Wednesday Evening Bible Study

December 20, 2000

Introduction

Jesus had been teaching about the sower and the soils.  The parable was to teach the disciples about how differently people will react to the seed of God’s Word.  Some people will never let it get a chance to penetrate the heart.  Others only let the Word stay shallow in their lives.  Others allow the Word to get choked out by the things of the world.

But the good soil was the soil that bore lots of fruit.

(Luke 8:15 KJV)  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

:16-18  Being a light

:16  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

candle – luchnos – a lamp, candle, that is placed on a stand or candlestick

lighted – hapto – to fasten to, adhere to; to fasten fire to a thing, kindle, set of fire

covereth – kalupto – to hide, veil; to hinder the knowledge of a thing

vessel – skeuos – a vessel

bed – kline – a small bed, a couch; a couch to recline on at meals; a couch on which a sick man is carried

candlestick – luchnia – a (candlestick) lamp stand, candelabrum

enter in – eisporeuomai – to go into, enter

see – blepo – to see, discern, of the bodily eye; with the bodily eye: to be possessed of sight, have the power of seeing; metaph. to see with the mind’s eye

the light – phos – light

I think that Jesus may be talking here about the “good soil”.  The good soil is the soil that bears fruit, that produces results.

The good soil is like a lamp that is being lit.  When a lamp is lit, it is supposed to provide light.

When you allow God’s Word into your life, He wants to light up the whole room with His Word.

He’s going to light up things in your life.

He’s going to light up things in the lives of those around you.

:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

secret – kruptos – hidden, concealed, secret

manifest – phaneros – apparent, manifest, evident, known; manifest i.e. to be plainly recognized or known

hid – apokruphos – hidden, secret; stored up

be known – ginosko – to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel; to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of

abroad – phaneros – apparent, manifest, evident, known; manifest i.e. to be plainly recognized or known

When God’s Word is active in your life, and in the lives of those around you, He brings out things that are hidden in darkness.

This makes some of us uncomfortable.  We find that the closer we get to the light, the more problems we see in our lives.   Don’t let that make you run from the light.

(1 John 1:7 KJV)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

take heed – blepo – to see, discern, of the bodily eye; metaph. to see with the mind’s eye  to turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, to consider, contemplate, to look at, to weigh carefully, examine

hear – akouo – to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf; to hear; to hear something; to give ear to a teaching or a teacher; to comprehend, to understand

seemeth – dokeo – to be of opinion, think, suppose; to seem, to be accounted, reputed

shall be taken – airo – to raise up, elevate, lift up

Lesson

Growing in the Lord comes from how you’re obeying.

Jesus had just told and explained the parable of the sower and the soils.  After He finished telling the story the first time, before He explained it, He said,

(Luke 8:8b KJV)  …And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Now we see some of the importance of why we ought to pay attention to what God is saying.

If you have faith in Jesus, if you’re willing to listen to Him, then you shall have much added to you.  But if you don’t want to follow or trust Jesus, you will have things taken from you.

If we apply the Word of God to our daily lives, God will give us more  guidance. If we hear His truths but choose to ignore them, we’ll lose even the faint notion that He’s leading us.

Be faithful to what God has been saying to you.  Pay attention.

God doesn’t often let people skip steps of growth.  Sometimes we might think, “Well, I’ll just skip dealing with this particular area in my life for now”.  If you don’t deal with it, you might find that it gets more difficult to hear the Lord.  You may be trying to move on, but God is waiting for you back at that step you wanted to skip.

:19-21  Mothers and brothers

:19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

came to – paraginomai – to be present, to come near, approach; to come forth, make one’s public appearance

come at – suntugchano – to meet with, come

the press – ochlos – a crowd; a throng; a multitude

:20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

it was told – apaggello – to bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report; to proclaim, to make known openly, declare

stand – histemi – to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set; to stand.  The verb is a perfect tense, they had been standing outside and are still standing outside.  It’s not like they just arrived, but that they had been standing outside probably for awhile.

desiring – thelo – to will, have in mind, intend; to desire, to wish

The Catholic Church teaches that Mary stayed a virgin for the rest of her life.

Mary was a wonderful woman, but she did not remain a virgin.  She had further sons with Joseph.  Here we see some of Jesus’ brothers with the crowd.  Jude and James were half brothers of Jesus, sons of Joseph and Mary.

There is a further problem for those who want to exalt Mary (the Catholic Church) above other human beings, sometimes even saying that she is a “co-redemptrix”, as if she somehow participates in our salvation.  Matthew here,

(Mat 12:47-50 KJV)  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. {48} But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? {49} And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! {50} For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Jesus loved His mother, but she was simply a real woman, an ordinary woman.

:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

hear – akouo – to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf; to hear; a thing comes to one’s ears, to find out, learn; to comprehend, to understand.  Present active participle.

do – poieo – to make; to do.  Present active participle.

Lesson

Jesus’ family is made up of those who listen and obey.

Jesus puts Mary and His own brothers on the same level as any who would listen to Him and obey Him.

If you want to be “family”, if you want to be close to Jesus, then pay attention and do what He says.

