By Howard Eyrich
Editor’s Note: In today’s blog, Dr. Howard Eyrich makes an observation about the disciples and Jesus that we would do well to understand. Dr. Eyrich explains how that as the disciples began following Jesus, there was a particularly important lesson they needed to learn in order to serve Jesus well. As you will read at the end of this post, Dr. Eyrich also believes that we need to learn this same lesson if we hope to serve Christ and others well in our day-to-day ministry as well. In this short blog, I believe is a lesson worth considering and remembering. Thanks my friend for sharing it.
Observing Jesus Developing Clarity for Disciples
Luke 8
The Disciples Need for Clarity
The disciples have been with Jesus about a year (give or take several months). A review of the previous chapters reminds us of what they have observed in their walk with him. Some rather amazing miracles and some very riveting teaching. The Pharisees and other religious leaders (at least some of them) grasp his claims to be God. The disciples appear to be rather slow on the uptake. So, Jesus designs two experiences to help them connect the dots.
Jesus’ Design to Bring Clarity
Experience one comes in the form of an arrested storm. Following an intensive teaching segment utilizing parables followed by a private lesson on the rationale for teaching via parables, Jesus tells his disciples to board the fishing boat and head for the opposite shore of the Sea of Galilee. After a hard day’s work, Jesus curls up at one end of the boat and goes to sleep. Whether by the natural environmental conditions, such storms were common, or whether the storm was purposefully put in motion, we are not told. We are simply made privy to the incident. For fear of sinking, they wake Jesus expecting him to do something. No disappointment here – He does! Their response is to query one another posing the very question he desired for them with which to wrestle, ”Who then is this man that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”
If He answered them, Luke does not record it. Rather, the second incident in Jesus’ playbook is recorded. Once they are safely to the other side, as they get out of the boat, they are confronted by a naked man indwelt by a demon. The demon identifies Jesus as “the Son of the Most High God.” Jesus casts out the demon. If you read the text, it was a dramatic scene (cf., Luke 8:26-39). The man implores Jesus to travel with him. However, Jesus sends him back to his family with this instruction, “…describe what great things God has done for you.” He did just that.
Jesus and his disciples get back in the boat and return to the other shore where the crowds are waiting for him.
The Lesson Explained
Did you catch it? In the hearing of the disciples, Jesus did not tell this man to go and tell what great things Jesus had done for him. No. Instead, He told him to go tell what great things God has done for him. Jesus now puts an exclamation point on his lesson by raising the twelve-year-old daughter of Jairus from the dead – and heals a lady with a blood disorder (cf., Luke 8:40-56).
What did the disciples need to know? The disciples need to know beyond a shadow of doubt that He, Jesus, is God because the very next thing Jesus does, recorded in Luke 9, is to bestow His power upon them and send them out to do what He has been doing.
The Bottom Line for You…
Here is the bottom line. If you call yourself a Christian and you intend to do ministry in His name, you better be sure that you know He is God.
About the Author:
Dr. Howard is married to Pam, has two adult children, and eight grandchildren. He currently teaches, is an elder, and serves as a board member of the International Association of Biblical Counselors and a fellow in the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. He has served multiple congregations as a church planter, senior pastor, and elder. In addition, he has authored multiple books and articles. Over the years, he served working on the staff of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation as Counselor and Director of Curriculum Development, the first Executive Director of then the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (now ACBC), and has led multiple training programs in seminaries and churches. He currently serves as Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program in Biblical Counseling at Birmingham Theological Seminary.
In addition, God has allowed me to be his friend.
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