From a05ed1ed0223721b26cff5d017ec404ddc516524 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Lyle Mantooth Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2022 12:10:01 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] Luke 8:26-39 --- content/bible_journal/luke_8:26-39.md | 37 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 37 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/bible_journal/luke_8:26-39.md diff --git a/content/bible_journal/luke_8:26-39.md b/content/bible_journal/luke_8:26-39.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..127e917 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/luke_8:26-39.md @@ -0,0 +1,37 @@ ++++ +title = "Luke 8:26–39" +date = "2022-11-25" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk8.26-39) + +After the storm, Jesus and the disciples arrive safely in the country of the +Gerasenes (or Gadarenes; different texts say different towns, and they're both +near enough to be plausible). They are met by a demon-possessed man who has +been greatly tormented. The demons know who Jesus is and are afraid of Him and +ask Him not to torment them. As an alternative, they offer to go into a nearby +herd of pigs. Jesus agrees, and the legion of demons drive the pigs mad so that +they rush into the lake and drown. This understandably freaks the pigherds out, +and they go tell everyone around what happened. The people come to see what has +happened and seeing the ex-demoniac acting like a normal, healthy person +frightens them too. They ask Jesus to leave the area, so He does. But before He +can leave, the man asks to go with Him, but Jesus sends him back to his home, +this time telling him to share freely what God has done for him. + +We learn from this story that demons know who Jesus is, and that He has power +and authority over them. They call Him "Son of the Most High God" (_v. 28_) and +beg Him not to send them to the abyss (_v. 31_). We also learn that mental +illness can be caused or exacerbated by demons, which is not to say all mental +illness necessarily is. + +Jesus's ministry was focused on teaching His own countrymen, the Jews, so it is +a little strange that He went to this Gentile area in the first place. (Jews +wouldn't keep pigs, after all.) But He doesn't ignore Gentiles completely when +He encounters them, maintaining the idea that God's plan of salvation includes +all people. (See God's covenant with Abraham, Peter's dream, and all of Paul's +letter to the Romans.) + +* * * + +Give us compassion for those in hard circumstances, and help us care for them +as You would.