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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Luke 8:26-39

© MMXIII V.1.0.2
by Morley Evans

In this lesson, Jesus cured a Gerasene who was possessed by many demons. The demons left the man and entered a herd of swine which then ran into a lake and were drown. The townsfolk came out to see what was going on. They found the man who had been possessed fully clothed and in his right mind. The townsfolk were afraid and they asked Jesus to leave. The cured man wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to stay to tell the good news to everyone.

Jesus left the cured man with many problems. 1). the swineherd would want compensation for his herd of pigs that had been drowned, "Who is going to pay for this," he would want to know; 2). the townsfolk would have become adjusted to having a crazy naked man in their midst. They would not know what to do with let's call him "Crazy Harold." They would not believe he had anything worth listening to when he started telling them God had done wonderful things for him. Jesus left "Crazy Harold" with big problems. The townsfolk would have made up their mind about "Crazy Harold" years before. His best option would have been to go somewhere else and start a new life: he might not have prejudice to impede him where he was a stranger. Too bad Jesus didn't take "Crazy Harold" with him..


Luke 8:26-39

8:26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.

8:27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.

8:28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me"--

8:29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times 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 wilds.)

8:30 Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him.

8:31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

8:32 Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.

8:33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

8:34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country.

8:35 Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they 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.

8:36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed.

8:37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.

8:38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying,

8:39 "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

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