Luke 8:26-39

2^nd Sunday a. Pentecost | 06/19/22 | Sermon on Luke 8:26-39 | Brad Everett |

One could be inclined to see today’s gospel primarily as a story about power and authority. That is, to read it as a narrative of battle between Jesus and the demons.

Which of course is understandable. Jesus arrives on the lakeshore, and upon meeting the demon possessed man, recognizes him as such and commands the unclean spirit to come out. Jesus asks the name of the demon and it answers ‘Legion’. ‘Legion’ being a Roman military unit of measure for troops, more specifically a group of 4,000-6,000 fighting men feared for their ferocity in battle and the ability to impose their will on others. Thus, ‘Legion’ not only described the number of demons but their treatment of the man, causing him to live like a deranged beast—making him and those around him suffer horrifically. A showdown is about to take place—the devil’s worst demons against God’s own Son.

But it isn’t much of a battle, as in the next verse the demons are begging not to be sent back to the abyss but instead to enter a nearby herd of swine. The demons are defeated before the fight even begins. Completely overpowered, they beg Jesus’ permission to make a particular retreat i.e. into the swine and not the abyss.  The Lord concedes and immediately, the demons run the herd off a cliff and into the lake, demonstrating their hellish bent for death and destruction.

The next scene shows the man who once lived (if one could call it that) naked among the death and decay of the tombs, causing chaos and fear for everyone, including himself, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed, calm and in his right mind. The victory is complete, the demons so totally conquered, there is no evidence of the hold they once had on this man.

This miraculous healing and deliverance isn’t so much a demonstration of power and authority, as it is of God’s love and compassion.

The demon-possessed man, was not in control of himself. The text says the unclean spirit would seize or take control of him which would result in his being bound and under guard or ranging among the tombs, naked and out of his mind. In the words that echo the Brief Order of Confession, he was in bondage to evil and couldn’t free himself.

Seeing this tormented wretch and knowing the cause, Jesus casts out the demons because of his love and care for this man, rather than out of a need to show everyone who’s in charge.

In that instant this man’s life is turned upside down (or perhaps more accurately, it is turned upside right). With a word from Jesus, he has been re-created. What evil had shattered, the grace of Christ restored to wholeness of body, mind and spirit. Freed from the demonic power of sin and death, the man sits at Jesus’ feet dressed and at peace, asking to stay with Jesus, because he is loved.

Jesus however, has other plans, and sends the man home, instructing him to declare how much God has done for him. In obedience, love and gratitude, the man does just that, not only with words, but his very presence among those who knew him previously, bearing testimony to Jesus’ recreating love. Note that it says rather than telling what God had done (as he was asked to do), he declares what Jesus had done for him—so on some level this man knew (perhaps more so than the disciples at this point) Jesus was God incarnate, God made flesh.

Unfortunately, this story doesn’t have a happy ending all the way around. When the people of the surrounding countryside came out and saw the formerly demon possessed man calm, clothed and in his right mind, it says they were seized with great fear and asked Jesus to leave.

Speculation as to why they asked Jesus to leave is just that, speculation. It is clear though that the motivating factor was fear. Instead of receiving God’s love, instead of receiving Jesus, they rejected him, out of fear. And not the kind of fear that speaks of awe and respect such as Luther spoke of in his Small Catechism when he said ‘we are to fear, love and trust God above all things’.  But fear that creates terror and dread. Fear born of uncertainty that doesn’t trust the love and promises of Jesus, but would rather cling to a faulty understanding based on past experience, regardless how meager or miserable that may be. Fear that would rather struggle to maintain the illusion of control over the situations and circumstances of life, rather than renounce the lie and rely on the graciousness of God.

Reading about the Gerasenes’ fear that pushed them to reject Jesus, it strikes close to home, because it’s painfully familiar. Fear constantly threatens, attempting to insert itself between us and God. For example, reports of the pandemic we’re still going through; economic uncertainty as currencies fluctuate and flounder while businesses large and small close their doors; threats of terrorism and war not just somewhere faraway but on our door step; social and cultural upheaval. And that’s just the stuff one could pull from the headlines. Then there is the laundry list of personal worries—items and events unique to each of us, concerns for our personal welfare as well as for family and friends.

The bottom line is that fears of various descriptions, shapes and sizes, lie in wait outside our door, ready to attack, to menace and maim our trust in Jesus, tempting us to doubt and discount his love and care. Fear that is demonic in its intent to isolate us from God and neighbour, to keep us from placing our hope and trust in Christ, and instead to flail about in anxiety and uncertainty.

But as today’s text shows us, 1 John reminds us of God’s powerful love, particularly in the face of demonic fear. 1 John 4:18 – there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

This doesn’t mean we will cease to encounter changes, challenges, the unknown and other fearful things. It does mean that as we trust in Christ’s promises to love, care and provide for us, our lives can be directed by His peace and grace rather than by anxiety induced responses to fearful situations and circumstances.

It’s not a question of if we will have to deal with change in our lives, but how we will go through that change. The Gerasenes, afraid of the change Jesus would bring, rejected him, giving into the fear. The demon possessed man, knowing all too well the hopelessness of his situation apart from God, threw himself on Jesus’ mercy, trusting that whatever the Lord provided was best.

May the Holy Spirit grant each of us to trust in Christ no matter our situation, allowing the love of God to overcome whatever fears we may have, keeping our hearts and minds in His peace.

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Pr. Brad Everett

Calgary, AB, Canada

email: everettsts@gmail.com