Knowing The Word in Luke 8:26-39

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon

8:26 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. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 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.” 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. 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.

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. 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. So he got into the boat and returned. 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.

Comments

This story is set in Gentile country to the east of the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. That the man had more than one demon usually suggested significant mental issues. The address “Most High God” is a Gentile term, confirming this man was a Gentile. In an ironic twist, the demon, who was tormenting the man, asked Jesus not to torment him. The man’s strength that allowed him to break iron was supernatural but demonic.

The man called himself “Legion.” A Roman legion had 6,000 soldiers, which could suggest how many demons possessed this man. It could also suggest the demon came via Roman soldiers. The abyss is a place of confinement for demonic spirits and Satan. (You can read more about it in Revelation 20:1-3.) Rather than be placed in that eternal prison, the demons asked to be placed in a herd of pigs. One difficulty with this passage is that Jesus cured the man at the expense of the pigs and the owner of the pigs. But can anyone seriously hold that pigs should be saved over humans? Was not the cure of this man of greater benefit to the community? Jesus, however, did not send the demons into the pigs. He only gave them permission.

Jesus had just miraculously “cleaned-up” the neighborhood when the neighbors asked him to leave out of fear because they did not understand how he did it. God was among them and left when asked to. Do not miss the point here. Jesus ordered him to “declare how much God has done” and the man proclaimed “how much Jesus had done.” What Jesus has done, God has done. This Gentile understood who Jesus was perhaps better than the disciples.

Application

Why did Jesus not want the healed man to follow him? Jesus wanted him to stay behind and to give witness to his healing. After all, the man was notorious in his town. Now he is changed. What a witness he will be. Each of us is the same. After a healing and/or life-changing encounter with Jesus, most of us are not called into full-time ministry but to remain where we are and give witness to Jesus.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for what you have done in my life—for the healing you have brought in my heart, mind, and spirit. Help me to share with someone today what you have done for me and what you have already done for them on the cross.