When Jesus cast out a Legion of demons from the Gadarene demoniac, He demonstrated once and for all that He is able and willing to deliver His people from the bondage of Satan, and transform them into brand new people with a new purpose.
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From Maniac To Missionary
Luke 8:26-39
In Luke chapter 8, we have four miracles of our Lord. It appears that Luke has lumped these miracles together intentionally to show something of the power and authority of Jesus Christ. In the first miracle of Jesus calming the storm we see His authority over Disasters. In the next miracle we see His authority over Demons. In the next miracle we see Jesus’ authority over disease. And in the final miracle we see Jesus’ authority over Death. Jesus is Lord, and exercises absolute authority over Disasters – Demons – Disease and Death!
It is interesting to compare the first two miracles – that of calming the raging storm and delivering the demon-possessed man. Last week we saw Jesus taming a wild storm. This week we are going to see Him taming a wild man. Last week He gave peace in a storm. This week we will see Him giving peace in a soul. In this story we see a fight between the powers of Hell, and the power of Christ. There is no one else in the rest of the Bible that is ever indwelt by more demons than this man. Mary Magdalene was indwelt by seven demons, but this man appears to be indwelt by thousands of demons! So, this is a good test case. Who has the ultimate power and authority? It is a struggle between thousands of demons and one person. When I was a kid we played a game called “Smear the Queer.” In this game, one person had the ball, and all the other kids tried to tackle him. So it was one person against everyone else! Well, that’s what’s going on here. All the demons against one solitary man. What an opportunity for us to see the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!
There are basically three main characters in this story: The Legion of Demons – the Lord Jesus Christ – and the Liberated Demoniac. Or to put it another way we have the Spirits, the Savior, and the Saved.
1. The Legion of Demons – “the Spirits”
When Jesus asked this man what his name was in 8:30, the man replied, “Legion.” A Roman legion consisted of between 4,000 and 6,000 soldiers. Later these same demons entered into a herd of about 2,000 pigs, so there must have been at least 2,000 of these demons in this one man! These demons were like a huge army of soldiers who had taken possession of this man, like an army taking possession of the enemy’s fort.
What Do Demons Do?
1) They Control People. Notice how these evil spirits were controlling this miserable man. When Jesus and His boys finally made it to the other side of the lake, perhaps at morning’s light, as soon as Jesus stepped out onto the shore, He was met by a terrorized man. Matthew tells us there were two demon-possessed men. Mark and Luke only mention one. Evidently, the man we read about here in Luke was the most notorious and violent and fierce of the two, and was the one through whom the demons spoke.
Try to imagine the situation. As soon as Jesus gets out of the boat He hears this eerie shrieking, and sees a naked wild man running at Him. This guy has scars all over His body, caked on blood, and fresh bloody wounds. His hair and beard are long and dirty and matted. He has this wild demented stare in his eyes. The disciples scramble back into the boat, or look around for rocks or sticks to defend themselves with.
This man was absolutely captive to demons. They controlled his mind, body and will. Take a look at what this man’s life was like.
- He lived among the tombs. In the first century, people were buried in caves. This man was driven away from his home and any ordinary society, and lived among the corpses of dead people.
- He was extremely violent. Mt. 8:28 says, “They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way.” The people that lived nearby had tried to deal with him. Their answer was to bind him with shackles and chains so that he could not hurt others. The problem was that the demons gave him superhuman strength, so that he just kept breaking the chains! Mark says “no one was able to subdue him” (5:4). Luke tells us that after he was bound with chains he would be kept under guard, but he would break his bonds and be driven by the demons into the desert (8:29).
- He was naked. In verse 27 Luke tells us that he had not put on any clothing in a long time. Any normal person would feel a sense of awkwardness and shame at being seen naked. However, the demons so controlled this man, that they made him do things he would never do apart from their influence.
- He screamed constantly. Mk. 5:5 says “Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains.” This man’s life was a living hell, filled with terror.
- He gashed himself with stones (Mk.5:5). The demons tormented him day and night. They made him hurt himself. This reminds me of the boy who was demon-possessed who often threw himself into the fire and the water. Demons love to hurt and destroy people.
- He became the mouthpiece for these demons. They spoke through him, using his vocal chords. 8:28. They said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.”
This man was absolutely enslaved in every way to these demons. He could not control his mind, his emotions, his body, or his choices any longer. He was absolutely helpless to do anything to change his situation. He was tormented by them day and night.
Folks, every lost person in this world is in the same situation as this demon-possessed man. Oh, they may not be possessed with demons like he was, but Satan controls them. Listen to how the apostle Paul describes our former condition when we were lost. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” Jesus calls him the “ruler of this world” (Jn.12:31). He’s a Prince, a Ruler of this present world. He rules over all unsaved men and women, boys and girls, whether they realize it or not! Satan has them in his grip, controls them, and rules over their lives. Now, he’s too smart to send his demons in to possess every one of them. That would be too obvious. Demons prefer to remain anonymous. They don’t want you and I to recognize them. But they are exerting their influence and control over unsaved people nonetheless. If you are not a genuine believer, you need to come to grips with the truth that you are under the control of Satan, and you don’t have the power to free yourself.
