City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

²⁶ Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes [or Gadarenes], which is opposite Galilee. ²⁷ When [he] Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. ²⁸ When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” ²⁹ For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) ³⁰ Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. ³¹ And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. ³² Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. ³³ Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

Luke 8:26-33 ESV

Reflection

One of the old-time television preachers from the 1990’s was once asked if a Christian could have a demon.  His response was that a Christian could have anything they wanted.  The problem of demons is like the problem of addiction; to be set free from it you have to want to be set free.

Again, there is the old joke about how many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb.  Answer: only one, but the bulb must really want to make the change.

In today’s story we come across an undesirable situation, but the people have figured out how to live with it, so they just accept it.  The demon possessed man was one of them, but something went terribly wrong and he had to be forced out of the city.  But him living on the edge of the city was still a problem for the townspeople.  The people in the city still had to give up some of their freedom of movement to allow the rest of the city to function.  And they had to dedicate resources and people to watch out for him.

Clearly, they had tried to deal with this man, but they had been overpowered.  A friend, and probably a loved one, had turned to the dark side of life.  Friends and family had been taken to the point of exhaustion.  The scene of his departure might have been like those Hallmark movies:

“I’m sorry friend, I can’t do this anymore.  We have to cast you out.  I have my family to think about.”

But one thing to note is that in this scene the interaction is not between the man and Jesus, but rather the demons and Jesus.  The free will of the man is not being exercised here.  His free will does not come out until after the demons are cast out.  That is why this story is an example of Jesus setting a captive free.  With the demons gone, the man is now free to want to make the change. Ah, but then there are the pigs.  With them gone, that community must now find a new normal.  They relied on the pig trade for so long, and now they must develop a new lifestyle, because they also are free to make a change.  The healing of a single man is not just about that man; it is an opportunity for an entire community to heal.

Applicaton

Are there things that you said yes to that you know you should have rejected?  Are you handling it, or is it still a problem?  Does it dominate your thoughts?  Have you tried to address it, or have you learned how to live with it?

There is a better life waiting for you, but you must be willing to make the change.  Often changes like this only come when you have help, but the desire to make the change has to happen on the inside.  If you don’t feel that you can be honest about wanting to make the change, you can pray for the want.

“Lord, if I’m being honest, I am comfortable where I am, so I don’t really want to make a change.  But I know that this change would be good for me.  So, I’m praying that you give me the desire to change.”

If you don’t feel that you are honest about praying for the want, you can pray for the wanting to want.  Eventually, you can get to enough wanting to wants that there will be an honest prayer, and such a prayer will never be ignored.

Prayer

Dear Lord, teach me to want the right things.  Forgive me for giving into the desires I know I should have rejected.  Give me the strength and desire to flee when I should and teach me how to find pleasure in You.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.