Luke 8:26-39 ~ When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him

Luke 8:26-39

26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 When 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.

The next part of the Scripture is the choice after God has Mercifully Acted. The decision of the people.

34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and 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. 36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 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.

38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “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.
 

So Jesus arrives and a man wants some help. Jesus knows and has arrived. Jesus knew the man was suffering. The town would say the man needs help. Jesus sees this is demonic. The town did too. Jesus isn't very worried by this. Jesus was bringing a lot of new situations with Him.

We can put this very nicely into Psalm 103,

Psalm 103:3
Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases

Jesus saw the connection between Soul, Body, Health, Health eating, Healthy attitudes. So clearly was Jesus grace and truth - even the ill and tortured could depend upon Jesus to heal them. Probably the pigs were a reference to the end of rules and Kosher being the salvation instead of Jesus.

Numbers 14:18
The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.

God said justice has to be served. His throne is righteousness. And gave His Son. Now this passage would indicate that Jesus is interested more in healing than the generational illness. Psalm 103 tells where Jesus is going in this passage.

Usually a demon is going to find someone doing something evil - like Killing Babies and sprinkling the blood around the field for prosperity. Doing this for the Blessing of the god Baal. The man is hanging around in the tombs after all. And the man might have been doing both to cover all the gods.

Just as Kosher isn't part of our every day - demons are not as much part of this because Jesus has carried the Holy Spirit into life. We are sealed with Jesus as baptism and calling upon Him in faith. We know there is evil. But we need to be centered on what is evil and what is not. We hardly know people bursting chains and living in tombs. God has done much to protect us. We should never be ungrateful.  Jesus has done so much for this world.  

Jesus has carried all of us. In ways we are not even daily cognizant of.  This town was aware. This is usually not what we know in life today. The world knew nothing like Jesus.

Our Actions. In this passage. The people and the man have to pick. The better way is the Way of Jesus.  Jesus does not force Himself on the people. Jesus does depart by Sea after healing and being asked to leave. What a day for Jesus Lord Christ.  Jesus is good about waiting on people - like His brothers and Mother. Jesus shows us -  The path forward is forgiveness.

(Who sits next to Jesus on those Heavenly thrones? I would bet my life it is the ones who showed up to physically save Jesus. And when they caught on - spent their lives telling of His Glory and Love.)

In fact, by His next boat trip, the people of this town have decided that based upon the Goodness of Jesus - they want Him there with them. They ask Him to live there. 

John 7
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit.

What Jesus Did ~
Jesus changed the afflicted man with His timely arrival on the Shores of Galilee. Jesus changes the region as people at His next visit ask Him to stay. Jesus will have His Holy Spirit dwell richly in them. They have asked the Son of God to dwell with Him. Can you think other than the Samaritans who asked Jesus. Right, me neither. In the second half of the 1st century AD, the city of Jerash achieved great prosperity. In AD 106, the Emperor Trajan constructed roads throughout the province, and more trade came to Jerash. The Emperor Hadrian visited the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee, called Jerash in AD 129-130. The triumphal arch (or Arch of Hadrian) was built to celebrate his visit.

In 331 B.C. Alexander the Great arrives to fulfill Ezekiel Prophecy living in this city. Alexander when he learned of his prophecy about the region of Tyre becoming mainland instead of an island found the High Priest to bow to him - explaining Alexander wanted to honor God's representative on earth.





The actions of gratitude have changed the life of the afflicted man. Living water 

A very wise decision.
Jesus who delivers us.

1 Thessalonians 5

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.



Father may Your Words deliver us from what the Scottish call ghoulies, ghosties, things that go bump in the night. May we find sanctification in You completely. Dwell in all of us. And the ones we Love and the People you have given us in our lives. In Jesus Christ. The Lord.We want to dwell in Jesus each day. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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