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Recently our family was reading together from the Gospel of Luke. Specifically, we were reading about the man in Gerasenes who was possessed by demons. In reading it I couldn’t help but have several observations about this encounter. Consider what we read from the account in the Gospel of Luke.

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.
-Luke 8:26-33, ESV

Personally, I find this to be very interesting. I am unsure if it is a fascination with the unseen realm, the knowledge that there are spiritual forces around us (within us), and the fact that the Scriptures are vague enough about these forces to leave us with some hint of their purposes and powers while at the same time leaving much to the imagination. As it is, I am going to leave behind what could be and focus more on what we actually see in the text.

The first is that the possessed man is living among the tombs. This is interesting because tombs were considered to be unclean according to Jewish custom. Corpse impurity would make one unclean and was well known in the Law and for the man to be living among the tombs shows us the depths of how unclean he was.
 
Second, the possessed man is granted things which are not normal for humans, we see this in two ways. First, by what is said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” How is it the man knew this right after meeting Jesus? The answer is the demons knew Jesus, and therefore the possessed man was given greater knowledge than what he could have known himself, for Jesus had never entered this person prior, or even been in the area, and yet the possessed man calls him “Jesus, Son of the Most High God.” The majority do not know this about Jesus, the demons do, and so, therefore, does the man.

The second thing which the possessed man had was physical strength. We see this in verse 29 where the possessed man would be bound and shackled, yet he would break free from even these things. It would require incredible physical strength to break chains and shackles. Indeed, many normal individuals are unable to do this, and even those who have incredible strength require a great deal of physical training in order to accomplish such a task. Yet here the man is able to do it, despite living in the wilderness where one normally weakens rather finds more strength.

The third thing to notice is that there are many demons within the man. This is why when Jesus asks for his name the demon replies with “legion.” A legion was a roman military term which meant approximately 5000 soldiers. Now, this is a demon Jesus is talking to, and it doesn’t mean that the demon is telling the truth. Indeed Luke seems to assume this as he says, “for many demons had entered him.” Likely it just reflects that there was more than the normal of demons within the possessed man. Still, this reminds us that to be possessed does not require just one demon, it could be many.

Fourth, we find that the demons do not want to be sent into the “abyss.” I have thoughts about this, but will save them for a later time. Instead, I think we should focus on where the where the demons end up. They end up in the heard of pigs. From this we learn something else, demons do not only have control over humans, but can even have control over things in the natural realm. In other words, there could be more things that we would consider “bad” that happens because of demonic influence than we like to admit.

The fifth and final thought I have about this should allay any fears some might have up to this point. Sometimes when we think about demons, we can become so focused on their evil intentions and powers that we forget that there is One who is good and who is far more powerful than they are. Indeed, this is what we find in Jesus Himself.

We notice that despite there being a “legion” of demons, Jesus has more power than the entire “legion.” He is capable of sending all of them not only out of the man, but also to wherever he wants them to go. If He had chosen to send them to the abyss, then that’s where they would have gone.

Compared to us, it is true that such demonic forces have a hideous strength. In our fallenness it can cause us to either acquiesce to them or be blinded by them as false angels of light. How can we, who are so weak, stand against such a mighty foe who knows all our weaknesses? How can mere humans overcome such evil and hate?

Demons, while powerful, mischievous, malicious, capricious, and showing their evil by vying against what is good, are truly nothing compared to the power of the Most High God. His ways are greater than their ways, His strength is greater than their strength. This is true not only regarding spiritual power, but also regarding lifestyles, regarding laws, regarding reality itself.

The demonic will always do whatever they can to make us feel as though they are the supreme power. Yet, Christ shows us this is not true. He shows us that demons obey Him, not the other way around, and He has promised us that should we believe in Him we would have the same authority over them, to cast aside their power and deceptions as He showed during His earthly ministry.

The demons scatter before our God. Thus, we can affirm our weakness before them, but we do not quake, for the Spirit of God is on our side. In fact, we can rest easy, for we know it isn’t our strength that wins the war, it will be in our submission to God, trusting in Him in all things in this life. It will be in Him we find our assurance.

In this I have one final thought. The physical nature of the demoniac is very similar, at least in my mind, to the reality of the results of the power of the demonic. In this, they promise power (such as the strength to burst chains) and they promise knowledge (knowing the seemingly unknowable) and these promises are no different than the temptation in Eden or the temptation of Christ in the desert, that we can receive all things. Yet, what does it lead to? It leads to slavery not freedom. It leads to wilderness instead of green pastures. It leads to making our abode in the tombs rather than the heights with God.

Do not be deceived by the powers of this darkness. The promises will always be before us, the temptation to give in will always be with you, but do not be deceived by their power as many have done and continue to do. Instead, remember that it isn’t in their power, in their ways, we find peace and salvation.

No, these things will be found in the One who overcomes these powers. Jesus Christ, the Son of God Most High. He is our salvation. His ways are good, and His peace is everlasting. What is a legion of demons compared to the power of God? What is a legion of demons and the promises they can’t possibly fulfill compared the promises of God He has already fulfilled, and the ones which are still to come?

Fear not the legions of demons, then. Fear not their deceptions. Instead, fear God who can scatter the demons, and know the truth given to us by God Most High, that He is greater than any, and all, of these forces.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Sean