8:1 A short while later he started going through one city or town after another, proclaiming and announcing the Gospel about the kingdom of God. He was accompanied by the Twelve,

8:2 as well as some women who were cured from evil spirits and diseases: Mary of Magdala from whom seven demons had come out,

8:3 Joanna the wife of Chuza (the legal guardian under Herod), Susanna, and many others who supported them from their own means.

8:4 Now a huge crowd began to form due to his going from city to city, and he gave them this parable:

8:5 “The farmer went out to scatter his seed. As he did so, some of it actually landed along the path, where it was trampled on and then the birds ate it.

8:6 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, but when they sprouted they quickly withered, because they couldn’t get any moisture.

8:7 Still other seeds fell among thorns, but when they sprouted together the thorns choked them.

8:8 Yet some seeds landed on good soil, and when they sprouted they produced a crop that was a hundred times more than the number of seeds.” Then he added, “If you have hears, listen!”

8:9 Then his disciples asked him to explain the parable.

8:10 And he replied, “It has been granted to you to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to the rest I give parables, so that ‘Though they see, they don’t really see; though they hear, they don’t understand’.

8:11 Now this is the parable: the seed is the Word of God.

8:12 “Where the seeds fell on the path represents those who hear, but then the Slanderer comes along and takes the Word from their hearts to prevent them from believing it and being saved.

8:13 “Where the seeds fell on rocky ground represents those who hear the Word and accept it with joy. But they have no root and only believe until a time when they are put to the test, and they desert the faith.

8:14 “Where the seeds fell among thorns represents those who hear, but they are choked by concerns and wealth and the pleasures of life, so they don’t mature.

8:15 “But where the seeds fell in good soil represents those with good, virtuous hearts. They hear the Word and keep it, producing a crop that endures.

8:16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so that those coming in can see the light.

8:17 For nothing is concealed that won’t be put out in the open, and nothing is cloaked that won’t surely be made known.

8:18 So listen very carefully! If you have, you will be given even more, but if you do not have, what you think you have will be taken away from you.”

8:19 Now his mother and siblings came to see him, but they couldn’t get close to him because of the crowd.

8:20 So someone told him, “Your mother and siblings are standing outside and want to see you.”

8:21 But Jesus replied, “The ones who hear and act on the Word of God are my mother and siblings.”

8:22 One day he and his disciples boarded a ship, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.”

8:23 So they set sail, and he fell asleep. Now a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were almost to the point of sinking.

8:24 They went to Jesus to wake him up and said, “Exalted One, Exalted One, we’re going to die!” But when he was fully awake he rebuked the wind and the surging water, and they stopped and became calm.

8:25 “Where is your faith?” he asked them. But they were amazed and said to each other, “Who can this be, that he gives directives to the wind and water, and they listen to him?!”

8:26 Then they sailed down into the region of the Gerasenes, which is across from Galilee.

8:27 As soon as Jesus got off the ship he was met by a demonized man from the city. For a long time he had not worn any clothing nor lived in any house, but he stayed instead among the graves.

8:28 When he saw Jesus he shouted loudly and fell down before him. “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Highest God?” he shouted. “I beg you not to torture me!”

8:29 (Jesus had ordered the unclean spirit to get out of the person, because on many occasions it had taken control of him. He had been bound with chains and ankle irons, but he broke through them and was driven by the demon into deserted areas.)

8:30 “What is your name?” Jesus asked him. And he said “Legion,” since so many demons had entered into him.

8:31 And they kept begged Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.

8:32 Now there was a fairly large herd of hogs grazing on the mountain, and they begged permission to enter into them. He granted it

8:33 and they entered the hogs. Immediately the herd stampeded off the cliff and into the lake, where they drowned.

8:34 When the ones herding the hogs saw what happened, they ran away and reported it both in the city and the farms,

8:35 and everyone came to see what this was all about. When they reached Jesus they found the person from whom the demons had left, sitting there at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and in his right mind. They were afraid,

8:36 but those who had seen it told of how the demonized man was restored.

8:37 Then the whole crowd from the area around the Gerasenes asked Jesus to go away from them, because they were gripped with fear. So he boarded a ship and left.

8:38 Now the man from whom the demons had come out pleaded to go along with him, but he sent him back and said,

8:39 “Return to your home and tell the whole story of all that God has done for you.” And off he went, telling everyone in the city what Jesus had done for him.

8:40 Upon Jesus‘ return, he was greeted by a large crowd that was expecting him.

8:41 Suddenly there came a man by the name of Jairus who was in charge of the synagogue. Falling at Jesus’ feet, he begged him to enter his house

8:42 because his only daughter, who was twelve years old, was dying. And as Jesus went along, the crowd pressed in all around him.

8:43 In the crowd was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhaging for twelve years. She had spent her entire livelihood on physicians, but none of them could cure her.

8:44 So she approached Jesus from behind and touched the hem of his garment, and instantly the flow of blood stopped.

8:45 And Jesus said, “Who touched me?”Everyone denied it, and Peter said to him, “Exalted One, the crowd is pressing in on you on all sides, and you wonder who touched you?”

8:46 But Jesus replied, “Someone touched me, because I know that power went out of me.”

8:47 Now the woman, seeing that she could not escape notice, began to shake and fell before him. In front of the whole crowd she told why she had touched him, and that she had been healed instantly.

8:48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has restored you; go in peace.”

8:49 While he was still speaking, someone from the household of the synagogue ruler came and said, “Your daughter has died; there is no more need to bother the teacher.”

8:50 But when Jesus heard this he replied to him, “Don’t be afraid, just believe, and she will be restored.”

8:51 And when he entered the house, he let no one else in except Peter, John, James, and the girl’s father and mother.

8:52 They were all sobbing and grieving for her, but he said, “Don’t cry, because she is not dead but only sleeping.”

8:53 And they laughed at him, since they knew very well that she had died.

8:54 But taking her firmly by the hand, he called to the girl, “Wake up!.”

8:55 Instantly her spirit returned and she got up, and he told them to give her something to eat.

8:56 Her parents were beside themselves, but he instructed them not to tell anyone what happened.