As Paul told Titus,

(Titus 3:8 KJV)  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

:22-25  Commanding the storm

:22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

went into – embaino – to go into, step into

a ship – ploion – a ship

let us go over – dierchomai – to go through, pass through; to go, walk, journey, pass through a place; to travel the road which leads through a place, go, pass, travel through a region

Notice whose idea it is to go to “the other side”.  It’s Jesus’ idea.

the other side – peran – beyond, on the other side

they launched – anago – to lead up, to lead or bring into a higher place; of navigators: launch out, set sail, put to sea

:23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

they sailed – pleo – to sail, navigate, travel by ship

he fell asleep – aphupnoo – to awaken from sleep; to fall asleep, to fall off to sleep

came down – katabaino – to go down, come down, descend

storm – lailaps – a whirlwind, a tempestuous wind; a violent attack of wind, a squall; never a single gust nor a steady blowing wind, however violent, but a storm breaking forth from black thunder clouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and throwing everything topsy-turvy

wind – anemos – wind, a violent agitation and stream of air; a very strong tempestuous wind; the four principal or cardinal winds, hence the four corners of heaven

they were filled – sumpleroo – to fill completely; of the hold of a ship; to complete entirely, be fulfilled: of time

jeopardy – kinduneuo – to be in jeopardy, to be in danger, to put in peril

The Sea of Galilee is 600 feet below sea level, and  surrounded by mountains on the east and on the west.  To the west around 30 miles away is the Mediterranean Sea. Because of the extreme temperature differences between the area of the sea of Galilee and  the Mediterranean, the winds will suddenly come roaring down the canyon in the area of Magdala and in a moment the lake can be stirred into a boiling cauldron with massive waves.

Think of what this is like in our lives, where Jesus is on my boat, but suddenly I’m surrounded by the storms of life and it looks like I’m going to sink.  What’s worse, Jesus seems to be asleep and doesn’t seem to care what I’m going through.

:24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish.

they came to – proserchomai – to come to, approach; draw near to; to assent to

awoke – diegeiro – to wake up, awaken, arouse (from sleep)

Master – epistates (“upon” + “stand”) – any sort of superintendent or overseer.  Perhaps it’s like us calling someone “Boss”.  This is a word that is only found in Luke.

we perish – apollumi – to destroy; to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin; to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed

Keep in mind, these guys are able seamen.  They know what to do in a storm.  I don’t think they’re waking Jesus up because they forgot how to sail the boat.  They’re letting Him know that they are sinking.

:24  Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

arose – egeiro – to arouse, cause to rise; to arouse from sleep, to awake

rebuked – epitimao – to show honour to, to honour; to raise the price of; to adjudge, award, in the sense of merited penalty; to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely; to admonish or charge sharply

wind – anemos – wind, a violent agitation and stream of air; a very strong tempestuous wind

raging – kludon – a dashing or surging wave, a surge, a violent agitation of the sea; not a single surge, but a continuous set of waves, one after the other.

water – hudor – water

ceased – pauo – to make to cease or desist; to restrain a thing or person from something

calm – galene – calmness, stillness of the sea, a calm

Mark records the words that Jesus speaks as He rebuked the wind and the waves,

(Mark 4:39 KJV)  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

peace – siopao – to be silent, hold one’s peace; used of one’s silence because dumb; metaph. of a calm, quiet sea

be still – phimoo – to close the mouth with a muzzle, to muzzle; metaph.  to stop the mouth, make speechless, reduce to silence; to become speechless; to be kept in check

:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith?

faith – pistis – conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it

Some people look at this as if Jesus is saying to the disciples that they ought to have rebuked the wind and the sea too, as if Jesus had enough faith but the disciples didn’t.

I think the issue is about their faith in Jesus.

They shouldn’t have freaked out because Jesus was on board. 

Jesus was the one Who had decided to go to the other side in the first place.

They had even gotten to the place where they felt that Jesus didn’t care about them anymore.

(Mark 4:38 KJV)  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

care – melo – to care about

Lesson

Trust Him.

I have to admit that there are times I get tremendously discouraged and depressed, thinking that everything at church is simply going to fall apart.

I too need a little rebuking for my lack of faith.

What would the situation have looked like if the disciples acted in faith?

Would they have tried to wake Jesus?  I don’t think that would have been a problem.

But instead of rebuking Jesus for not caring, and instead of assuming that they were going to perish, they could have asked Jesus for help.

Look at a brother in a similar situation, one who had been growing in his faith.

(Acts 27:14-25 KJV)  But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. {15} And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. {16} And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: {17} Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, struck sail, and so were driven. {18} And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; {19} And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. {20} And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. {21} But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. {22} And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. {23} For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, {24} Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. {25} Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Look at Paul’s attitude.  When he says that the God has given Paul the people on board, it means that Paul has been praying.  He’s been seeking God.

:25 And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

being afraid – phobeo – to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away); to put to flight, to flee; to fear, be afraid; to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm; of those startled by strange sights or occurrences; of those struck with amazement

wondered – thaumazo – to wonder, wonder at, marvel; to be wondered at, to be had in admiration

winds – anemos – wind, a violent agitation and stream of air; a very strong tempestuous wind

commandeth – epitasso – to enjoin upon, order, command, charge

water – hudor – water

they obey – hupakouo – to listen, to harken; of one who on the knock at the door comes to listen who it is, (the duty of a porter); to harken to a command; to obey, be obedient to, submit to

Jesus is being obeyed by what we classify as forces of nature, not things with personality or will.

Lesson

Jesus can do anything.

We have a peek at Jesus’ deity here.  He as the Creator can command the wind and the waves.

If Jesus can command the wind and the waves, can He help you?  Is He in your boat?