Luke 8:26-39

Observations:

v. 26, After the calming of the storm, they sail to “the country of the Gerasenes, opposite of Galilee.

The Gerasenes were inhabitants of the city of Gerasa (modern Jerash), a city of Decapolis located over thirty miles southeast of Galilee.

Literally “ten cities,” the term Decapolis refers to a region in southern Syria and northeastern Palestine that was composed of a number of Hellenistic cities (Greek cities) with the surrounding countryside pertaining to each. During the first century a.d. the territory was an administrative unit attached to Syria. Jesus’ visits to the territory anticipate the church’s ministry among Gentiles and reveal the boundless nature of his messianic authority.

Mark’s account (Mk 5:1) notes the same

Matthew’s account (Mt 8:28) notes that Jesus went to the country of the Gadarenes (Gadara was another city of Decapolis, six miles southeast of the lake), where there were two men, rather than one.

It is important to note that Matthew is known to be often concerned with giving general details of the narrative, whereas Mark and Luke provide a more detailed account, singling out the spokesman of the two. (note the account of Jesus healing the blind man, notably two in Mt 20:29-34, but one in Mk 10:46-52 and Lk 18:35-43).

v. 27, Upon arrival, Jesus was met by a man possessed by many demons.

Luke tells us that this man was naked and living among the dead for quite some time.

Important to note that this man was not only spiritually unclean with demons, but was also ceremonially unclean because of being among the dead.

Notably, this region has herds of pig, meaning this is not somewhere a religious Jewish teacher would be.

As we’ve seen in previous interactions with the unclean, Jesus’ presence and power purifies the defilement abounding this place.

Jesus is the coal that purifies unclean lips.

v. 28, Upon seeing Jesus, the man falls before Him, crying out, “What business do we have with each other?”

The demons identify Jesus precisely as He is:

Son of the Most High God

The demons identify God accordingly as well.

The demons acknowledge the authority that Jesus possesses.

Demons seem to believe and tremble (James 2:19)

v. 29, Phrasing is confusing, but this appears to be stating that this was the demons’ response after being commanded to come out of the man.

Were the demons able to resist?

Any attempt of resistance (in this case through negotiation) was overcome by Jesus inevitably, however it is worth noting that this was likely a power encounter of enormous proportions.

Luke expounds on the history of the man, noting that it has seized the man many times; he had been bound with chains and shackles, guarded by men, but inevitably would escape, breaking the bonds and be driven into the desert (wilderness; domain of demons?)

v. 30, Jesus asks the demons for their name, to which the demons respond, “Legion.”

A legion consisted of about 6,000 men, hence the number is meant to signify many.

v. 31, They were imploring Jesus not to send them into the abyss (ἄβυσσος).

The Greek word means “bottomless” or “very deep” and came to be used of the place of captivity of evil spirits or fallen angels. In Revelation 20:1–3 Satan is seized and sealed up in the Abyss for a thousand years. Matthew 25:41 speaks of the place of “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Usually translated “abyss” in the NT, it refers to the place of the dead (Rom. 10:7) and is synonymous with hell or Hades. It more frequently refers to the place where the forces of evil dwell (e.g., Luke 8:31; Rev. 9:1, 2).

v.v. 32-33, They beg Jesus for Him to allow them to enter a herd of pigs, to which Jesus permits and in doing so, they leave the man and enter the animals, causing them to run down a steep bank into the lake, drowning.

Why did Jesus permit this?

They were pigs, unclean for Jews, but not for Gentiles

vv. 34-35, Witnesses saw what happened and they urgently went about spreading the word. Those who heard went out to see what happened, only to find that the man who had been possessed was in his right mind, clothed and sitting at the feet of Jesus; they were frightened by this.

The power of Jesus is demonstrated in the response of the crowd who knew the possessed man; who is this that commands even the demons, and they obey Him?

vv. 36-37, The witnesses reported to the crowds how the demoniac had been made well and the response of the people was that of great fear, pleading with Jesus to leave. Jesus does so, returning to the boat.

vv. 38-39, The man who was possessed begged Jesus that he might come with Him, but Jesus sent him off, instructing him to actually witness and testify to his family and neighbors about what God has done for him. The man returned and began proclaiming the wonderful things Jesus did for him.

He is not told to keep silent about this, but rather is told to proclaim the good news among the Decapolis

Note,

The account also contrasts various responses to Jesus’ authority: terror and destruction within the demonic realm, fear and rejection from the people of Gerasa, but salvation and proclamation for the healed man.

Demonization and exorcism were not uncommon in the first century, appearing both in Judaism and in the greater Hellenistic world. The New Testament itself testifies to Jewish exorcists other than Jesus and the apostles. Jesus points out in Luke 11:19 that the disciples of the Pharisees practiced exorcism, and in Acts 19 seven sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva attempt to cast out demons in Jesus’ name (but fail miserably!). Luke 9:49 (par. Mark 9:38) speaks of a man outside the band of disciples who is casting out demons in Jesus’ name.

