LIFE-CHANGING POWER
Opening Prayer
Lord, to You be all praise, glory and honor.
Read Luke 8:26–39
Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man
26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[a] which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Footnotes:
a Luke 8:26 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; other manuscripts Gergesenes; also in verse 37
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways; reclothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives thy service find, in deeper reverence, praise” (John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807–1892).Tenable, a TV quiz I enjoy, offers the team captain money or a chance to get a player back in the game. Usually they choose brainpower over cash!
These Gentile townspeople are terrified by what they see Jesus doing. If they had been given a choice, they would have gone for the “cash”—the pigs—over the afflicted man. But for Jesus there is no debate: a healed soul wins every time.
This poor man has been living the life of an outcast. He doesn’t even know his own name anymore. He is just a sum of all the demons that live in him. Jesus orders them out and faith replaces fear.
The man is dressed and in his right mind. But now comes the hard part: he has to go back and start his new life with the people who knew him at his worst (39)—the people who want Jesus and his strange power out of their sight (37). They get their desire, but they will be the poorer for it.
What about us? Are we ever frightened of what Jesus might do in our lives?
Apply
Are there people in your life you find frightening? Pray for them and your relationship with them and ask God to help you to deal with your fears.
Closing prayer
Lord, I pray for those who are troubled. May they know Your peace and presence in their lives.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.