Luke 8:19-25 January 11,1999

Last time we concluded our study of the Parable of the Sower with comments on finding our ministry and calling in the Body of Christ so that we can be fruitful and productive in the kingdom. Tonight we begin studying at Luke 8:19, and find the answer to the question, who are Jesus' true relatives?

A note before we start. I realize that Catholics do not believe that Jesus had blood brothers, that is, sons of Mary and Joseph. Catholics believe that the term that is translated "brothers" in the NIV should be translated "relatives", and refers to cousins or something.

This word, "adelphos" {ad-el-fos'} in Greek, is from "a "(as a connective particle) and "delphus" (the womb); with the primary meaning of a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.

It can also mean having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman, any fellow or man, a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection, an associate in employment or office, brethren in Christ whether his brothers by blood or all men, apostles or Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place.

He was arousing the opposition of leaders in a way that seemed reckless to them. He had abandoned his role as head of the family, and was making what must have seemed outrageous claims. The Pharisees claimed that Jesus was demon-possessed.

It was so crowded that they couldn't get close, so apparently the word was passed to Jesus that they were waiting for him. The appearance of His family created a rather delicate situation for Jesus. He had always been obedient to His mother but to obey her now would mean abandoning His God-given ministry.

Jesus, who at age 12 said, "I must be about my Father's business", was now doing so. The natural bonds of family took second place to that call. Mary and Jesus' earthly family had no special claim on Him. It was those who heard the Word and obeyed it that had a genuine and vital relationship with Him .

Even His mother and brother were not exempt from this truth. The real brothers and sisters of Jesus are those who hear and obey God's will. Spiritual relations are more important than physical relationships. The spiritual family is far more important and far more lasting than any physical family can be.

How about you? Are you putting family relationships and responsibilities above serving God according to His Word? Now I'm not advocating neglecting your family, please understand. It is very important to take care of your own.

Matthew 10:32, 37 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven…Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me"

"Acknowledge" here is homologeo {hom-ol-og-eh'-o} meaning to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent, to concede, not to refuse, to promise, not to deny, to confess, declare , to profess: to declare openly, speak out freely , to profess one's self the worshipper of one and to praise, celebrate.

Jesus was very clear on this point. You must not only hear God's Word, but you must put it into practice. If this means breaking family bonds, so be it. Are you "saying the same thing" as Jesus in your family life? Are you confessing and professing freely your faith in Him, declaring yourself to be a worshipper, praiser and celebrator of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Mark 10:29-30 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

So if your family is placing stumbling blocks in your path, if they think you're crazy for following Jesus "all the way", especially if they are of another belief, be encouraged. You are not alone.

Jesus was the first who forsook his family to follow God, and many have followed upon this path. This reminds me of a prayer request I received today, that I would like to share with you and pray about.

baxtor wrote: :"I have received an urgent prayer request through someone in my church. There is a beautiful 15 year-old girl named Saleema in Pakistan who is a Christian. She converted her close friend, 14. This youngster was so excited about Christianity that she told her parents and they killed her! It looks like the 15-year old is to be publicly executed. We need to send up prayer for this child...please pass this on!!!"

Notice that Jesus' intention was to go over to the OTHER side of the lake. And when the Son of God intends to do something, it WILL be accomplished. And Jesus said let US go over to the other side - He intended that He AND His disciples arrive safely to the other side, no matter what.

And if the Son of God tells you that you ARE going to make it, YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT no matter what storms may blow up, or what circumstances may try to trip you up, YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT!

It must have been late in the day, when Jesus was tired from His teaching and ministering. "The soft sounds of the rowing and the gentle sway of the boat lulled Him to sleep, and He slept so soundly that He was not awakened by roaring wind, dashing spray, and the violent motion of the storm-tossed boat. Jesus was the divine Son of God, but He was also human, which means that He could suffer fatigue just as we do."

"The Sea of Galilee is well known for the storms that can suddenly and violently come upon it. The mountains around the Sea of Galilee have many ravines that are like funnels through which the wind can rush down with great velocity."

In the Greek, it was called "a great storm of wind". Great storm is lailaps {lah'-ee-laps} meaning a whirlwind, a tempestuous wind, a violent attack of wind, a squall, not just 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 is anemos {an'-em-os} meaning wind, a violent agitation and stream of air, a very strong tempestuous wind

We might call it a whirlwind, a water spout, or a hurricane today. Some of Jesus disciples were experienced fishermen, and the storm was so violent it even frightened even them. but Jesus SLEPT through the storm. Wow, could you sleep through a hurricane? No, you'd be just as upset as the disciples were! Why did Jesus continue to sleep?

Jesus was the Son of God, and He WAS going to the other side. No storm, no hurricane, no tempest, no cresting wave or foamy deep could stop Him. He was sleeping, resting in God's Hands, knowing that the Father would not bring Him to harm, at peace and full of faith.

The disciples on the other hand, really didn't believe Jesus when He said, "Let US go to the other side". The were looking at the storm, and not at the STORM STOPPER! They were looking at the circumstances, not at their Lord who rules the circumstances.

Mark records that the disciples woke Jesus to whine, "Jesus don't you care what happens to us?" Is the middle of a hurricane a good time to throw a pity party? Is a crisis a good time to panic?

When you are confronted by trials, do you feel sorry for yourself or let fear take over? The best way to handle any crisis, any storm, is NOT to waste time feeling sorry for yourself or panicking, but to step out in faith and take charge of the winds and waves in Jesus' Name!

And wasn't their question ridiculous? After all, if they drowned, Jesus would drown also. And He said, Let US go OVER to the OTHER side. Jesus had no intention of drowning or letting His disciples drown. They were focusing on the problem, and not the solution, and feeling sorry for themselves because Jesus did not do things THEIR way.

The key is to HOPE IN THE LORD, not our own strengths. And then we will SOAR like eagles way, way above all problems and storms of life! Take charge over the storm in Jesus Name!

Rebuke in the Greek epitimao {ep-ee-tee-mah'-o} and means to adjudge, award, in the sense of merited penalty; to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely, to admonish or charge sharply. Isn't this an odd word to use to calm a storm? Why do you think that Jesus would rebuke the weather?

This is the same word used when Jesus rebuked the demon Luke 4, and we can see why Jesus would penalize the demon for inhabiting one of God's children. The next event in Luke's Gospel is the glorious deliverance of a man possessed by 6,000 demons in the region of Gadara. satan apparently "pulled out all the stops" to try to prevent this from occurring and to try to destroy Jesus..

Also Jesus was Lord of the wind and waves. How dare they try to interfere with His passage across the Sea of Galilee? A storm trying to destroy the Creator of the wind and waves was certainly out of order!

Jesus said, Peace, be still! Peace here is siopao {see-o-pah'-o} from siope (silence, i.e. a hush, properly, muteness, an involuntary stillness, or inability to speak), meaning to be silent, to hold one's peace, used metaphorically of a calm, quiet sea. Peace here has the connotation of a forced silence. The sea became silent or calm because the Lord of the sea told the tempestuous winds and waves to hush.