“Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.” Luke 8:37 ESV
Reflection: what are you fearful of?
Immediately after the story of Jesus commanding the wind and the waves to be still, we learn about what happened on the other side of the sea. Jesus is met by a a man who was demon possessed, had been for a long time. He was well known in the area as a completely crazy person. And the townspeople were scared, fearful of this 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.” Luke 8:29b ESV.
Now Jesus “commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.” Luke 8:29a ESV. Turns out it was not just one demon, but a “legion” of unclean spirits who possessed the man. And, the famous part of the story is when the spirits asks Jesus if they can enter some pigs in the field instead, which he allows, the pigs go crazy and jump off a cliff into the water and all drown.
But let’s draw perhaps a couple new thoughts from this story. First, we have to wonder how all these spirits ended up possessing this man. We can only speculate, but most likely he had been involved in some dark rituals or magic. Perhaps it started with something small, something he might have made money on, that he thought he could control. And perhaps the people of the area were all involved in some sort of demonic rituals.
Because, let’s look at the reaction of the townspeople when they learn that the man has been set free. When they realized that Jesus had power over the demons of this man, it says that “they were seized with great fear”. But instead of embracing the freedom from demonic worship, we read that “all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them”.
They rejected Jesus.
Now, notice a contrast to the man, however, now free, who was instead driven to faith and wanted to come with Jesus. But Jesus told him that he had a job there, among his people, to help them be free of this evil, saying ““Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.”Luke 8:39 ESV
There is also a parallel to catch here with the previous story of the wind and the waves. Remember, the disciples were afraid of this massive, sudden storm which seemed like it might even threaten their lives. And Jesus questioned why their fear was greater than their faith. But, when they experienced Jesus authority over the (spiritual?) storm, the disciples were filled with “fear” of His Majesty. But this fear was different. It was a fear of the Lord that increased their faith in him.
There are many things, even very scary things, going on all around us these days that we don’t necessarily understand. We can stare at wars, weather, pandemics, or whatever. And some of this is quite frankly demonic as many people are seeking power and control from demonic forces. But our Lord God is so much more powerful. So much greater. Hallelujah!! He has freed us from the power of darkness. In Him alone must we put our faith. He tells each of us the same, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.”Luke 8:39 ESV