should not keep them secret. If one has a lamp to illuminate a room, then one does not cover the lamp. Just like the lamp, do not keep the things of the Kingdom of God secret. Earlier (in verse 9) Jesus told the disciples, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God." That verse connects to verse 17 (Jesus speaking) "For all that is secret will eventually be brought out into the open and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. (Again, a light is not covered with a bushel) A time ago, I thought this verse was about all I have done someday being revealed but later made the connection to verse 10, that all the secrets of the Kingdom of God will one day be revealed and be made known to us all.
Jesus concludes that session by saying that all should pay attention to how they hear. Those who listen to His teaching will gain even more understanding but those who are not listening will even lose what they think they know.
Jesus encountered a man filled with many demons, so many that his name was Legion. The demons recognized Jesus and asked that He would not send them into the bottomless pit but rather to be allowed to enter the pigs. Jesus allowed them to enter the pigs. Upon entering the pigs, they ran off the cliff and into the deep lake water.
It struck me that demons in the Bible (unless I missed something) are always in someone or in this case, something. Jesus never encountered them wandering around haunting houses or rattling windows. Even when sent to the bottom of the lake, they remained in the pigs.
Filled with gratitude, the man freed from Legion asked to go with Jesus but was told to go home and tell his family what had happened. I see that as an example of how we should share and teach our families what we learn and experience as we learn and grow in Christ. Note that Jesus did call some to accompany Him on his journey to other places but it is clear all who learn and develop a relationship with Christ are not asked to go off to other places to teach. Some are to teach their families right where they are.
Jesus crosswed the lake to meet people who, "welcomed Jesus, becasue they had been waiting for Him." Crowds came to meet Him and were healed in response to their faith. As I contgemplated this, I could not help but consider our country, America. I hear people complain that God is not at work here. They say, there is much bad here and He does nothing. I strikes me that when we were a God fearing, God honoring country, He blessed us and grew us beyond our dreams. His hand of blessing was evident. Today, we have chased Him out of schools and public buildings. We have allowed "political correctness" to be more valued that the truth of God. In the story of Jesus crossing the lake, He healed in response to their faith. He blessed a people who were waiting for Him, who wanted Him, who received Him with joy. We have become country filled with those who want to go their merry own way, do whatever the will, reject God and them whine when He doesn't fix the mess we have created. What is there to wonder about? How can any criticize Him?