Hello.
Welcome to my Bible readings.
In this sleep series,
I will be looking at the gospel according to Luke.
In much of the classic literature I read,
There are references to the Bible and religious teachings.
If we wish to educate ourselves fully in a literary capacity,
It makes sense that we should dive into this for reference.
And so here we are.
It is time for sleep.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose.
That's it.
Then let it out on a long sigh.
This is your time and your space.
A time where you can relax,
Safe in the knowledge there is nothing to do and nowhere to go.
Happy listening.
Chapter 8.
Women who accompanied Jesus.
Some time later Jesus travelled through the towns and villages,
Preaching the good news about the kingdom of God.
The twelve disciples went with him and so did some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases.
Mary,
Who was called Magdalene,
From whose seven demons had been driven out.
Joanna,
Whose husband was an officer in Herod's court.
And Susanna and many other women used their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples.
People kept coming to Jesus from one town after another and when a great crowd gathered,
Jesus told this parable.
As he scattered the seed in the field,
Some of it fell along the path where it was stepped on and the birds ate it.
Some of it fell on rocky ground and when the plants sprouted they dried up because the soil had no moisture.
Some of the seed fell among the thorn bushes which grew up with the plants and choked them.
And some seeds fell in good soil.
The plants grew and produced corn,
A hundred grains each.
Jesus concluded then,
Listen if you have ears.
The purpose of the parables.
The disciples asked Jesus what this parable meant and he answered,
The knowledge of the secrets to the kingdom of God has been given to you.
But to the rest it comes by means of parables so they may look but not see and they may listen but not understand.
Jesus explains the parable of the sower.
The seed is the word of God,
He said.
The seeds that fell along the path stand for those who hear.
But then the devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts in order to keep them from believing and being saved.
The seeds that fall on rocky ground stand for those who hear the message and receive it gladly.
But it does not sink deep into them.
They believe only for a while but when the time of testing comes they fall away.
The seeds that fall among thorn bushes stand for those who hear but the worries and riches and pleasures of life crowd in and choke them and their fruit never ripens.
The seeds that fall in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart and they persist until they bear fruit.
A lamp under a bowl.
People do not light a lamp and cover it with a bowl or put it under a bed.
Instead they put it on the lampstand so people will see the light as they come in.
Whatever is hidden away,
Said Jesus,
Will be brought out into the open and whatever is covered up will be found and brought to light.
Be careful then how you listen because those who have something will be given more but those who have nothing will have taken away from them even the little they think that they have.
Jesus' mother and brothers.
Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him but they were unable to join him because of the crowd.
Someone said to Jesus,
Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.
And Jesus said to them all,
My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and obey it.
Jesus calms a storm.
One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said,
Let us go across to the other side of the lake.
So they started out and as soon as they were sailing,
Jesus fell asleep.
Suddenly a strong wind blew down on the lake and the boat began to fill with water so they were all in great danger.
The disciples woke Jesus up saying,
Master,
Master,
We're about to die.
And Jesus got up and gave an order to the wind and the stormy water so they died down and there was a great calm.
Where is your faith?
He said to the disciples.
But they were amazed and afraid and said to one another,
Who is this man?
He gives orders to the winds and the waves and they obey him.
Jesus heals a man with demons.
Jesus and his disciples sailed on over to the territory of Jurassic,
Which is across the lake from Galilee.
As Jesus stepped ashore,
He was met by a man who had demons in him.
For a long time,
This man had gone without clothes and would not stay at home,
But spent his time in the burial caves.
When he saw Jesus,
He gave a loud cry and threw himself down at his feet shouting,
Jesus,
Son of the most high God,
What do you want with me?
I beg you,
Don't punish me.
He said this because Jesus had ordered the evil spirit to go out of him.
Many times it had seized him and even though he was kept a prisoner,
His hands and feet fastened with chains and he would break the chains and be driven by the demons out into the desert.
What is your name?
Asked Jesus.
My name is Mob,
He answered,
Because many demons had gotten into him at that time.
There was a large herd of pigs nearby,
Feeding on a hillside.
So the demons begged Jesus to let them go to the pigs and he let them.
They went out of the man and into the pigs and the whole herd rushed down the side of the cliff into the lake and was drowned.
The men who had been taking care of the pigs saw what happened and ran off and spread the news.
People went out to see what had happened and when they came to Jesus,
They found the man from who the demons had gone out.
He was sitting at the feet of Jesus,
Clothed and in his right mind.
They were all afraid at this.
Those who had seen it told the people how the man had been cured.
Then all the people from that territory asked Jesus to go away because they were terribly afraid.
So he got into the boat and left.
The man,
Meanwhile,
From who the demons had gone,
Begged,
Let me go with you,
Jesus.
But he was sent away.
Go back home,
Said Jesus,
And tell what God has done for you.
So the man went through the town,
Telling all that would listen of what Jesus had done.
