Luke 8:26-39
What Has Jesus Done?
One act of Jesus—healing a demon-possessed man—produces two opposite responses: the healed man embraces faith and follows Jesus, while the townspeople reject him out of fear. The sermon explores how our reaction to Jesus reveals who we are and calls believers to share their own stories of what Jesus has done.
Introduction
One experience but two different perceptions. Not uncommon. What one person finds humorous another doesn’t. What one finds sassy another hears it as good natured wit. My FIL was driving down the road and was pulled over by a policeman. Walking up to my FIL’s car, the policeman said, “Your wife fell out of the car five miles back.” My FIL replied, “Thank goodness. I thought I’d gone deaf!” Some will find that funny and some will not. What makes a joke funny to some and not to others? It’s hard to describe and explain. Humor is personal.
But then so is one’s faith. Same incident creates faith in some and fear in others. Same incident strengthens a person’s resolve to walk with God while producing doubt and bitterness to others. Trying to explain the different responses is not easily done. The same thing happened to Jesus. Today as we study together we will see that one incident was received well by one and not so well by others. But for the person who was healed, faith grew. For those who witnessed the healing, fear and rejection came. Let’s see what Jesus does.
The Story
Jesus travels to a Gentile area. We are not told why. Speculation is that he wanted to get away from the crowds for a time or maybe he was interested in presenting God to those outside the Jewish nation. Whatever reason, Jesus finds a man who is demon possessed. This man was possessed by multiple demons as the name “Legion” suggests. He lived among the tombs. Don’t think of a cemetery with tombstones. Think of rocky and rough areas where there are caves for burial. He was also living in shame for his was naked. According to verse 29, there was a cycle of possession not a continuous issue. As a result this man was separated from his family and friends; living in shame; extremely strong; alive but living among the dead.
The demons immediately recognize Jesus and his power to destroy them. According to verse 31, these demons beg not to be sent into the Abyss. The Abyss was the realm of the dead. It would have been a place where they could no longer inflict harm on human beings. Some want to suggest that Jesus honors the request of the demons. Quite the opposite. Matthew’s gospel allows us to know that it isn’t time for this entrapment into the Abyss. Jesus isn’t honoring their request, he is keeping God’s timing. It isn’t yet time to confine the demons.
The demons request to go to a herd of pigs close by. The request demonstrates that they are subject to the power of Jesus. Jesus permits them to go to the pigs. And the herd rush headlong into the lake and were drowned. Some want to take Jesus to task for allowing this destruction of property. Didn’t Jesus know what was going to happen? How could he allow the demons to inflict such damage? Where should Jesus have sent the demons? To another person? Actually the pigs are sacrificed for the man. Removing evil is always costly. The man who is addicted to pornography needs to get rid of the computer perhaps depriving others of access to information. The person who runs with the wrong crowd may have to give up so called “friends” to find peace, contentment, and righteousness.
The people in the town respond with fear and rejection. They are afraid of Jesus. The demon possessed man is completely different. He responds with faith. He was naked; now he is clothed. He was roaming; now he sits at the feet of Jesus. He was in solitude; now he is associating with people. He was crying out and screaming; now he is of sound mind. He wanted to be left alone; now he wants to stay with Jesus.
The Reaction
The man is cured. The people are afraid. The man wants to stay with Jesus. The people want Jesus to leave. The same event but two different perspectives. This contrast is our first lesson. How one responds to Jesus says something. A person grows up hearing the stories of Jesus and reject him. Another comes to know Jesus later in life and want to stay near him. How is it to be explained? Why are the people afraid? Are they afraid of the man? The economic hardship getting worse? The word for fear is terror or dread. Jesus didn’t come to bring fear. He came to chase fear away and yet his healing of this man brings fear. The real question is what does it say about the people?
Your reaction to Jesus says something about you. Jesus healed a man. He helped someone who was living in torment. Separated from family; shamed and Jesus helped him. Why would anyone be afraid of that? Why do we get afraid of things? Because we don’t understand them; because we like things the way they are. Our vision as a congregation is to help those who are powerless. There isn’t anything particularly pretty about that. There is a lot of unknown. Fear may be the reaction. Just leave things the way they are. The people asked Jesus to leave. Too afraid to accept him. There is no reflection in the text that the people were glad the man had been healed.
How do you explain not being thrilled that this man was restored? We read this story which reaction fits you? Afraid of Jesus and the changes he brings to your life or wanting to sit at his feet to learn all you can? The second lesson is clear. The healed man wants to come with Jesus and Jesus refuses his request. Instead he gives the man the responsibility of being a missionary in his backyard. The point is the same for us.
I understand why we use the term missionary to talk about those who are in foreign countries, but I would hope that we would see ourselves as missionaries. Every one of us is in a mission field. Our mission field like those that are sent out requires that we understand those that we are wanting to reach. We learn a language and a cultural perspective. But what is really required is telling a story. A story that starts with “Let me tell you what Jesus has done for me.” The healed man told everyone what Jesus had done for him. What has Jesus done for you? What is your story? Let me tell you what Jesus has done for me. We are on a mission and our mission field is where we go.
Follow Jesus
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