Luke 8:26-39

content/bible_journal/luke_8:26-39.md

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+title = "Luke 8:26–39"
+date = "2022-11-25"
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+
+### [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.