2) They Destroy Whatever They Can. When it became obvious that Jesus was going to cast them out of this man, they requested permission to go into the herd of demons. And, as soon as they entered that herd of pigs, they all rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. It appears that demons love to destroy whatever they can. They are constantly involved in mischief, death, and destruction. If they are not permitted to torment this man, they will torment and destroy the lives of these pigs.
What Do Demons Believe?
- Jesus is the Son of the Most High God (8:28)
- Jesus has authority over them (8:28)
- Jesus will consign them to a place of torment (8:28,31)
- Jesus answers prayer (8:28,32)
It appears that demons have a much more orthodox faith than many people! Many don’t believe Jesus is the Son of God, that He does not exercise authority over them, that there is no Judgment Day or Hell, and that it is a waste of time to pray! Oh, the devil believes in God and knows the truth about Jesus. How sad that the devil knows more truth than most people!
2. The Lord Jesus Christ – “The Savior”
There are three great truths that we learn about Jesus Christ here.
He Is Sovereign. There are three different requests made to Jesus in this story. The demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine (8:32). The townspeople asked Jesus to leave them (8:37). And this delivered man begged Jesus to let him accompany Him on His journeys. Interestingly, Jesus granted the request of the demons and the unbelieving townspeople, and denied the request of this new convert! He does the exact opposite of what we might expect. This just goes to point out that He is sovereign. He does what He wants, when He wants, where He wants, to whomever He wants. He is answerable and accountable to no one. If our prayer fits within His sovereign plans and purposes, He will grant it. If it does not fit, He will deny it.
He Is Almighty. Again, let’s look at this match between Christ and these demons. These demons had made this man so fierce and violent, that no one would even get near him. He could break every chain and shackle that was put on him. No one could stop him from terrorizing the community. Everyone is afraid of him. There are thousands of demons. So, how is it going to go when one man, Jesus Christ, confronts them? Well, let’s take a look. In verse 28 the demons say, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.” Verse 31 says, “They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.” Then verse 32, “Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission.” Actually in Matthew Jesus says one word – “Go!” With one little word, Jesus commands all of these demons to go. And guess what? They go! Instantly. They obeyed, because they had to obey. Jesus with one word overcomes all the power and might of thousands of evil spirits.
My friend, I don’t care how deep you have run into sin, or how enslaved you are to Satan, Jesus is able to free you in an instant at His command. He has the power to do that for anyone He chooses.
He Is Merciful. In Mk. 5:19, Jesus told this man, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” Jesus took pity upon this tormented man. This man did not ask Jesus to deliver him from demons. He couldn’t! These demons absolutely controlled him and would never permit him to ask for deliverance. Jesus took the initiative because this man couldn’t. Christ’s heart went out to this man in his misery. Oh, isn’t it good to know that Jesus is not only sovereign and almighty, but He is merciful! He is a merciful and faithful high priest. If you feel lost and enslaved this morning, take heart. Jesus is merciful, and loves to display that mercy on sinners.
3. The Liberated Demoniac – “The Saved”
Once Jesus had cast these spirits out of this man, there were three things that characterized him.
He Had A New Life. This man’s life was completely transformed. Whereas before he was a naked, wild, violent, maniac, who was a menace to society, now what do we see? Luke 8:35 says, “The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened.”
He was sitting down at the feet of Jesus. That’s the position that a disciple takes. He sits at the feet of the Master. Once Jesus cast the demons out of this man, he became a true disciple of Jesus. Perhaps during the time he was delivered and the townspeople came back to see what had happened, Jesus had been teaching him. Perhaps the Lord taught him who God was, and who He was, and how he could come into His kingdom. Previously, this man was running around, screaming. Now, he is calmly sitting at Jesus’ feet.
He was clothed. Up until this point he had not put on any clothes for a long time. Something dramatic has happened. He has been changed.
He was in his right mind. When the demons were in control, this man was insane. But now, his sanity has returned. He no longer has that wild stare in his eyes. The demons are no longer speaking through his voice box. He has no desire any longer to live in the tombs, or to go into the desert. He isn’t going to gash himself with stones any more. All that is in the past. He’s different. He’s a new man. He has a brand new life.
That’s what happens when Jesus takes control of a person’s life. He gives us a brand new life. In Romans 6:4 it says, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.” Can you see yourself in this man? Maybe you have never been demon-possessed, but can you look back and see that you were under Satan’s control and influence, but Jesus set you free? When He did that, did you experience a new life? Did everything change? Did your values, and priorities change? I truly hope you can say that all things have become new!
He Had New Desires. Verse 38 says, “But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him.” Can you imagine what it must have felt like for Jesus to set him free? He had been absolutely controlled and enslaved to these evil spirits. They terrorized him and tormented him, and made his life a living hell. And then Jesus set him free! How would he have felt about Jesus? He was so grateful. Love for Christ filled his heart. He wanted to be with Him, wherever He went.
