Luke 8:9-32

⁹But his disciples asked him, “What does this illustration mean?”

¹⁰Jesus replied, “You've been given insights into the mysteries of God's kingdom, but the rest are given illustrations, so that, ‘Even though they see, they don't really see; and even though they hear, they don't really understand.’

¹¹This is the meaning of the illustration: The seed is God's word.

¹²The seeds that fall on the road are those who hear the message, but then the devil comes and steals away the truth from their minds so they won't trust in God and be saved.

¹³The seeds that fall on the stony ground are those who hear and welcome the message with joy but don't have any roots. They trust for a while but when difficult times come they give up.

¹⁴The seeds that fall among thorns are those who hear the message but it's choked out by life's distractions—worries, wealth, pleasure—so they don't produce anything.

¹⁵The seeds sown on good earth are those who are honest and do what is right. They hear the message of truth, hold on to it, and through their perseverance produce a good harvest.

¹⁶You don't light a lamp and then cover it with a bucket, or hide it under a bed. No, you put it on a stand, so that anyone who comes in can see the light.

¹⁷For there's nothing hidden that won't be revealed; there's nothing secret that won't become known and obvious.

¹⁸So pay attention how you ‘hear.’ To those who have received, more will be given; from those who don't receive, even what they think they have will be taken away!”

¹⁹Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived, but they couldn't get through the crowd to see him.

²⁰Jesus was told, “Your mother and your brothers are outside. They want to see you.”

²¹“My mother and my brothers are those who hear God's word, and do what it says,” Jesus replied.

²²One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let's cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set off.

²³As they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep, and a storm came down on the lake. The boat began filling with water and they were in danger of sinking.

²⁴They went over to Jesus and woke him up. “Master, master, we're going to drown!” they said. Jesus woke up and commanded the wind and the rough waves to stop. They stopped, and all was calm.

²⁵“Where is your trust?” he asked them. Terrified and amazed, they said to each other, “So who is this? He gives commands to the winds and the water, and they obey him!”

²⁶They sailed across to the Gerasene region that lies opposite Galilee.

²⁷When Jesus stepped out of the boat onto the shore, a demon-possessed man from the town came to meet him. For a long time he hadn't worn any clothes or lived in a house. He lived in the tombs.

²⁸When he saw Jesus he screamed, fell down at Jesus' feet, and asked in a loud voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please don't torture me, I beg you!”

²⁹For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to leave the man. It had often seized him, and despite being tied down with chains and shackles, and placed under guard, he would break the chains apart and would be driven by the demon into the desert areas.

³⁰“What is your name?” Jesus asked him. “Legion,” he replied, for many demons had entered him.

³¹They begged Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.

³²There was a large herd of pigs feeding on the nearby hillside, and the demons begged him to be allowed to go into the pigs. Jesus gave them permission,