#49 Luke 8:26-39 A Large Herd of Pigs
On December 12, 2021 by Amy BurginJoy:
Episode #49 Luke 8:26-39
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin.
Amy:
If you are anything like us, you desire to abide in God’s presence, learn the ways of God, and behold the beauty of God every day of your life. This podcast makes space for that. Each week we read a passage from the Bible several times and create stillness after each reading that we might step into this stillness and know God.
We are in a long series that takes us through the book of Luke. In the last episode, Jesus told his disciples, “Let’s go to the other side of the lake.” So they did. They crossed the Sea of Galilee and today’s episode will tell us what happened when they landed there.
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy:
Before Joy reads today’s passage, take a few moments to give God the things that are on your mind. Maybe it’s the pain and loneliness that often come during the holidays. Or maybe a long, stressful to-do list, excitement, worry, peace, or gratitude. Whatever is on your mind, name it and bring it to the Lord in this next minute.
What Does This Passage Say About God?
Joy:
As I read the passage for the first time, consider the question, What does this passage say about God?
Luke 8:26-39 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about God?
[Pause and know]What Does This Passage Say About People?
Joy:
As I reread the passage, consider the question: What does this passage tell you about people?
Luke 8:26-39 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about people?
[Pause and know]Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?
Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God the question, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”
Luke 8:26-39 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Take time to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today?”
[Pause and listen]Blessing
Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. May you keep your face turned toward Jesus today and know he is Lord.
One Response
Amy:
OK, if you’re anything like me, you can get hung up thinking about the pigs. I read a great interview with John Piper at www.desiringgod.org and decided I’d start here by sharing some of the facts Piper points out:
- The demons know who Jesus is. They call him the Son of the Most High God.
- The demons know Jesus gets to choose what happens to them, indicated by their begging.
- The demons desire to enter any life they can, which is why they beg to go into the pigs.
Now, it always baffled me that Jesus granted their desire! I have always imagined that if I were Jesus, I would have sent them straight to the Abyss! Why did Jesus allow them to go into the pigs? Piper provides a few reasons:
- A legion of demons inhabited this man. A Roman legion is the largest military unit of the Roman army consisting of around 4,000 to 6,000 men. The people present were able to see the physical manifestation of the demonic transfer from the man to the pigs. This gave a physical picture of the magnitude of the demon possession and problem at hand. But a problem of this enormity is not at all too massive for Jesus.
- The demons could not have known that the pigs would immediately run off the cliff, thus sending them straight to the abyss. As Dr. J Vernon McGee said in his commentary of the passage, the demons were “willing to go into pigs rather than the abyss and the pigs would rather be dead than have the demons.” It seems the demons were indeed sent to the abyss after all.
- The loss of the pigs may provide an indication of the heart of the majority of the townspeople. The men who owned the pigs lost some of their property for the sake of another man’s freedom. Piper suggests and I wonder is this what frightened the people and caused them to beg Jesus to leave their town? Because they valued material wealth above human life?
Piper’s commentary helps me, and I hope it helps you too. Many things stand out to me personally and I have time to share three here:
- I’m reminded of the previous episode, when Jesus told his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” That sentence has so much mearning. I have no doubt Jesus crossed that lake for the express purpose of freeing this demon-possessed man. In Episode 22, we learned what Jesus said in his first public sermon, that he came to set the captives free as prophesides in Isaiah 61.
- When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by the demon-possessed man. Could the demons have been aware of and awaiting Jesus’ arrival? I wonder about that storm they experienced on the lake. Could it have been spiritual opposition, an attempt to prevent the man’s freedom? When Jesus leads us to set captives free, do we not often come against opposition ourselves? No matter. Nothing can stop Jesus.
- Demon possession is a strange thing to think about. Can another spirit really enter your body? Well, yes! Our bodies were made to be temples of God, to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 3:16 says to those who have put their trust in Christ, “Don’t you know you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells within you?” WOW! God made our bodies in such a way as to come inside and abide! The intimacy he offers here is extreme!
Closing
Amy:
You can find a transcript of this episode with links to John Piper’s interview and J. Vernon McGee’s commentary. Joy and I will be back next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.
Links
Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s Commentary
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