- Covered In His Dust
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- Luke Chapter 8
"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."
May you be covered in His dust.
If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME! Please read Chapter 8 before reading my notes. They’ll make more sense. Read Luke 8 HERE.
Good morning ☀️
A few minutes ago, I was notified there are now 200 people reading Covered in His Dust 🤯 . Thank you for going through the New Testament with me.
I spend 3-5 hours per chapter investigating the questions that I’ve just skimmed over most of my life.
Covered in His Dust is deeper than a devotional but not as complex as a commentary.
Are you ready? Let’s go!
Until I visited Israel I thought Mary’s last name was Magdalene. It is not. "Magdalene" is derived from Magdala, a town on the Sea of Galilee.
Mary Magdalene was present at the crucifixion, standing beside Jesus' mother and the apostle John at the foot of the cross.
Mary was the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus and the discovery of the empty tomb.
Mary Magdalene's being there at the crucifixion shows how important it is to stand by others in tough times, offering empathy and support.
You know someone,
right now,
who is going through something difficult.
Send them a text. Call them. Tell them you love them.
It’s interesting that Luke mentions Herod’s household manager and his wife in writing a letter to Theophilus. It adds an interesting layer to the story.
Although Luke doesn't explicitly reveal Theophilus's identity, it is commonly thought that he may have been a person of influence or a high-ranking official.
If Theophilus was influential, he’s showing that people connected to Herod's household followed Jesus. Luke's decision to include these details could be a deliberate effort to inspire and challenge him.
The women provided out of their means.
Don’t miss this.
The women's willingness to contribute out of their own means reflects a high level of commitment and dedication to Jesus and His mission. It indicates that they were not merely passive followers but were actively invested in the success of Jesus' ministry.
The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
How does the devil take the Word from their heart?
In C.S. Lewis's book "The Screwtape Letters," demons use tactics to weaken faith and lead people away from goodness. Even though it's fiction, it gives insight into spiritual struggles.
Here are some ideas from the book that show how the devil could take away the Word of God in real life:
Distraction and Busyness: If we’re constantly busy and overwhelmed with life, we may not have the time or mental space to pray or read the Bible, making it easier for the devil to snatch away the Word.
"If you are too busy to pray, you are busier than God wants you to be."
Twisting Scripture and Misinterpretation: In the book, Screwtape suggests manipulating how individuals interpret Scripture. By encouraging misinterpretations or promoting skewed perspectives, the devil can distort the meaning of the Word, leading people away from its true message.
Fueling Unhealthy Desires: The enemy might exploit your desires and weaknesses, steering you toward sinful behaviors and away from the transformative power of the Word. Unchecked desires for power, wealth, or pleasure can create barriers to receiving and internalizing God’s Word.
Neglect of Prayer and Bible Study: Screwtape, the senior demon, advises Wormwood, his apprentice, to keep humans away from regular prayer and spiritual practices, making it easier to take away the Word from their hearts.
(Great book, by the way. Have you read it?)
The Church of Laodicea
Seeds among the thorns remind me of Revelation 3:14-22.
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
The idea of seeds among thorns also reminds me of a modern country facing similar challenges—my birth country of the USA.
What are the fruits of believers?
Here are a few.
Matthew 3:8: The fruit of repentance. Repentance is turning away from sin, seeking forgiveness, and aligning your life with God's will
Galatians 5:22: The fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Hebrews 13:15: The fruit of thanksgiving. We often overlook our most valuable gifts. 150,000 people didn’t make it to today. You did. You have purpose. God wants you here.
When you light a lamp, you don't hide it; you put it where it can light up the room. As Christians, we’re encouraged to share and not hide our understanding of God's teachings.
The one who has, more will be given.
I
Love
That
If someone already has faith and understanding, they’ll be given more faith and understanding. What a promise!
As an early believer, I never thought about or knew that Jesus had siblings.
The Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 13:55-56) and the Gospel of Mark (Mark 6:3) mention his half-brothers named James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, as well as half-sisters, without giving specific names.
“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
That scripture slides off the tongue so smoothly. But take a closer look.
His mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God. YES!
But wait… there’s more.
Those who hear the word… and do it—those who obey the Word.
Lack of faith?
While reading the story of Jesus calming the storm, at first glance, it seems like the disciples lacked faith. But I don’t think so.
The disciples, like us, were on a journey of deepening their understanding of who Jesus truly was. Faith is not always a constant, unwavering certainty; it often involves growth, challenges, and moments of questioning.
Living among tombs???
A person dwelling among tombs lived in the equivalent of a cemetery.
The choice to dwell among tombs might show the depth of the person's distress. It could reflect a state of hopelessness and a withdrawal from regular society.
Don’t miss the contrast.
“Sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind" (Luke 8:35). The transformation from dwelling among tombs to sitting with Jesus shows a powerful change brought about by divine intervention and healing.
In a Roman legion, there were typically several thousand soldiers. By using the term legion, Luke conveys the idea that the man was severely and overwhelmingly afflicted by thousands of evil spirits.
Why were the townspeople angry that Jesus healed a man?
Luke’s account says, “a large herd of pigs.” To me, a large herd would be 30 or 40. But in this case, Mark 5:13 is more specific:
"So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea."
Our neighbors raise chickens, geese, turkeys, and pigs. Because they don’t trust banks in Guatemala, they invest their money in pigs. When even one pig dies, they can feel the financial loss. Two thousand pigs could have made a huge economic impact on the entire region.
Not to mention that someone they’d never met just cast demons out of a man with a word. They were probably afraid.
Rabbit hole
Why did Jesus send him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”
Yet in the very next story, He heals a ruler’s daughter, and He “charged them to tell no one.”
Sometimes tell, sometimes not.
In the case of the demon-possessed man, this was a mostly gentile (non-Jewish) community. In the next story of Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, it was primarily a Jewish community.
Sometimes, especially in places where many Jewish people lived, Jesus told those He healed not to tell about the miracles. This is often referred to as the "Messianic Secret" because Jesus seems to be keeping his messiahship identity somewhat concealed.
One reason for this might be to avoid people getting the wrong political ideas about Him. If everyone thought He was the Messiah too soon, they might expect Him to lead in ways that go against His real mission, which is more about spiritual and kingdom-related things.
This is a pattern you see throughout the New Testament. Jesus became more clear about His identity, especially as His sacrifice drew near.
The understanding of His disciples evolved, and eventually, Jesus openly acknowledged His messiahship, leading to events like Peter's confession in Matthew 16:16.
Have an amazing week.
I love you,
George
Desperate for Him.
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