Exegetical Idea/Big Idea:

Jesus arrives on land and is met by a demoniac, pleading with Him not to send them into the abyss.

Jesus permits them to instead enter a herd of swine, in which they do so, then leading them into the lake drowning them. Witnesses of this spread word about Jesus and what He has done.

Crowds come and are frightened by what they see; they plead Jesus to leave, while the man who was possessed pleads to leave with Jesus. Jesus instructs him to testify about what God has done for him to his family and neighbors, in which the man witnesses throughout the whole city what Jesus did for him.

Big Idea:

Jesus demonstrates the authenticity of His authority in an intense, miraculous moment through the exorcism of a legion of demons.

He demonstrates the validity of His role as the faith-bearer of humanity through His demonstrated sovereignty over the spiritual realm.

Homiletical Idea

As Christians, we are called to testify our faith in Christ to those whom we are surrounded by; let us not be tempted to “find our courage” or “summon that strength within” to share the deeds of Christ in our lives; let us rather reflect on the sovereign and powerful deeds themselves of our God and let their tangibility bolt us into action!

Liturgical Idea

What should we praise God for? (Rejoice)

What should we confess to God? (Repent)

What should we ask God for? (Request)

What should we lift up to God? (Sacrifice)

What should we live out for God? (Service)

As Christians, we are called to testify our faith in Christ to those whom we are surrounded by; let us not be tempted to “find our courage” or “summon that strength within” to share the deeds of Christ in our lives; let us rather reflect on the sovereign and powerful deeds themselves of our God and let their tangibility bolt us into action!

Intro:

Recap:

Luke 8:22-25, As Christians, we are called to deliver our faith unto Christ even in the midst of terrifying storms, for He is sufficient to bear our faith and is sovereign over our fears.

Prayer

Read Luke 8:26-39

Head- What does it mean?

(15-20 min.)

vv. 26-39, The Healing of the Demoniac

vv. 26-31,

v. 26, After the calming of the storm, they sail to “the country of the Gerasenes, opposite of Galilee.

The Gerasenes were inhabitants of the city of Gerasa (modern Jerash), a city of Decapolis located over thirty miles southeast of Galilee.

Literally “ten cities,” the term Decapolis refers to a region in southern Syria and northeastern Palestine that was composed of a number of Hellenistic cities (Greek cities) with the surrounding countryside pertaining to each. During the first century a.d. the territory was an administrative unit attached to Syria. Jesus’ visits to the territory anticipate the church’s ministry among Gentiles and reveal the boundless nature of his messianic authority.

Mark’s account (Mk 5:1) notes the same

Matthew’s account (Mt 8:28) notes that Jesus went to the country of the Gadarenes (Gadara was another city of Decapolis, six miles southeast of the lake), where there were two men, rather than one.

It is important to note that Matthew is known to be often concerned with giving general details of the narrative, whereas Mark and Luke provide a more detailed account, singling out the spokesman of the two. (note the account of Jesus healing the blind man, notably two in Mt 20:29-34, but one in Mk 10:46-52 and Lk 18:35-43).

v. 27, Upon arrival, Jesus was met by a man possessed by many demons.

Luke tells us that this man was naked and living among the dead for quite some time.

Important to note that this man was not only spiritually unclean with demons, but was also ceremonially unclean because of being among the dead.

Notably, this region has herds of pig, meaning this is not somewhere a religious Jewish teacher would be.

As we’ve seen in previous interactions with the unclean, Jesus’ presence and power purifies the defilement abounding this place.

Jesus is the coal that purifies unclean lips.

v. 28, Upon seeing Jesus, the man falls before Him, crying out, “What business do we have with each other?”

The demons identify Jesus precisely as He is:

Son of the Most High God

The demons identify God accordingly as well.

The demons acknowledge the authority that Jesus possesses.

Demons seem to believe and tremble (James 2:19)

v. 29, Phrasing is confusing, but this appears to be stating that this was the demons’ response after being commanded to come out of the man.

Were the demons able to resist?

Any attempt of resistance (in this case through negotiation) was overcome by Jesus inevitably, however it is worth noting that this was likely a power encounter of enormous proportions.

Luke expounds on the history of the man, noting that it has seized the man many times; he had been bound with chains and shackles, guarded by men, but inevitably would escape, breaking the bonds and be driven into the desert (wilderness; domain of demons?)

v. 30, Jesus asks the demons for their name, to which the demons respond, “Legion.”

A legion consisted of about 6,000 men, hence the number is meant to signify many.

v. 31, They were imploring Jesus not to send them into the abyss (ἄβυσσος).

