Returning Home

25. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Welcome back from the weekend.  Today I want to finish our story of the demon-possessed man from Luke’s account.    Let’s look at the text: 

33 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. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 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. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 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. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 ”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.   

Last week we talked about the man’s nakedness being clothed and he has now been sitting at the feet of Jesus in the teacher/mentor position and he is in his right mind.  The people of the region were now afraid.  It is fascinating how they tolerated life with the demon possessed man and how they had learned to live with the crazy men that slept among the tombs but now that he is healed and in his right mind, the community is afraid. 

Let’s look at several reasons, why the community could have been afraid.  The text teaches that they wanted Jesus to leave as a matter of fact, they begged Jesus to leave.  Mark’s account teaches that there were about 2000 pigs that ended up being destroyed when the demons went into the swine.  Most scholars agree that the estimated loss of 2000 swine being killed was probably equal to at least $250,000.00  dollars.  Wow, instantly, Jesus hurt their economy by a quarter of a million dollars.    

In other cities, when miracles were done, the people would go back home and bring their lame, demon possessed and sick for Jesus to heal but in this particular city, they begged him to leave once they saw this miracle.  Could it be that making money was more important than saving souls.  Could it be, that they were fearful that any other miracles could have led to financial disaster also.  Could it be???  You know……… things that make you say uhmmm!!!!!  The community did not celebrate the deliverance of this man.  They did not celebrate that this man had been healed and could rejoin society.  They feared……..  and begged Jesus to get out of their country.  WOW!!!!!!!!!

Let’s return to the man.  The text teaches that when Jesus left, the man begged Jesus if he could go with him.  A lot of times after a powerful conference, or a powerful revival, or a powerful life changing experience with someone, it’s hard to leave.  You don’t want to return to life as usual.  You want to stay there where you felt safe, and healed and where you got built up again in life. Jesus instructs the man to go home and tell how much God has done for you.   

The departure is sad but to grow we must leave and put in practice what we have learned.    This story reminds me of how I felt this weekend in

To all my friends in LA, let me say that I thoroughly enjoyed ministering at the conference and though it was hard to leave because I too wanted to stay under the healing power of God,  life does go on and we do have to return to our homes and tell others what great things God has done for us.    All is well,  Everything is safe,  Everything is as it should be. 

God Bless!!!!   

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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