A Path Toward Healing

Something that is important for us to pay attention to and not gloss over are the very first things that Jesus notices about this man other than the obvious fact that he has been possessed by a legion of demons. This man had for a long time worn no clothes, which is polite way to say that the man was naked all the time. He didn’t live in a house which is yet another polite way to say that since this man had been possessed by demons he was homeless. Finally we learn that this man lived in the tombs which seemed to be a ways outside the city. The choice to live in the tombs was made by the demons and not the man. If you want to get a more vivid and dire account of the state of the man, read Mark’s telling of the story which is found in Mark 5:1-20. What is also important to understand is that until the man is cured, the entire conversation that Jesus has is with Legion, the demons, not with the man himself. This man is not in control of himself but is entirely under the control and whim of the demons that possess him. This man was a in a very difficult and sad state when Jesus meets him.

I don’t think we fully grasp that because the conversation is had between Legion and Jesus. So the man plays a backseat role in everything that leads up to the exorcism, yet this man’s life is very much a part of what is going on and the man has been subjected to everything we have been talking about. This man is forced to be naked, forced to be homeless and live among the tombs, the man has to be chained becuase of the wild and evil things Legion would make him do. This man was possessed by demons and was forced to do things that were evil in the sight of people.

There are things happening in our world today that are evil and much like the people who tried to restrain this Legion before Jesus arrived, we too can feel helpless with the evils that we see happening around us. I know it has been a few weeks since the recent mass shootings in our country, but I feel this is the text to really address it, but I don’t think anyone would argue that when people are targeted because of their race, gender identity, faith, or attack helpless children, that there is any other word for it other than evil in the sight of people. We also see it in the constant fighting in Ukraine and other parts of the world where people are being killed for a few people’s ambitions. We might not talk about the people who carry these violent acts out as demons, demonic or demon possessed, though some do, but I think we can all agree that they are in fact evil acts.

What is so powerful about this interaction is that Jesus addresses this Legion, this evil, head on. When Jesus takes it on he is able to take the evil out of this man and restore him to his whole self. Now this whole idea of the the many demons calling themselves Legion can have a wide variety of possible meanings. What I would like to point out is that by calling themselves Legion, they are bringing to mind that there are many, many demons in this man. Commentators often point out that a legion in the Roman army was comprised of 6,000 men. So when Jesus does take Legion on, this is Jesus, as Jesus, taking on possibly 6,000 demons all at once. What we see is these demons are already on the defensive because they don’t want to be ‘tormented’ by Jesus because he had already commanded them to come out of the man. Jesus is taking on this Legion and everything we see and hear is that they are no match for the power of Jesus. Jesus may grant their request to go into the swine, but the end result is the same, Jesus is able to cast out the Legion and bring this man back in control of his life.

What happens next is interesting: when the people are faced with the good news that this man has been made whole, Jesus is asked to leave. When evil is defeated and healing has taken place, the response is not exactly as we would expect it to be. Some people have argued that it is becuase Jesus just threw an entire herd of swine to their death, thus hurting the towns economy, but there is no mention of that here. It doesn’t say that Jesus was run off because the poeple were angry about the swine, it says they were seized with fear at what Jesus had done. Sometimes change is hard even if it is for the better. Sometimes letting something bad or evil continue is easier because you become accustomed to it and know how to deal with it rather than the change that it brings about. Perhaps the town no longer has a person or a thing to blame for everything going on in their lives now that this man has been cured. Perhaps now that one evil thing has been taken care of it could force them to face the other evils in their midst and wonder what to do about it.

Which raises the question and the time of wondering of what it is that we are being called to make better. What is it in our society that we live with even though we know is wrong becuase it’s easier to live with than to correct? What are the things that we can tackle as people of faith so that we can look into the eyes of our neighbors and see people who are whole, who feel protected, who know they are loved becuase of the work of God in their lives?

Because when we do that we will see a difference in ourselves and the world around us. Just look at the man that Jesus cured. The man is sitting at the feet of Jesus, he is no longer yelling or upset, or pacing, The man is no longer naked, he’s wearing clothes again, and he is in his right mind, which means that any interaction with this man is with this man and no longer with Legion. The man is finally himself and can think and act according to his own will and desires. And look at what this man wants after he has been made well, he wants to follow Jesus, he wants to be a disciple and know and learn more about this man who was willing to confront the evil that had plagued this man for so long.

Don’t look at Jesus’ response as a rejection but as a redirection. He didn’t send him away becuase he didn’t want or need another follower, what he did need was someone to keep sharing with those who were full of fear from his home town that this man had cured him and it was for the better. That Jesus came to show that God is more powerful than anything else in this world and that is a good thing. That God’s love and forgiveness and grace are more important than any change that may happen in our lives. That even if Jesus is different and foreign to them, that this kind of care is more important than anything else this world has to offer, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zones. I feel we have that role of man who was cured of the demons, who was on a path toward healing. We are here to share that same message of love to others who are fearful and hurting, who may not know where to go or what to do in a world that has evil in it. To offer them a message of peace and love in a world that doesn’t seem to have a lot of it. So that we can care for those who may otherwise be left in the catacombs of this life, naked, and afraid. To give them a path to healing through Jesus is more powerful than any demon we may encounter along the way. And remember from the last few weeks, we don’t do it alone but with the power of the Spirit and our community throughout it all. What greater gift is there to offer than a path to healing and wholeness through a relationship with our creator? Amen.