The Greek word means “bottomless” or “very deep” and came to be used of the place of captivity of evil spirits or fallen angels. In Revelation 20:1–3 Satan is seized and sealed up in the Abyss for a thousand years. Matthew 25:41 speaks of the place of “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Usually translated “abyss” in the NT, it refers to the place of the dead (Rom. 10:7) and is synonymous with hell or Hades. It more frequently refers to the place where the forces of evil dwell (e.g., Luke 8:31; Rev. 9:1, 2).

Summarize:

Jesus arrives on land and is met by a demoniac, pleading with Him not to send them into the abyss.

v. 32-35,

v.v. 32-33, They beg Jesus for Him to allow them to enter a herd of pigs, to which Jesus permits and in doing so, they leave the man and enter the animals, causing them to run down a steep bank into the lake, drowning.

Why did Jesus permit this?

They were pigs, unclean for Jews, but not for Gentiles

note,

Demonization and exorcism were not uncommon in the first century, appearing both in Judaism and in the greater Hellenistic world. The New Testament itself testifies to Jewish exorcists other than Jesus and the apostles. Jesus points out in Luke 11:19 that the disciples of the Pharisees practiced exorcism, and in Acts 19 seven sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva attempt to cast out demons in Jesus’ name (but fail miserably!). Luke 9:49 (par. Mark 9:38) speaks of a man outside the band of disciples who is casting out demons in Jesus’ name.

vv. 34-35, Witnesses saw what happened and they urgently went about spreading the word. Those who heard went out to see what happened, only to find that the man who had been possessed was in his right mind, clothed and sitting at the feet of Jesus; they were frightened by this.

The power of Jesus is demonstrated in the response of the crowd who knew the possessed man; who is this that commands even the demons, and they obey Him?

Summarize:

Jesus permits them to instead enter a herd of swine, in which they do so, then leading them into the lake drowning them. Witnesses of this spread word about Jesus and what He has done.

vv. 36-39,

vv. 36-37, The witnesses reported to the crowds how the demoniac had been made well and the response of the people was that of great fear, pleading with Jesus to leave. Jesus does so, returning to the boat.

vv. 38-39, The man who was possessed begged Jesus that he might come with Him, but Jesus sent him off, instructing him to actually witness and testify to his family and neighbors about what God has done for him. The man returned and began proclaiming the wonderful things Jesus did for him.

He is not told to keep silent about this, but rather is told to proclaim the good news among the Decapolis

Note,

The account also contrasts various responses to Jesus’ authority: terror and destruction within the demonic realm, fear and rejection from the people of Gerasa, but salvation and proclamation for the healed man.

Summarize:

Crowds come and are frightened by what they see; they plead Jesus to leave, while the man who was possessed pleads to leave with Jesus. Jesus instructs him to testify about what God has done for him to his family and neighbors, in which the man witnesses throughout the whole city what Jesus did for him.

Big Idea:

Jesus demonstrates the authenticity of His authority in an intense, powerful moment through the exorcism of a legion of demons.

As we saw with the calming of the storm the authority Christ has over the created realm, we see here His authority potentially over tens of thousands powerful fallen angels.

He demonstrates the validity of His role as the faith-bearer of humanity through His demonstrated sovereignty over the spiritual realm.

Heart- Do I buy it?

(15-20 min)

Open the discussion for any questions.

(Let group answer these questions)

What should we praise God for? (Rejoice)

What should we confess to God? (Repent)

What should we ask God for? (Request)

What should we lift up to God? (Sacrifice)

What should we live out for God? (Service)

As Christians, we are called to testify our faith in Christ to those whom we are surrounded by; if we find this difficult, if man seems to be bigger than God, I want to encourage you:

Let us not be tempted to “find our courage” or “summon that strength within” to share the deeds of Christ in our lives; let us rather reflect on the sovereign and powerful deeds themselves of our God and let their tangibility bolt us into action!

Should we, in our frail, finite minds, forget the sovereign power by which God raised us from the dead, uniting us to Christ by grace through faith, let us then reflect on His sovereign power testified through His Word (Psalm 91).

Hands- So What? How then should I live?

(10-15 min)

Walk with God: What does sharing the deeds of Christ in your life look like personally in your walk with God?

Keep Christ first: What does sharing the deeds of Christ in your life look like personally when we keep Christ first?

Keep sin out of your life: What does sharing the deeds of Christ in your life look like personally when you are keeping sin out of your life?

Personally,

There are three major components to sharing our testimonies:

Who I was before I met Christ

How did I come to know Christ

What has Christ been doing in my life since I first met Him

To steward well and feed that fire of passion, we must constantly meditate upon and partake in the works of God displayed through His Word and His Church