So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. 27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town. 28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.
30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. 32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned. (Luke 8:26-33 NLT)
This dramatic encounter happened in a different part of Israel. Jesus and His Disciples crossed the lake into a Gentile (not Jewish) part of the country. One reason we know that is because there is a herd of pigs feeding on the hillside. The Jewish people did not raise pigs because their meat was considered "unclean."
The man Jesus encounters on the shore is uncontrollable because he is demon possessed. We don't talk about demon possession much any more. But that doesn't mean it still does not happen. The demons were afraid of Jesus and beg to be allowed to leave the man and go into the pigs. Jesus gave them permission to do that. The man was not the same after that. (We will look at that part of the story tomorrow.)
Jesus has the power to help us deal with the "demons" in our lives. He can help us face our addictions. He can break the strangle hold sin and guilt can have on our lives. He can set us free so that we are "not the same" anymore because we have a new life in Christ.
30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. 32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned. (Luke 8:26-33 NLT)
This dramatic encounter happened in a different part of Israel. Jesus and His Disciples crossed the lake into a Gentile (not Jewish) part of the country. One reason we know that is because there is a herd of pigs feeding on the hillside. The Jewish people did not raise pigs because their meat was considered "unclean."
The man Jesus encounters on the shore is uncontrollable because he is demon possessed. We don't talk about demon possession much any more. But that doesn't mean it still does not happen. The demons were afraid of Jesus and beg to be allowed to leave the man and go into the pigs. Jesus gave them permission to do that. The man was not the same after that. (We will look at that part of the story tomorrow.)
Jesus has the power to help us deal with the "demons" in our lives. He can help us face our addictions. He can break the strangle hold sin and guilt can have on our lives. He can set us free so that we are "not the same" anymore because we have a new life in Christ.
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