Luke 8:26-39 (Big Mama's Theology-Series)

Text

Luke 8:26-39

Title

He’s a Heart Fixer and a Mind Regulator

Introduction

There are several names of Bible doctrines or teachings (Christology, Pneumatology/Holy Spirit, Angelology, demonology, Sin/Hamartiology, Human/Christian Anthropology, Last Things/Eschatology, Salvation/Soteriology, Theology). One definition of theology can be the study OF God! Another can be the study ABOUT God! I learned this in Sunday School with Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson and Mrs. Lillie Marie White; then in Bible Study under Dr. B.W. McClendon; then yet in a deeper meaning under Dr. John Mangrum and Dr. Schubert Ogden.

This month, I want to highlight where some of us got our FIRST lessons in theology; as well as LIVED lessons in theology. These lessons were BIG MAMA’S THEOLOGY! She may not have finished the 3rd grade, but Big Mama knew God; Big Mama may not have finished high school, but Big Mama knew God. Big Mama may not have finished college, but Big Mama knew God. Big Mama may have never heard of the word theology, but she knew God. Big Mama could not even pronounce the word “theology”, but she knew God. It took me some time to get it, but the declarations and decrees that Big Mama made were evidence that Big Mama knew God. Declarations and decrees like:

He’s a Shelter in the Time of Storm

He’s a Way Out of No Way

He May Not Come When You Want Him, But He’s Always on Time

He’s a Heart Fixer and a Mind Regulator

This morning, we will focus on He’s a Heart Fixer and a Mind Regulator.

A Hopeless Situation (26-27)

Hopeless means a loss of confidence…the situation looks hopeless

This man is continuously tormented by a large number of demons. (“Demons can be undetected, unrecognized, unaddressed, and even undiagnosed in your life.” -Dr. Tony Evans)

The man lives among the tombs - he dwells there, his living quarters are there, his abode was there, his habitation was there! (8:26-27).

No one can keep him chained; no man could tame (as with a ferocious animal) him… (Lk. 8:29). - No one, not even society could not control him!!

He constantly screams out and hits/cuts himself with stones (Mark 5:5)

Jesus leaves an external storm, only to confront an internal storm…

Jesus meets a man with an unclean spirit living among unclean tombs surrounded by people employed in unclean occupations, all in unclean Gentile territory.

A Helpful Savior (28,30-33)

(28) In the NT, generally, to do reverence or homage to someone, usually by kneeling or prostrating oneself before him. In the Septuagint, it means to bow down, to prostrate oneself in reverence, homage

(30) Legion. A unit of the Roman army. In NT times the standard size of the legion was 6000 men, to which some 120 cavalry were added.

(31-32) Jesus gave them leave or Jesus gave the order…the demons were subject to Jesus…

The price of a soul is worth more than the price of swine…

Jesus said, “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul.” (Mk. 8:36)

A Heart-stopping Scene (34-37)

Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in town and country. Everyone wanted to see what had happened. They came up to Jesus and saw the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes and making sense, no longer a walking madhouse of a man. Those who had seen it told the others what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs. At first they were in awe—and then they were upset, upset over the drowned pigs. They demanded that Jesus leave and not come back.

And they see something quite astounding:

the infamous demoniac is in a wholly altered state, “sitting there, dressed and in his right mind.”

That is a picture of discipleship and salvation: a restored individual sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Instead of asking Jesus to remain, they bid Him leave! After all that He just did…they want Him to leave! They saw the proof of His power, and now they bid Him leave.

Conclusion – A Hypnotizing Story (38-39)

[Mark’s Account] As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn’t let him. Jesus said, “Go home to your own people and tell them (tell your story) how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”. The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town. (18-20)

In previous cases, Jesus has directed His miracle-recipients not to tell anyone…now He directs this miracle-recipient to do just the opposite? (in Mk. 7:31-37, they did not try to run him out of town…they told everyone…someone was left to TELL THE STORY!

He told the man to remain! Somebody has to TELL THE STORY!

Their banishment of Jesus does not rid them of Jesus,

for Jesus is present in the message of the gospel proclaimed by his followers.

In the concluding verses of the story Mark leaves us with another clue to Jesus’ divine status. “‘Tell them how much the Lord has done for you,’” commands Jesus.

The man then went out and told “how much Jesus had done for him.” For this man, the Lord and Jesus are one and the same.

In the Gospel of Mark, the healed demoniac becomes the first missionary-preacher sent out by Jesus. Remarkably, he is a Gentile sent to Gentiles.