“Jesus’ Amazing Ministry” (Luke 8:1-3)

     And it came to pass afterward that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him and certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, out of whom, went seven devils and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna and many others which ministered unto Him of their substance (Luke 8:1-3).

     From what we read, we see that the Lord Jesus is diligent and thorough in His ministry work when He was here on earth.

     He went throughout every city and village (1a).

     He surveyed His area of ministry in a logical, spatial manner, one town after another. He did not skip and chose what He only liked. Every single soul is important to Him.

     Likewise, in continuing Jesus’ work as He is now in heaven, we attend to its every single detail and don’t skip, choose what we only like, and settle for mediocrity. Instead, we strive for excellence.

     Jesus’ ministry work comprised primarily of these three things.

     1. Teaching.

     ...preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God (1b)

     As a Man, Jesus is the greatest Teacher who ever lived. And He wants His disciples to be good teachers too. After calling them, He gave them the task of teaching others the things that He taught them.

     Likewise, He expects His modern disciples whom He specifically called to teach to be good teachers, teaching the people God’s commandments, God’s eternal principles, and how to have the right relationship with Him, hoping these will help them become freethinkers and be better people.

     For this to happen, teachers must devote their hearts and minds to the vocation of teaching God’s Word. First, they must ask the Lord Holy Spirit teach them His Word. Then they must study the Scriptures carefully and do the necessary side researches. We put the same amount of effort in the area of music. We see to it that we sound good and crisp and that we are able to stir each other’s soul to sing our hearts out to God.

     2. Healing.

     ...which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities (2b)

     Jesus has the power over nature and can command its adverse elements, like unusual storms in the middle of a lake or sicknesses in people, to flee from His presence. Even today, He can heal us of our sicknesses through either spectacular or natural means if He so chooses, if that is His will. Miracles still happen. He can also strengthen certain aspects in our lives that appear or are in fact weak, useless, or hopeless in the same way that He restored a withered hand.

     3. Exorcism.

     ...which had been healed of evil spirits... out of whom, went seven devils (2d)

     Even today, Jesus can deliver us from the hold of evil spirits that torment us and the suppression of the clear yet subtle influence of fallen angels in the minds of people who think that their aggression is right or normal or acceptable or justified. Sometimes the craziness is outright, yet... And sometimes, even those in the side of good are still susceptible to the deception by the devil because the devil is that sly and the devil is a liar. Sometimes, people find themselves fighting their own demons, so to speak. If they let God and not choose to nurse and retain those demons in them, the Lord can surely deliver them from those.

Passage by Passage: Luke 8 series, episode 1

by: Marven T. Baldo