I’d like to take you on a journey that I took in my quiet time and personal Bible study a few days ago. The passage is lengthy and I decided to include all of it to preserve the context of the account. I plan to expand on only a few verses of the text.


Luke 8:26-39

26 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 evil 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 him 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 them, 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.
NIV

We’re given an idea as to the extent of possession the demons had over the man. The fact that he felt at home with the dead reminds me about us all being dead in our sins and how God fixed it. Check this out!

Col 2:13-15

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
NIV


Verse 28 stood out to me and I saw the man falling at Jesus’ feet and crying out. I noticed that the man was acknowledging Jesus for who He is, “The Son of the Most High God”. He was begging for mercy. I asked myself “How many times have I done that?” I can relate figuratively to this actual account when I fall to my knees seeking the Lord when I find myself in a position of desperation, oftentimes begging for mercy as well.

In verse 30 and 31I don’t see Jesus talking to the demons. He asked the man what his name was. Once again he is dealing with the man. God reminded me that even though He offers salvation to all, it’s at a personal level. I see the demons interrupting the man because they know where they are going to end up. I also noticed that Jesus gave them permission to enter the pigs. This should remove any doubt that God is sovereign.

Verse 37 reminds me that I have a free will and God will leave me to do things my own way. I think it’s cool that even though God wants us to be with Him for eternity, He gives us a free will so that we aren’t robots and have a desire to spend eternity with Him. I’ve noticed that after I’ve exercised my free will and messed it all up that God will restore me. If I look back after I’m restored I can see a lesson to be learned.

Verse 39 says it plainly. Jesus is God!

Thank You Lord that You take things to a personal level and keep our best interests in perspective. Thank You that You gave us a free will. Forgive us when we turn away.
Restore us when we come running back to You. Amen


Marc Brown