As I set and write this, I am at summer camp with our Student Ministry. In my early years in ministry, I was one leading the group, but nowadays I am just a chaperone (which I am enjoying). In those days when I led camp, one thing that I prayed often about was the spiritual warfare that I knew was coming in the days ahead. I knew that the enemy was awaiting at camp for our leaders and our students. Satan did not want to see God move in the lives of our student ministry. And because of knowing that I spent a specific amount of time praying for the guidance, protection, and leadership of the Holy Spirit. I have prayed the same for this trip as well, because I know that the enemy has his legions ready to distract our students and leaders. Today as we come to our scripture passage we will look at the story of the man who had the Legion of Demons in him. And we will see that Satan was ready to confront Jesus as he got off the boat but Jesus was ready (as he always is). As we dive into the scripture, I want to look at it from two perspectives. First, the man with the Legion meets Jesus and the victory that comes from that encounter. Secondly, I want us to see the reaction of others when Jesus removes the Legion and chaos from his life. So, lets jump in now and look to see Jesus encounter the Legion of Demons.
The Encounter
Jesus and the disciples have crossed the sea and now have arrived at the country of the Gerasenes. As Jesus steps out the boat the man with the legion of demons approaches Jesus. The man who had lived in the caves and tombs who had been tormented by the legion now was confronting the Creator of the Universe. The Legion knew exactly who Jesus was and knew exactly what Jesus could do. As they encounter Jesus they cry out with proclamation the true nature of Christ by saying; “Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” They couldn’t hide the fact of knowing who is and knowing that He is the Divine Son. His presence brought about terror to them because he could immediately cast them out into the darkness of hell. They knew that was their ultimate destination! They cry out for Jesus to not cast them out to the outer darkness but to allow them to simply be cast into the pigs and Jesus did just that. The question that I have often asked is why didn’t Jesus cast them to hell, and the truth is we don’t know. All we know is that he gave them permission to come out and go into the pigs and when that happened, the demons quickly removed the pigs from the situation by drowning them in the sea. It was at this moment of the demons leaving the man, that he became free!
The enemy is all around us and is ready to constantly distract and devour us. When we encounter Christ, we become free from the control of the enemy. We may not be possessed like the man with legions, but we are heavily influenced by the enemy and the blindness of our hearts. It is Jesus who comes into our lives and opens us up to freedom. Before Christ, we are slaves to our sin and slaves to the desires of the flesh. We only desire to feed to flesh and in doing that we feed the legions at work around us. When Christ comes, we are freed to live in the hope of salvation and are freed from the control of sin. Just as the man with legions could not live in freedom, when we are lost with Christ, we can not live with freedom. Jesus encounters in the middle of our chaos and lostness and brings us the freedom from our sinful flesh and gives a new life.
The Reaction
When our lives are freed we would think others would celebrate that freedom but in all reality it is the opposite. When this man was freed and pigs were gone, it brought an unbelievable response. The city folks came out and confronted Jesus, because they lost the pigs. They desired the filth of the pigs and torment of the man more than the freedom that comes with encountering Jesus. They were blinded by the sin of their own flesh and that is all they cared about. They weren’t free and they didn’t want anyone else to be free.
When you come to Christ those who are outside of Christ, will not understand and will honestly prefer and want the old you. They prefer the chaos of sin because that is the life they know. When we come to Christ we are now different from them because we live in true freedom. Those who are outside of Christ are bound to live in a pit of sin and because of that they don’t understand the freedom that comes from Christ. They view the freedom in Christ as a loss because sin desires to be self glorifying and satisfying, whereas being Christ, we desire to glorify God and live in the satisfaction of Christ. So, we should never be surprised by the reaction of the world, when one comes to Christ. The world hates Christ and because of that hates the children of God in Christ.
And our reaction, should be just as the freedman’s reaction, we should desire to be with Jesus and we should be obedient to share that message of freedom with others. Jesus saves us to be lights for the gospel to the world! When the world reacts to us, we must continue to shine for Jesus.
Conclusion:
The world is full of demons that are desiring to destroy us. They hate Jesus and they hate his church. As the church and the gospel encounter the world don’t be surprised by the reaction of the world to Christ and to you. Keep focusing on Jesus and speaking about the freedom that comes in Christ. The Legion has no power over Christ and because of that they have no power over his church!
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