A New Man

At the Feet of Jesus Part 2

Our Lenten study...

Last week we

I believe there is power at the feet of Jesus…power to transform, redeem, give life.

Let’s look at the next story. (Luke 8:26-39)

Evil is a Reality

Evil’s presence in our world is a fact of life.

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It is interesting how evil grabs our attention. It seems that stories about acts of fallenness easily grab our attention.

Our story today shows such a story. We will be introduced to a man who is in the grip of evil’s power and no human agency has been able to help. In fact, he has been relegated to the place of the dead. He is naked, without a home, not thinking clearly, alone, a walking corpse himself.

The Demoniac

8:26-29

Things about this man’s “current” state of affairs:

Naked

No home

Lived in the tombs

Chained hand and foot

Not alone—Has a guard

Driven out out by the evil that has a grip on him to solitary, unclean, dark places of the world.

That’s what evil does…It drives us out. This is not an immediate thing. We don’t have the Demoniac’s back story. We don’t know what opened him up to this possession. I can tell you though, that in my experience, most demonic possessions take place over a time. You gradually give in and give in and give in until you find yourselves so gripped tightly by evil that you are alone, broken, empty, lost.

C. S. Lewis states, “Good and evil increase at compound interest. That’s why the little decisions we make everyday are of infinite importance.”

8:30-39

“What is your name?”

34-39:

New things about this man:

Clothed

Who’s clothes?

Home

“What’s your name?”

Clean

Free

Redeemed

Bock, Darrell L. Luke. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994. Print. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series.

The people’s reaction is also instructive. For some people it is very difficult to let God and his power get close to them. These people recognized that Jesus had power. It aroused fear in them, and they chose to have nothing to do with it.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke Miracle 2: Jesus’ Authority over Disease and the Reversal of Evil (8:26–39)

Jesus’ authority is a given for Luke. It forces choices of association. The world is full of destructive forces, but Jesus is the means for overcoming them. Luke raises a question here. Shall we sit at his feet and let his power free us? Or will we quake at Jesus’ authority and ask him to go? Finally, those who have experienced the freedom Jesus gives are called to testify to what God has done.

Bock, Darrell L. Luke. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994. Print. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke Miracle 2: Jesus’ Authority over Disease and the Reversal of Evil (8:26–39)

Jesus’ authority is a given for Luke. It forces choices of association. The world is full of destructive forces, but Jesus is the means for overcoming them. Luke raises a question here. Shall we sit at his feet and let his power free us? Or will we quake at Jesus’ authority and ask him to go? Finally, those who have experienced the freedom Jesus gives are called to testify to what God has done.

What is your name?

Jesus’ authority is a given for Luke. It forces choices of association. The world is full of destructive forces, but Jesus is the means for overcoming them. Luke raises a question here. Shall we sit at his feet and let his power free us? Or will we quake at Jesus’ authority and ask him to go? Finally, those who have experienced the freedom Jesus gives are called to testify to what God has done.

Who are you on the inside?