Set Free!                                                                                                                                       C - 6

 

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 he had lived in the tombs.  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!” 

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. 

Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied because many demons had gone into him. 

And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 

A large herd of pigs were feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 

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. 

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 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. 

Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 

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. 

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with Him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “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.

 Luke 8:28-39 (NIV)

 

You may remember this story because it is found in more than one of the Gospels.   We find out that this man was so mentally and spiritually ill he was the definition of an outcast.  Finally, Jesus cast out the many demons in him and allowed them to go into a herd of pigs, and the pigs promptly ran down to the lake and drown themselves.  The pig tenders ran to the town to tell everyone what happened, and the crowds came running to see for themselves.

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.  Then all the people … asked Jesus to leave because they were overcome with fear. 

Afraid?  Sure!  This was the town’s madman; no one was ever sure of what he might do at any given time, or just what his reactions might be if someone got near him.  He lived in the “dead” area outside town (the tombs) and wasn’t welcome where life was happening.  A dead-man walking, without a shred of hope, feared and to be avoided, shunned by everyone.

This man, by the way, was most probably a non-Jew, because the geographic area was mostly gentile (non-Jewish).  This means that, once again, Jesus worked with everyone; everyone was His brother or sister.

From time to time, even we can feel much like this man, so ill and out of the mainstream of life, away from everyone.  We also do some “tomb living”. 

There’s hope, though!  When Jesus comes along, through grace, healing, prayer, counseling ….. wonderful things happen!  Imagine that healed man at the feet of Jesus, intently listening, reveling in freedom, joy without limit, hope rather than hopelessness, fully alive rather than partially dead!  You and I are meant to, and can, have the very same experience!   

 

1) Who had and showed the most power in this story, Jesus or a bunch of demons? 

2) How fearful would the neighbors of this man be on an everyday basis? 

3) When the demons went into the pigs, did they think they outsmarted Jesus? 

4) When the pigs rushed to the water and drown, what was the effect on the  pocketbooks of the herd owners? 

5) What was the fear all about?  Afraid of what exactly? 

6) When the townspeople told Jesus to depart from them, what were they thinking? 

7) Why did Jesus say” “Return home….”?  What did Jesus have in mind for this man’s blessing?  

8) Would this formerly possessed man be accepted again into the local society, or would he always cause fear?