That’s what takes place when the Lord sets us free from sin. He plants new desires in our hearts. We just want to be with Him. We want to know Him, and serve Him, and love Him, and fellowship with Him. We want to accompany Him. When the Lord saved you, did He give you a new life? Did He give you new desires? I pray that is so.
He Had A New Purpose. The end of verse 38 says, “but He sent him away, saying, “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” I imagine that initially this man was crushed that Jesus would not allow Him to accompany Him on His travels. However, I’m sure that He soon agreed with the Lord’s wisdom. Jesus had at least 82 disciples who traveled around and preached and healed amongst the lost sheep of the house of Israel. However, there was no one who was bearing witness for Him amongst the Gentiles. This man lived among the Gentiles, far away from the Jews, on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. Although Jesus would not take him with Him on His evangelistic journeys, He did call him to a very important task. He was called to go to his house and describe what great things God had done for him.
Can you imagine the effect it would have when he went back to his own people who knew him? “It’s me! It’s really me! I know that you thought I was out of my mind, and would eventually kill myself. I probably would have too, if it wasn’t for Jesus. You see, He commanded the demons to leave, and they did! He has literally transformed my life. I’m a new man!” Oh how wise the Lord was to send this man back to the people who knew him before. Everyone in that town knew who he was. They were all terrified of him. They had all tried to bind him, so that he couldn’t get near them. Now, it was obvious that he was changed. He was different. Something had revolutionized his life. That thing was the person of Jesus Christ.
Friends, if you have recently been set free by Jesus Christ, go to the people who used to know you before your conversion. Maybe they knew you as the guy they liked to get high with, or party with. Maybe they knew you as the guy that just wanted to be rich at any cost, or was always trying to pick up on a new girl. Maybe they knew you as the guy or girl who couldn’t complete a sentence without using a four letter curse word. They knew what you were like before. Let them see what you are like now. Let them see the changes the Lord has made in your life. And not only that but “describe” the great things God has done for you. Tell them what the Lord has done in your life. Now, if you are a fairly new Christian you may not be able to quote all the Bible verses, or to give complicated reasons why Christianity is true. But any believer can describe what the Lord has done in their life. Just tell them what happened. Be like the blind man that the Lord healed who said, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
So, what did this man do? Well, verse 39 says, “So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” In Mark it says he went and proclaimed in Decapolis the great things Jesus had done for him. Decapolis means “10 cities”. Evidently he didn’t stop at his own city, but kept traveling through those 10 little villages that were clustered close together, and in each one he would proclaim what Jesus had done for him. It’s interesting that Jesus told him to describe what great things God had done for him, but he went and told everyone what great things Jesus had done for him. I’m not sure if he understood that Jesus was God in human flesh, but it seems implied in the text.
What zeal and devotion we see in this guy. Jesus had saved him and set him free, and he just had to tell everyone about it! Do you look like him at all? Maybe you have been a Christian so long that you have forgotten what it was like to be lost. Maybe you have forgotten what it was like to live with a sense of guilt and shame and a lack of real purpose. Go back in your mind and remember your old life, and recall what the Lord did in saving you. Then tell others about it!
Conclusion
Who do you most identify with in this story? Is it the man when he was controlled by Satan? Maybe you feel like you are in the grip of sin and can’t get free. I’ve got good news for you. There is One who can set you free this morning. Look to Christ! Trust Him. Believe the good news that He died to pay your sin debt, and rose from the dead to give you new life. He offers you salvation and freedom from sin. Receive it from Him by faith.
Or, perhaps you identify with the townspeople. They weren’t wild and demented and crazy looking. They were ordinary, respectable folks. However, they were just as much under Satan’s control as the man was, but they didn’t know it. They asked Jesus to leave them. Evidently they cared more about the herd of swine drowning, than they did about this man being set free. Maybe they were worried Jesus might do something else that would hurt the local economy. They didn’t want Him around and asked Him to leave. Now that might hit a little closer to home. Maybe outwardly you look respectable and normal, but you really have no devotion to Jesus Christ. You really don’t want Him too close to you. You know that if you surrender to Him, He’s going to make some changes in your life. He’s going to require that you stop sleeping around, stop doing drugs and getting drunk, stop lying and cheating. But you love your sin, and don’t want to change your ways. Anyone here relate to these townspeople? Don’t make the same mistake they did. Don’t ask Him to leave. Don’t ignore Him. Don’t try to avoid Him. Open up your heart to Him and surrender your life to Him.
Or, perhaps you can identify with this man who was delivered, and was now a disciple of Christ in his right mind. Has the Lord transformed your life? Then Jesus’ command to you is to go to those who knew you before and tell them what He has done. J.C. Ryle once said, “The highest form of selfishness is that of a man who is content to go to heaven alone. Find someone this week who doesn’t know Jesus, and share with them what He has done for you. Don’t worry about presenting any deep, complicated arguments. Just share what the Lord has done for you. It’s that simple. Then, see what the Lord does with it. Let’s pray.
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