June 20, 2019
“Deviled Ham?” (Luke 8:26-39)
Jesus sailed to a little known region along the Sea of Galilee. He was met by a “demon-possessed” man who was naked and raving and had a violent, anti-social past. Jesus casts out the demon, after some apparent negotiation, the demon leaves the man and enters a large herd of pigs nearby. The pigs then jump into the lake and drown. The man was cured and was calmly sitting (apparently with new clothes) next to Jesus.
All of this activity caused a great commotion with the neighbors. We might think that they would have been happy for the man and relieved that he was no longer a danger to himself or others. But…they were afraid and upset and they asked Jesus to leave the area because “they were overcome with fear.”
Fear, also called anxiety, is what happens when the normal order or rhythm of people’s lives is turned upside down. The community of the demoniac had become accustomed to his behavior and they had adapted. When Jesus came and freed him of that demon the town folk became afraid of Jesus and his power. When Jesus allowed the demon to enter the pigs, which then drown, the people were upset because a source of income was taken from them.
Fear kept the people from celebrating the new life that Jesus gave to this man. Fear kept the people from realizing the new life that Jesus could have brought to them.
At the end of the story Jesus refused to take the man with him. We can understand how much that new man would want a change of scenery, but Jesus instructed him to remain at home and to tell people how great his new life really was…”Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” And the man followed Jesus’ instructions and became a living witness to the power of Jesus. Receiving a new life from Jesus helped the man put aside his own will in order to follow the instructions of the ONE who had given him new life. Notice - there is no note of fear in this new man! He is no longer possessed by the demon; he is possessed by the love of Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor Mike
“Deviled Ham?” (Luke 8:26-39)
Jesus sailed to a little known region along the Sea of Galilee. He was met by a “demon-possessed” man who was naked and raving and had a violent, anti-social past. Jesus casts out the demon, after some apparent negotiation, the demon leaves the man and enters a large herd of pigs nearby. The pigs then jump into the lake and drown. The man was cured and was calmly sitting (apparently with new clothes) next to Jesus.
All of this activity caused a great commotion with the neighbors. We might think that they would have been happy for the man and relieved that he was no longer a danger to himself or others. But…they were afraid and upset and they asked Jesus to leave the area because “they were overcome with fear.”
Fear, also called anxiety, is what happens when the normal order or rhythm of people’s lives is turned upside down. The community of the demoniac had become accustomed to his behavior and they had adapted. When Jesus came and freed him of that demon the town folk became afraid of Jesus and his power. When Jesus allowed the demon to enter the pigs, which then drown, the people were upset because a source of income was taken from them.
Fear kept the people from celebrating the new life that Jesus gave to this man. Fear kept the people from realizing the new life that Jesus could have brought to them.
At the end of the story Jesus refused to take the man with him. We can understand how much that new man would want a change of scenery, but Jesus instructed him to remain at home and to tell people how great his new life really was…”Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” And the man followed Jesus’ instructions and became a living witness to the power of Jesus. Receiving a new life from Jesus helped the man put aside his own will in order to follow the instructions of the ONE who had given him new life. Notice - there is no note of fear in this new man! He is no longer possessed by the demon; he is possessed by the love of Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor Mike