“The Scope of Jesus’ Ministry Was Limited Humanly” (Luke 8:1d)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/6/2026 8:02 AM

My Worship Time                        Focus:  “The Scope of Jesus’ Ministry Was Limited Humanly”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                       Reference:  Luke 8:1d

            Message of the verse:  “The Twelve were with Him,”

            This will be the last SD on the first verse of Luke chapter eight, and then this evening, Lord willing I will begin to look at Luke 8:2-3a.

            Once again I will be quoting from MacArthur’s commentary because there are many verses to look up and put onto this morning’s SD.

            “As noted earlier in this chapter concentration of effort is the key to multiplication of ministry.  Jesus ministered constantly to the huge crowds that followed Him everywhere.  Yet the Lord focused most of His attention on the Twelve who (apart from the betrayer Judas) would continue His ministry after His ascension.  As noted in their biographies given in chapters 2 through 8 of this volume they were remarkably ordinary men.  None of the Twelve were among the elite or influential of Jewish society; their ranks included no scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, priests, rabbis, or synagogue rulers. They did not come from wealthy or influential families , and had no friends in high places.  The Twelve frequently disappointed Him with their weak faith (e. g., Matt. 8:26; 14:31) and lack of insight (Matt. 15:15-16; 16:8-11; Mark 4:10-13; 9:32; John 12:16; 20:9).”

(e. g., Matt. 8:26; 14:31)

“26  And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”

“31  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

(Matt. 15:15-16; 16:8-11; Mark 4:10-13; 9:32; John 12:16; 20:9)

“15  But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16  And he said, "Are you also still without understanding?”

“8  But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9  Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10  Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11  How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’’

“10  And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11  And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12  so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.” 13  And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?”

“32  But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.”

“16  His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.”

“9  for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.”

“But He poured His life into them, and turned them into men who would turn the world upside down.

            “The apostle Paul also understood the importance of pouring his life into a limited group of people.  Writing shortly before his execution to Timothy, one of those who would carry on his ministry after His death, Paul charged him, ‘The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust those to faithful men who will be able to teach others also’ (2 Tim. 2:2).  These four generations evident here—Paul, Timothy, the faithful men, and the others—mark the ongoing process of multiplication that has continued down through the centuries to this day.

            “At this stage of their training, the Twelve had not yet been empowered and sent out to preach, teach, heal and cast out demons.  They were observing, listening, and learning.  Only later would Jesus send them out on a preaching tour by themselves (9:1-6).”

(9:1-6)

“1 ¶  And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2  and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3  And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4  And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5  And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6  And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today:  I have to say that it was a very long time ago that the Lord lead me to begin writing Spiritual Diaries, and then around 15 years ago that I began to put them onto my blogs.  The reception began slowly as there were not too many different people from countries around the world who looked at them, and then a few years ago man SD’s were viewed in Singapore.  Then a couple of years ago it seemed that both blogs took off as many different countries were looking at them.  I have mentioned that the day after my wife’s funeral that over 80,000 views were looked at, and this was very meaningful to me as I was certainly down, emotionally at that time, and my spirit was revived after that.  I love doing these Spiritual Diaries and pray over them each day that the Lord would use them to bring honor and glory to His Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I am trusting that the Lord will continue to use these Spiritual Diaries that I am writing to bring glory to my wonderful Saviour, Jesus Christ.

9/6/2026 8:36 AM