Sunday 20 June 2010
- Bible Book:
- Luke
"Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid." (v.35)
Background
Just before this passage, Luke has described how Jesus calmedthe storm on the Sea of Galilee (
The encounter with Legion takes place in the country of theGerasenes, but there has always been uncertainty about where thisis or what it is called - Gadarene? Gergesenes? The specific placemay not matter too much, but its general location does. This isGentile (non-Jewish) territory, beyond the bounds Jesus has set forhis mission (Matthew 15:24). Will this limit his authorityand power?
The man named Legion is in a desperate state - shackled, tormented,broken. His confession that Jesus is the son of the Most High Godis one of fear rather than hope. He doesn't have to ask for Jesusto do anything - perhaps he can't. But Jesus takes the initiativeand his power over the massed forces of abomination isunmistakeable as unclean pigs rush headlong over a cliff.
The Gospel-writer Luke simply accepts the condition of demonpossession. He is not interested in how or why this happens. He is,however, very interested in the result, both for the man and forthose who witnessed this miracle.
The man is found clothed and in his right mind. The storm is calmedand he is himself again. But healing requires more. He must also berestored to others. The man - no longer Legion - wants to followJesus, but instead he is told to go home and is commissioned as thefirst missionary to the Gentiles.
What about the onlookers? They are terrified (or angry about theirpigs) and cannot wait for Jesus to leave them alone. Their peace,if they will receive it, will come not from Jesus himself, but fromthe man he sends to them.
To Ponder
Do you have to believe in demon possession tounderstand this miracle of healing? Why?
The man wants to follow Jesus but he is senthome. Can you reflect on times when following Jesus means leavingand others when it means staying?