Advent Devotional: The Gospel of Lukeનમૂનો

*Written by Zach Mazrim

While reading through the second half of Luke 8, I was struck by the contrast between the Lord Jesus and those whom he encountered. If one were to summarize this contrast, it would be something like, Jesus is Lord; we are not. The humanism of our day has become so prevalent in the world around us and, if we are honest with ourselves, creeps into our lives on occasion.

What I mean by humanism is the belief that we as people are gods of some sort, exercising total control and dominion over various aspects of our lives, including finances, family, and health.

As we approach the celebration of the birth of Christ, we are reminded that Jesus alone is Lord. Because we could not and cannot mend the brokenness in our own lives, let alone in our world, Jesus came to save us. In Luke 8, we see that Jesus is Lord over nature, Lord over demons, and Lord over disease and death.

1. Lord of Nature v. 22-25

Just like the disciples on the lake, we have all read about or personally experienced natural disasters in the world. Humans stand frail and vulnerable in the face of hurricanes, floods, volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. When these powerful forces of God's creation wreak havoc on homes and communities, we, too, cry out, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Each time, it is a reminder that while we can and should responsibly steward the environment around us, we cannot control the created order. God has blessed us with wisdom and technological advances to mitigate the economic toll and human suffering these disasters cause, but we are powerless to stop them. Only Jesus can command the wind and the waves.

2. Lord of Demons v. 26-39

After marveling at Jesus exercising dominion over the storm, everything else may seem less spectacular. That is until we see the plight of the demon-possessed man in the country of the Gerasenes. When Jesus meets the man possessed by Legion, we are confronted with another painful limitation of human capability. We are not able to heal genuine spiritual oppression. While advances in pharmaceuticals have shown progress in treating symptoms of mental illness, we cannot write a prescription to cure the sickness of the human soul. The temptation in our world today has been to understand every affliction as a physiological problem to be treated with mechanistic medicine. A simple look at global mental health statistics will prove the limits of humanism to understand and address the most foundational problem of the human condition. Only Jesus, Son of the Most High God, can cure the rift in the human soul.

3. Lord of Disease and Death v. 40-56

Perhaps the most universal human experience is grief over disease and death. The pain is so acute we are trying everything to eliminate them. Over the past month or more, we have seen the season change, and a host of viruses afflict members of our community and city. No matter how many precautions we take, how many medications we stock up on, or how much we boost our immune systems through healthy lifestyle habits, we are exposed in our frail bodies to illnesses and, ultimately, death. Jesus alone has the power to cure the diseases that no earthly physician can cure. Jesus alone has the power to say, "Child, arise." His healings in this chapter remind us that his earthly life and ministry incorporate a restoration of the body as well as the soul. He emphatically demonstrated this truth through his incarnation and later his own resurrection from the dead.

Luke 8 reveals that humans are powerless over a multitude of global and personal challenges. Attempts to control the great humanist experiment to conquer the world, map out and medicalize the soul, and cure death for good have proven to be futile chasing after idols. This realization should not, however, discourage us or lead us to anxiety and despair. Rather, it is meant to help us understand how much lies outside our control. It is then meant to lead us to greater trust in him and deeper worship and gratitude when we recognize what he sacrificed in order to reach out to us, to heal us, and to rescue us. Praise be to the Lord of all creation. Only Jesus wields ultimate authority.

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, we repent for the times we have tried to assume control over areas of life that belong solely to you. We humbly admit that we are powerless to save ourselves or protect those we love from harm. We acknowledge that we are fearful of the unknown; we are fearful of the pain that we are certain to experience in life. But, Lord, we cast all our anxieties on you, and we have faith that you do care for us. We thank you for taking on flesh to heal and to save. We praise you for being Lord of all creation. Help us to surrender control over our lives and fully put our trust in you. We pray for your comfort amidst the trials and challenges of this earthly life. Remind us of your power, your glory, and our ultimate hope reigning with you in the renewed creation. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does Luke 8 help you confront your own limitations in exercising control over your present and future?
2. In what ways do Jesus’ interactions in this chapter and elsewhere better equip you to speak a word of hope to a despairing friend or neighbor?
3. List three things that you have come to realize you have little to no control over living here in Beijing.
4. What is one concrete step you can take this Advent season to actively give up control over one of these areas of your life to Jesus?