Read Luke 8

At a tennis tournament in Cincinnati in the summer of 2015, top-ranked tennis star Andy Murray donned a disguise and served ice cream to the crowds. “Are you Andy Murray?” a number of people asked. “Do I look like him?” Murray responded coyly, agreeing to pose for pictures.

“Who is this?” the disciples asked one another when they saw Jesus’ astonishing display of authority over the winds and waves (v. 25). Despite having witnessed Jesus heal the sick, deliver the demon-possessed, and forgive sins, the disciples struggled to grasp the nature of Jesus’ identity. The mystery was unfolding before them, and they didn’t immediately understand the cosmic implications of Jesus’ claim to power. As we will later learn, it’s not until days after Jesus’ crucifixion that they make sense of the embodied good news of God’s kingdom. Initially, they were among those about whom Isaiah prophesied—people who see but don’t perceive, who hear but don’t understand (v. 10; Isa. 6:9).

One radically new dimension of this kingdom that Jesus promises is the announcement that God is making for Himself a new family that won’t be limited by genealogy. Instead, God’s family includes all of His obedient children—those who hear God’s word and put it into practice. Examples of these new daughters and sons of God are the formerly demon-possessed man, who, after his deliverance, became a bold witness to God’s power through Jesus; a Jewish household whose daughter was raised from the dead; and a bleeding woman, who dared to reach for Jesus’ robe (vv. 35, 48, 55). For each of these, a miracle was performed and they were converted to trust and belief in Jesus. As Jesus’ sisters and brothers, they demonstrated their obedience in radical generosity, witness, and faith.

APPLY THE WORD

Jesus’ parable of the sower illustrates the perils that threaten obedience. First, the Devil is our enemy, trying to prevent God’s Word from taking root. Second, we experience suffering, which often prevents us from persisting in obedience. Third, we face daily distractions and lose focus. Which most troubles you: the Devil, despair, or the daily grind?

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