Luke 8:26-56
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning!
Last week - Jesus told us what to do with truth.
Hear it - He who has ears, let him hear.
Treasure it - for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away
Share it - not under bed or jar, but on a stand
==
When we share it some will fall on
hard ground
shallow, rocky ground
good looking ground, but too many weeds and thornbushes - sin
good soil
==
God is sovereign over the soils
What if your son or daughter is hard ground?
Pray that God will plow that soil.
That is why “Who’s Your One?” is a great idea.
Pray for that one soil that is not ready
while
you sow seed everywhere as you go.
==
The last thing we saw last week was Jesus rebuking the winds and waves.
Today we will see two more extraordinary displays of God’s power.
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.
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.
35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and 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.
36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed.
37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.
38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
The Gospel Frees Us from Our Madness
The Gospel Frees Us from Our Madness
Let’s look at the man with demons.
In order to get a complete picture of this guy, let’s add what the other gospels say about him.
We learn from Mt. there were two men, but one of them clearly made the larger impression.
lk8.27 - for a long time had worn no clothes
lk8.29 and mk5.3-4 - folks tried to bind and subdue him, but he was too strong
lk8.27 lived among the tombs
Murderous
mt8.28 - so fierce that no one could pass that way
lk8.33 - drowned the pigs they were cast into
mk5.5 - he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones
==
This guy had a reputation...
supernaturally strong
violent
out from among the tombs
naked
==
What does this fierce murderous man, whom everyone fears, do when he encounters Jesus?
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.”
I love that.
Everyone is scared to death of this guy.
But this guy, or rather, the legion of demons inhabiting this guy, is petrified and defenseless when faced with Jesus.
They don’t even bother posturing and acting tough.
They go straight to begging for mercy.
These demons are way more orthodox than a lot of liberal so-called Christians.
They know Jesus is the Son of the Most High God.
They also know that he has limitless power and authority.
mt8.29 even tells us they knew a day of judgment was coming - but they knew it was not yet that day.
29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
A legion was a Roman military unit comprising 5,400 soldiers.
I don’t know exactly how many were present here, but it was literally Jesus against an army.
Are you getting a sense of the power and authority of Jesus?
I still am.
I have read the bible through numerous times, and I still am trying to understand the majesty of our great God.
Jesus vs. an army of demons - they fall down at His feet and beg for mercy.
==
Why did Jesus grant the request to go into the pigs?
So others would see and understand what happened.
(elaborate - I could pull of hoax)
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.
==
Now let’s look at the man after he was saved by Jesus.
35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and 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.
learning, listening, worshipping
That’s what we do when we have been saved from the insanity of our rebellion to God.
==
Do you remember the parable of the lamp?
You don’t hide your light under the bed or under a jar… you place it on a lampstand.
Well, there is more of that instruction to come.
This man, understandably, asks Jesus if he can come with Him.
What does Jesus tell him to do?
38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Man!, is Jesus back on this witnessing thing again?
Yes.
…Must be pretty important.
Once Jesus rescues us from the insanity of rebellion
and
calls us to himself and saves us
then
We are to glorify him by telling others what He has done for us!
And what did this man do?
He did what saved people do...
he obeyed his Master.
39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
The Gospel Frees Us from Our Madness.
Also...
The Gospel Cleanses Us
The Gospel Cleanses Us
40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.
41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house,
42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.
43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.
44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.
45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.
48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”
50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”
51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.
52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.”
53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.
54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”
55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.
56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
We will get to Jairus and his daughter in a moment, but let’s look first at this seeming interruption.
Jesus does not blow this woman off because he had to be somewhere else.
If you understand the sovereignty of God, you know there aren’t really any interruptions, just unforeseen stuff.
We aren’t as good at this, or anything else, as Jesus is,
But...
Let’s try to learn.
When people interrupt your day and your plans, they are part of God’s plan for your day.
Jesus loved people more than his schedule or his agenda.
I need to get better at this, and I would guess that you do to.
So, let me reiterate...
People are more important than your schedule or your agenda.
==
It is hard for us to fully understand this woman’s plight.
Physical - anemic, weak
Social - what had she done to make God mad?
Religious - ritually unclean - no temple access
25 “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean.
Economic - “she had spent all her living on physicians”
Look with me at the compassion Jesus had for this woman.
45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.
48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Jesus says something very interesting here...
“for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”
If I pray for your healing, it is me asking God to heal you.
Jesus felt power go out from him...
meaning He was the source of the power.
Next time you need power to overcome temptation,
or...
to be obedient in your duty to tell others what Jesus has done for you, do what this woman did...
By faith, lay hold of God.
Now, he’s not going to go walking by, but you can come to him in prayer.
By faith, grasp the promises given to us in Scripture and let His power flow to you.
You may ask, “lay hold of what promises?”
How about...
6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
14 For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
When, by faith, you lay hold of salvation, God cleanses you from all of your uncleanness.
All of it? Really?
Yep.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Like this woman, you can be cleansed, healed of your deepest sickness, which is sin, and be saved...
when you grasp onto God by faith.
==
The Gospel Frees Us from Our Madness
it
Cleanses us from our terminal case of sin
and...
The Gospel Resurrects Us from the Dead
The Gospel Resurrects Us from the Dead
Jesus can bring the dead to life.
53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.
54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”
55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.
56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
Jesus had the miraculous, inexplicable, supernatural ability to raise the dead...
because...
Jesus has authority even over death.
I have great news for you!
God resurrected me from spiritual death
and...
will one day resurrect me from physical death.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Have you been spiritually resurrected?
It is not really all that hard to tell...
Dead people and live people behave differently.
Are you producing fruit?
Remember the parable of the soils?
The good soil produces fruit.
A dead tree won’t bear fruit - Neither will a spiritually dead person.
==
You may think you are too far gone to be saved.
Dead is dead.
Jesus can resurrect the dead.
GOSPEL - REPENTANCE (unconditional surrender) FAITH (Jesus in my place)