Luke 8:26-39 Holman
26 Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[e] which is opposite Galilee. 27 When He got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met Him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me,[f] Jesus, You Son of the Most High God? I beg You, don’t torment me!” 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me,[f] Jesus, You Son of the Most High God? I beg You, don’t torment me!” 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.
I relate to this man - driven by inner torment
uncontrolled by any external constraint
living in deserted places
among the dead
no connection to living persons
unable to live and function in community with others
this passage is difficult because it raises so many difficult questions
How did this man come to be in this condition?
Was it something of his own choice?
in our modern era we like to be able to explain things in terms of natural causes and assign problems to some level of human control or blame
This passage forces us to acknowledge there are forces beyond our control and understanding that do intersect with our existence
How? Why? not sure
it is sanity to acknowledge there are tings beyond my limited understanding
not to make them a scapegoat
but that their are malevolent forces that I cannot deliver myself from
What exactly is the dividing line between human weakness, frailty, failing
and powerful spiritual influences that bring torment?
I don't know
But Jesus came to this man
the man no one could help
no one control
no one reach
soothe
calm
reason with
comfort
or redirect
He was completely and utterly alone
driven to torment inside and out
Oh Lord,
I don't understand all of the whys or the hows of how I came to this place
but i relate to this man
so full of pain and fear and misery
terrified of even you
who came with love and deliverance
Only you can help us, Jesus
Only you have both the power and the love to reach the unreachable
the tormented
Please help me to not run away and shut you out in my place of terror
It may be frightening and uncomfortable
but you come to bring me to peace
you come to set me free
from what is all I know
from the familiar entrapments
Help me to let you in
to let you work
Do your work of deliverance in me
This passage forces us to acknowledge there are forces beyond our control and understanding that do intersect with our existence
How? Why? not sure
it is sanity to acknowledge there are tings beyond my limited understanding
not to make them a scapegoat
but that their are malevolent forces that I cannot deliver myself from
What exactly is the dividing line between human weakness, frailty, failing
and powerful spiritual influences that bring torment?
I don't know
But Jesus came to this man
the man no one could help
no one control
no one reach
soothe
calm
reason with
comfort
or redirect
He was completely and utterly alone
driven to torment inside and out
Oh Lord,
I don't understand all of the whys or the hows of how I came to this place
but i relate to this man
so full of pain and fear and misery
terrified of even you
who came with love and deliverance
Only you can help us, Jesus
Only you have both the power and the love to reach the unreachable
the tormented
Please help me to not run away and shut you out in my place of terror
It may be frightening and uncomfortable
but you come to bring me to peace
you come to set me free
from what is all I know
from the familiar entrapments
Help me to let you in
to let you work
Do your work of deliverance in me
30 “What is your name?” Jesus asked him.
“Legion,” he said—because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him not to banish them to the abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission. 33 The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. 34 When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside.
35 Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Meanwhile, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered. 37 Then all the people of the Gerasene region[g] asked Him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, He returned.
Oh Lord,
we pray for change
for transformation
for revival
but when you work your wonderful work
we become more terrified than we were before
because you are amazing
and we cannot explain or control you
it threatens the fragile realities we try to construct
to shelter us from what we cannot understand
You came in love
to this whole region
but only one experiences your great deliverance
only one
was brought
to peace
covering
and a right mind
Oh Lord
help us to not ask you to leave
when we are frightened out of our wits
by the unknown
by you
You are so gracious
you listened to their request
you left
Please don't leave me, Jesus
I need you
and there is no other
like you
35 Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Meanwhile, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered. 37 Then all the people of the Gerasene region[g] asked Him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, He returned.
Oh Lord,
we pray for change
for transformation
for revival
but when you work your wonderful work
we become more terrified than we were before
because you are amazing
and we cannot explain or control you
it threatens the fragile realities we try to construct
to shelter us from what we cannot understand
You came in love
to this whole region
but only one experiences your great deliverance
only one
was brought
to peace
covering
and a right mind
Oh Lord
help us to not ask you to leave
when we are frightened out of our wits
by the unknown
by you
You are so gracious
you listened to their request
you left
Please don't leave me, Jesus
I need you
and there is no other
like you
38 The man from whom the demons had departed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He sent him away and said, 39 “Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.
Oh, Lord,
thank you
because you died for us
we never have to be sent away from you
we can always be with you
no matter what our situation
no matter how we feel
no matter what others may be saying and doing
or how they view us
you have made a way for us to abide in you
as we are honest with you
in confessing our sins and our need
and trusting what you alone have done
Thank you, you just want us to share what you have done
we don't have to convince anyone
or change anyone
just tell the truth
of who we are
of who you are
of what we know you have done
you are reaching out in love to those around us
even to those who have known us well in our deepest torments
Oh Lord,
I love you
you are so wonderful
thank you for loving me
and seeking me out even in my torments
for bringing me to
sitting at your feed,
clothed
and in my right mind.
a mind of worship and gratitude
to you
Amen
2 Timothy 1:7
Oh, Lord,
thank you
because you died for us
we never have to be sent away from you
we can always be with you
no matter what our situation
no matter how we feel
no matter what others may be saying and doing
or how they view us
you have made a way for us to abide in you
as we are honest with you
in confessing our sins and our need
and trusting what you alone have done
Thank you, you just want us to share what you have done
we don't have to convince anyone
or change anyone
just tell the truth
of who we are
of who you are
of what we know you have done
you are reaching out in love to those around us
even to those who have known us well in our deepest torments
Oh Lord,
I love you
you are so wonderful
thank you for loving me
and seeking me out even in my torments
for bringing me to
sitting at your feed,
clothed
and in my right mind.
a mind of worship and gratitude
to you
Amen
2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].
