People come to the topic of demons with different
mindsets. Some are extremely taken in and become overboard concerning them.
Others on the other hand, don’t believe that demons exist today. Satan’s two
strategies is to either get us overly obsessed about him, or get us totally
disinterested in him. We must come to the subject with a healthy balance. The
story of the demoniac at Gerasene in Luke 8 upholds what the Bible says about Satan
and his host of fallen demonic forces. Through this account we can see Satan’s
mode of operation and why he does so. But we must not have an extreme
fascination till we feel that we have to cast him out even from a stone. What’s
important in this passage is for us to see and know that Jesus has authority
and power, to terminate everything the devil and his demons had done in the
life of a person. Immediately calming the storm in the Sea of Galilee, Jesus
came to the region of the Gerasenes. This was an area where Gentile and Jews
intermingled. Having dealt with the violence in nature, He now deals with the
violence in human nature. The violence of nature was bought about by wind, this
violence in human nature was brought about by demons.
This was a pitiful account because
of what the demons did to a human being. Luke here tells us in no uncertain
terms that he was demon possessed. Although the passage indicates that only one
demon spoke, but we are told that their name is Legion for they are many. The
one that responded to Jesus was the representative of the rest that indwelt that
poor man. He was so badly influenced that he was living a totally filthy life,
both physically and morally. He was naked and lived in among the tombs. The
people tried to restrain him and put him under chains, but he possessed great
strength and had broken the chains that were used to bind him. He could break
the chains that bind him but he couldn’t free himself from the bondage of the
demonic powers. He was uncontrollable and extremely dangerous, and had been
driven by the evil spirits to a solitary place. Bear in mind that we human
beings are created in the image of God. It is clear that Satan wants to destroy
the image and glory of God. He would go into great extent to do whatever that
would bring about the degeneration of man. This afflicted man is a sample of
how far the devil and his demons would go.
Having calmed the sea, Jesus and his
disciples landed and now came face to face with this unkempt demonized man.
When this man saw Jesus, he screamed at the top of his voice, fell at Jesus
feet and then asked a question, saying, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of
the Most High God?” And then begged not to
be tortured. When asked about his name the demon
replied “Legion.” This is a chilling admission. In the Roman army a legion
consists of 6,000 foot soldiers, and 120 horsemen and technical and logistic
personnel. In saying that his name is legion, he gives the image of a great and
highly organized demonic force, with relentless strength working to bring about
the destruction of that man. These demons knew that with Jesus, their time with
this man has come to an end. So they begged Him not to send them to the Abyss
as yet. For they knew that this would be the place where they finally have to
go. They asked to go into a herd of swine and Jesus permitted it. They came out
of that man, went into the herd of 2,000 swine, which rushed down the steep
bank and drowned.
Why did Jesus allow the demons to
enter the swine? The question can best be answered by another. Presuming that
the owners of the herd of swine was a Jew, why was he in this business? Aren’t
swine an unclean animal to the Jews? Perhaps they were looking at the profit
and secular mindsets. Their livestock became the instrument of judgment. The
dramatic end of the swine also gave powerful visual testimony of Jesus’
powerful deliverance. It’s an experience that the delivered man would never forget.
Whatever had happened reveals the
power and authority of Christ. Verses 34-35 say “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.” That man was finally able to sit still. He
was properly dressed, both physically and mentally. He was now in the right
mind. He was alert and probably devout, for he was sitting with Jesus. Just
imagine what must have run through the minds of the disciples. With a word He
calmed the storm, and now with another word, He also calmed a different kind of
storm, a spiritual kind. Their appreciation and estimation of Jesus must have
changed dramatically. Jesus could do anything. He controlled nature and now He
controlled the tempest in human soul and spirit. He had undone the work of
Satan and restored the image of God in that man. Isn’t this what He always does
when we acknowledge His Lordship? He wants to transform us. He wants to bring healing
to the total man - spirit, soul and body.
What happened next is unbelievable. Instead of
welcoming Jesus, the town folks implored Him to leave their region. So Jesus
got into the boat and left. We don’t exactly know the people’s consideration.
Perhaps two thousand swine lost in a day was too much to take. Perhaps they
also considered the demands that Christ would make, and that it would be too
costly to sacrifice. We are given a glimpse of how people would respond to
Jesus and His works. The people not willing to make the sacrifice do not want
Him in their lives. But it would be different for one who has been deeply
touched by Him. This ex-demoniac came to the Lord, begging to follow Jesus. He
was told instead to go home to his people and share his personal testimony. He
was to tell of the great things the Lord had done for Him, and the mercy that
was showered on Him. Obediently, he went back and told the people in the town
of how much Jesus had done for him.
What holds top priority in our life? What do we value most today? We cannot imagine why
people would turn their back on Jesus and send Him away. Many fear that He will disrupt their lives. We
should not think that way. In the passage, we saw that Jesus got into the boat
and left. Let this statement be not an experience in our life, where Jesus took
leave from us. Let’s make room for Him to stay.
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