Pigs and Priorities

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Opening Prayer

“Yours–not mine–is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory… and I am grateful. Amen” (Walter Brueggemann).

Read LUKE 8:26-39

^[26] They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, 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.

Meditate

“This man shows how helpless one can be without Jesus, especially when shackled and stripped of sanity. But his turnaround indicates the startling contrast that emerges when one is freed from such enslavement” (Darrell L. Bock).

Think Further

We have seen a dramatic demonstration of Jesus’ power over nature and now Luke describes his authority over overt forces of evil. Jesus was confronted by a fearsome sight. A demonized man, naked, filthy and extremely distressed, threw himself at his feet. A cemetery resident, shunned because of his extreme violence, he had a fearsome reputation. However, in all his extremity, he understood more than the disciples, for he knew Jesus’ identity (28). He recognized him not solely for his power but also in terms of his person. He was the Son of God.

We are not told why Jesus granted the demons’ request (32), although the impact provides some clues (34). Supernatural power was clearly at work here. With one word the demons are expelled from the man and enter the pigs, which in turn stampede headlong into the lake. God’s ultimate authority over Satan is obviously vested in Jesus, something important to remember when circumstances appear to contradict it. This troubled man is more important to Jesus than the pigs–a view seemingly not shared by people around him! We are told that the whole region (37) was desperate to get Jesus away from there, presumably because of the threat to their livelihoods. Jesus had shaken things up by bringing the problem out of the graveyard and solving it, potentially risking their material well-being. These highly unsettling events exposed what was truly important to these people.

What is most important to us? What shapes our priorities? As Jesus gets stuck into the messiness of people’s lives he calls us to join him, to shun the comfort of safe predictable church life and material ease and to accompany him in the adventure of ushering in his kingdom.

Apply

How do you respond to people who are troubled and disturbed? How does your church respond to such people? Are they welcomed or are they excluded?

Closing prayer

Lord, I pray for those who are troubled. May they find safety and peace in Your presence.

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