The Miracle Less Recognized

Luke 8:26–39 NKJV

Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned. Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

Luke 8:26

Miracle: a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.

In our story today of the events recorded in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, we find a supernatural event take place that has no natural answer for it’s understanding.

This reason

In our story today from events recorded in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, we find a supernatural event take place that has no natural answer for it’s understanding.

Let us look at ...

I. The Demons Cast Out.

In this miracle, we find a man who runs to Jesus as soon as the Lord’s feet hit the sand.

What we know about this man is this:

He is naked.

He is possessed by a legion (6000 according to Roman measure) of Demons.

Chains cannot hold him, for he breaks them like paper.

He lives in the tombs among the dead.

Safe to say, this is not your average everyday guy you meet at the grocery store!

Now when he comes to Jesus, he drops to his knees, but the words that come from his mouth are actually the words of the demons.

They beg Jesus not to cast them out to the abyss!

Jesus, accommodates them and casts them into a herd of swine, which then runs into the sea and drowns them all.

I need to say something here.

None of this took Jesus by surprise, as some suppose!

He, not the demons orchestrate the entire thing!

Why did the Demons permit the man to come to Jesus in the first place?

And the whole thing about the swine? isn’t it rather that the reason the whole community came out to see Jesus, is because those who were feeding them went back and told everyone what happened to their unclean business?

And why did they sail across the sea of Galilee just for this anyway?

Sounds to me like the Lord’s got some plan in motion!

So we see the miracle of the healing of the Demoniac.

And honestly, the church likes this kind of miracle!

We find it curious and supernatural, and it appeals to our desire for the sensational.

In fact, many have over the years, built entire ministries on this very type of thing, going from city to city casting out supposed demons from people like a side show event at the circus.

We like the snake handlers and the charmers still!

But, there’s another miracle in our story.

One far more remarkable than what we’ve already looked at!

II. The Former Demoniac Sent Out.

Here are some facts worth noting:

Jesus has disciples in training with Him.

Jesus has disciples in training with Him.

Jesus does not leave any of them to preach.

The Healed Demoniac receives no training.

The man, as far as we know, has no Messianic knowledge.

And, knowing all of this, Jesus forbids the man from staying with Him, but rather commands him to go back to his household, and tell everyone what great things God has done for him!

I love this.

It dismisses everything we think we know about what God wants us to do, and how we are to do it!

We qualify our service to God based on our own abilities, knowledge, and gifting.

Except here is a man who’s resume looks like something from night of the living dead!

I can hear the disciples whispering:

How can He possibly think this guy can persuade anyone?

He has no training!

He doesn’t even know who Jesus is!

Maybe Jesus just wants to cut His losses and get out of town, after all, no-one wants Him here anyway?

And you and I buy into this, because we think and act just like the disciples.

We don’t think we have enough knowledge, or training, or anointing!

We excuse ourselves from all kinds of divine appointments, because we don’t think we are qualified.

We are no different than they.

But the real miracle is not that Jesus sends Him, but that the man has all he needs to get the job done, simply because he has been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13 NKJV

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

What an amazing statement from Dr. Luke!

Can you imagine that these unbelievers knew that the disciples were uneducated and untrained men, yet realized that they had been with Jesus!

What is it about someone who has been with Jesus?

We see the evidence when someone first enters that relationship with Jesus - they glow!

An example of this is seen in...

Exodus 34:29 NKJV

Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.

Contrast that with Stephen in ...

Acts 6:15 NKJV

And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

I have sen it in the face of every new, born again believer, I think you know what I mean.

We see the expression on their faces. The expression of wonder and hope. The expression of redemption!

Yet, it ‘s not always evident in all believers. Why not?

Because there’s one thing that kills the “Holy Glow” - disobedience!

We need nothing in our lives to fulfill God’s call, except obedience!

Because obedience is where the power of God is manifested!

Disobedience is self serving, and therefore, powerless!

When we obey and go, His power is recognizable!

Education, prayer, training, are all useful for those who are obedient. But they are useless for those living in disobedience!

But they are useless for those living in disobedience!

We don’t need more prayer

When we disobey and stay, His presence is unrecognizable!

When anyone has been healed by Jesus, they are sent to tell others what God has done for them.

Regard

The result, is always the same. Some believe and some don’t!

I think the Devil has gotten us focusing on the problem of those that don’t believe, paralyzing us from obedience to the Master.

What if we were focused on those that will believe?