Text: Luke 8:26-39
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39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
In trying times, it is nice to hear good news!
The food you need is in stock here, and it’s on sale!
Gas is cheaper at this station!
I have an extra free ticket would you like to go!
When we know or hear of a good deal or have other good news, we like to share it and take advantage of it. Our gospel reading for today is one of trying times and good news!
26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons.
In Luke’s gospel Jesus, having calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, now makes land fall in the region of the Gerasenes.
Gadara was one of the cities of the Decapolis, or "Ten Cities," that were originally inhabited primarily by Greek people who settled in the region after the time of Alexander the Great's conquest.
After the Romans occupied the region from about 65 B.C., Gadara was made the capital of the Roman province of Peraea.
Gadara was located east of The Jordan River on a mountain about 6 miles / 10 kilometers south-east of The Sea of Galilee. The people of Gadara were known as Gadarenes, although the general area was also known as the "[region] of the Gerasenes" after the city of Gerasa which was about 45 miles / 73 kilometers farther south. They were still mostly Gentiles in the time of Christ, as indicated by their keeping of pigs.
Wayne Blank http://www.keyway.ca/htm2003/20030210.htm
The region Jesus traveled was opposite from Galilee, it was not Jewish but Greek, not clean but unclean. But still he came. Those who had lived there had even been living in tombs … another reference to being unclean.
Jesus encounters a man who is possessed by a demon.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice,
“What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most-High God? I beg you, do not torment me.”
It is not the man who speaks but the demon that controls and enslaves him.
It is so harsh a trial for the man that he is bound in chains, under guard and even breaking free is driven into the desert by the demon.
Jesus asks the demons name and is told “Legion.”
How great a possession must this have been? In Jesus day a Roman Legion may have contained 3000 to 6000 Roman foot soldiers. You can imagine how trying a time this had been and how much torment this man must have endured.
This Legion begged to not be cast into the Abyss … a place of torment but also, they recognize the power Jesus had over them and continues to have over the power of Satan in our day and they beg him to let them enter these pigs. So, he gave them permission.
33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
The reaction of the pigs shows me the utter despondency that those afflicted by demos must have felt. How too, those dealing with mental illness must feel as times lost.
I’m reminded of dear Veretta Cheal.
40 years of mental illness and dealing with depression I wondered how I was going to deal with it as her pastor?
When I would call Veretta, she would put me off not wanting a visit. It would sound to me as though someone was speaking for her.
When I would call Veretta, she would put me off not wanting a visit. It would sound to me as though someone was speaking for her.
“No …. Today is not a good day.”
But my sales background kept me involved and I kept asking questions as to get a visit set up. On our visits we would pray, at times with her daughter Debbie and also with Kathy Zolbe who lived next door.
When Veretta would have a break from the depression the joy in her voice was so inspiring and welcoming! What had been difficult became a great joy for me!
The reaction to the casting out of the demons was quite telling:
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.
Who is this man and what has he done? The livelihood of the herdsmen is gone. The people are afraid. Who is the Jesus and why is he here?
36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear.
Is the attitude simply, as long as I’m good things in life are alright?
Is there no though of those afflicted?
No caring for the plight of the lost?
No joy in seeing peace in the one who had been burdened?
Do we at times cast Jesus away, preferring the sinful world as it is?
So, Jesus got into the boat and returned.
At Pentecost we celebrate the sending of the Holy Spirit to indwell and possess us pointing us to the Jesus the Christ of God where hope and peace is.
Last week on Trinity Sunday we celebrated the work of our triune God, Father Son and Holy Spirit who creates, redeems and sustains us through the trying times of this life unto the life everlasting that awaits all who hold to the blessed Hope that is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Today, many who have been called to faith in Christ ask Jesus to leave, preferring the slop of the world and the Stys that the pigs of disobedience inhabit.
Do we tell others of the deals that the world has to offer, or do we tell them the truly Good News that in Christ there is an eternity we can possess, freely given and freely received?
Do we crave all that the world pretends to give, or do we gather together with brothers and sisters in Christ to receive the gifts that the Lord has to give to you and me?
38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”
And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
The proclamation of the Good News continues! It is proclaimed here publicly and it is proclaimed in the lives of each one of you as you live out your Christian faith in the world.
Joy in the hope that is Jesus.
Invite those in desperation to cast all their cares on the Lord.
“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”
But my sales background kept me involved and I kept asking questions as to get a visit set up. On our visits we would pray, at times with her daughter Debbie and also with Kathy Zolbe who lived next door.
When Veretta would have a break from the depression the joy in her voice was so inspiring and welcoming! What had been difficult became a great joy for me!
The reaction to the casting out of the demons was quite telling:
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.
Who is this man and what has he done? The livelihood of the herdsmen is gone. The people are afraid. Who is the Jesus and why is he here?
36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear.
Is the attitude simply, as long as I’m good things in life are alright?
Is there no though of those afflicted?
No caring for the plight of the lost?
No joy in seeing peace in the one who had been burdened?
Do we at times cast Jesus away, preferring the sinful world as it is?
So, Jesus got into the boat and returned.
At Pentecost we celebrate the sending of the Holy Spirit to indwell and possess us pointing us to the Jesus the Christ of God where hope and peace is.
Last week on Trinity Sunday we celebrated the work of our triune God, Father Son and Holy Spirit who creates, redeems and sustains us through the trying times of this life unto the life everlasting that awaits all who hold to the blessed Hope that is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Today, many who have been called to faith in Christ ask Jesus to leave, preferring the slop of the world and the Stys that the pigs of disobedience inhabit.
Do we tell others of the deals that the world has to offer, or do we tell them the truly Good News that in Christ there is an eternity we can possess, freely given and freely received?
Do we crave all that the world pretends to give, or do we gather together with brothers and sisters in Christ to receive the gifts that the Lord has to give to you and me?
38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”
And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
The proclamation of the Good News continues! It is proclaimed here publicly and it is proclaimed in the lives of each one of you as you live out your Christian faith in the world.
Joy in the hope that is Jesus.
Invite those in desperation to cast all their cares on the Lord.
“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Amen
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