Devotion: Restoration

 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”- for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times 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 wilds.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they 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. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.  Luke 8:26-39

This is one of the most fascinating stories from the Bible for me.  Even the demons knew Jesus and his power!  I imagine being there with Jesus – and my fear instantly rises. I am sure I face ‘bad stuff’ every day, but to look evil in the face and to have it call you by name- that is something else.  I try to imagine that I would have stood strong, right next to Jesus. I can only hope that I would.  But the truth is that I know there are people in Lincoln today that have come face to face with something evil and cannot escape that reality.

Jesus’ response to both the man and the demons is compelling.  He honored the request of the demons and restored the man. Jesus saw the suffering of each and touched them.

God is good, but we human  beings are free, and being free, we help fashion the nature of the world with the choices we make…. Why does God allow wickedness? He allows it because we – or others just like us – choose it.  -Phillip Yancey

Sadly, I have been like the Gerasene people in this story. I want to believe but am afraid of the change that would happen in my life.  I have been afraid to trust God with my life. Yet time after time, God says to us in the Bible “Do not be afraid.” I am coming to know that the road of trust happens one tiny step at a time.

Luke seems to post this question: Shall we sit at Jesus’ feet and let his power free us? Or will we quake at Jesus’ authority and ask him to go?

Choosing not to overwhelm human freedom, God instead joined us in the midst of evil and became one of its victims. Jesus did not eliminate evil; he revealed a God willing, at immense cost, to forgive it and to heal its damage.

-Phillip Yancey, The Question that Never Goes Away.

The large story of the Bible is of a God who is with us.  Jesus paid the price for us – he joined us in our suffering so that we can join him in love and light and life.  Are we willing to walk with him?  If so, we will never have to walk alone.

This devotion was written by Patty Forsberg, coordinator of the writing team at Sheridan Lutheran Church.

If you are interested in joining the writing team, contact Amy Wagner.

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