In Luke 8:25, the disciples of Jesus thought they were going to die in a boat in the middle of a storm. Jesus stands up, calms the storm and challenges them about their faith. Their response? "Who is this guy?"
These are Jesus disciples, chosen by Jesus, taught by Jesus, let in on some kingdom secrets earlier in the chapter by Jesus, and they still don't get him. This chapter is a living illustration of Jesus parable of the seed and the sower. Jesus explained that the parable meant that some people would "get it" and some wouldn't. What follows in the rest of the chapter is a series of events in which some people get it and some don't. Some people, out of fear, ask him to leave, and others beg to stay with him.
Here is the fascinating thing, Jesus wrapped up his explanation of the parable with these words, "But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." There are three characteristics of the good seed. They hear, they retain, and they persevere. That's a description of the disciples. They didn't quite understand who Jesus was or what he was about, but they heard him, they remembered what he said, and they stuck with him, well all of them except Judas.
It wasn't about understanding everything from the beginning. Following Jesus was about the journey. There are those crisis events in our lives like the disciples being called by Jesus, or the day of Pentecost, or the day we put our faith in Christ. These are necessary elements of the journey, but it is a journey. Salvation does not begin and end with a profession of faith, that's just a critical point in the journey. God, by your grace, may I never forget that I haven't yet arrived, but may I continue to hear your word, retain your word, and persevere in it. May I be a fruitful seed. Thank you!
These are Jesus disciples, chosen by Jesus, taught by Jesus, let in on some kingdom secrets earlier in the chapter by Jesus, and they still don't get him. This chapter is a living illustration of Jesus parable of the seed and the sower. Jesus explained that the parable meant that some people would "get it" and some wouldn't. What follows in the rest of the chapter is a series of events in which some people get it and some don't. Some people, out of fear, ask him to leave, and others beg to stay with him.
Here is the fascinating thing, Jesus wrapped up his explanation of the parable with these words, "But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." There are three characteristics of the good seed. They hear, they retain, and they persevere. That's a description of the disciples. They didn't quite understand who Jesus was or what he was about, but they heard him, they remembered what he said, and they stuck with him, well all of them except Judas.
It wasn't about understanding everything from the beginning. Following Jesus was about the journey. There are those crisis events in our lives like the disciples being called by Jesus, or the day of Pentecost, or the day we put our faith in Christ. These are necessary elements of the journey, but it is a journey. Salvation does not begin and end with a profession of faith, that's just a critical point in the journey. God, by your grace, may I never forget that I haven't yet arrived, but may I continue to hear your word, retain your word, and persevere in it. May I be a fruitful seed. Thank you!
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