Luke 8:26-39
They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation - old things have passed away, behold all things have become new." 2Cor.5:17
"The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy. I (Jesus) come that they might have life to the full." John 10:10
When I was a kid growing up along the banks of the Wisconsin River, we could go down to the river bank which was densely wooded and walk for miles. If we walked to the right we would eventually get to the little league diamond which I believe was called Memorial Park. If we went to the left we would come to a mental asylum with people not in their right minds. As kids we would observe this from a distance always in fear that some crazy person would see us and try to kill us. This account in Luke always reminds me of this because in one direction you have the towns people. They are going about their everyday life raising pigs coexisting with this dangerous mad man on the other side of town. It was a comfortable coexistence. The possessed man was free to do his own thing - scream, cut himself, run around naked, etc., and the townspeople were free to raise pigs and say, "I'm glad I'm not like that guy. Life may be a boring grind but it could be much worse."
Enter Jesus who messes everything up. Jesus casts the demon out of the crazy man and all the crazy is gone. He now looks like a guy your daughter could date, well dressed, hair combed, bathed, strong, and with happiness on his face - and he is glowing for some reason. Could it be that now he is better off than the townspeople? Who will they compare themselves to now to feel good about their meaningless lives?
Jesus has a different way of trying to reach the townspeople. It's easy with the demon-possessed guy. He knows that he is a mess. He is the guy at the bottom of the food chain. There is no one worse off than him. All he wants is a changed life and when Jesus offers this, he gladly receives it and wants to leave everything, because frankly he has nothing, and follow Jesus. I talked to a guy yesterday and asked him when he got saved. He looked down at the ground and said in a sheepish voice, "I'm embaressed to say that it was in prison." - Exactly! With the townspeople it's different. They have a comfortable, stable, safe existence. Why would they want to leave that and follow Jesus. What Jesus does is show them first of all that He has the power of God to change lives. Then He shakes up their lives by showing them that they aren't as good as they think they are and then taking away their security and what they are finding their meaning for life in - their pigs and the money they bring to them. What is their response? "Leave us alone; we have a comfortable life. Quit trying to mess it up."
Tomorrow I get to share the gospel around a fire at the corn maze probably to about 15-20 groups of 30. That's 450 - 600 people that get to hear about the transforming power of Jesus Christ. How do I get through to them if Jesus, who was God, couldn't reach a town by performing awesome signs and wonders? Today I am going to pray for the one who has reached the bottom. They realize their life is a mess and they need to be a new creation. I pray that they might come, listen, and receive the salvation that Jesus has to offer and their life might be transformed by the Holy Spirit. The road is narrow and few there be that find it.
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