June 19, 2016
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Year C
Text Luke 8:26 - 39
Deviled Ham
Earlier in Luke Chapter 8 we see that while Jesus and the disciples were sailing across the sea of Galilee to the Gerasenes ------ normally a short trip by boat ----- a nasty, life threatening, storm came up. Jesus calmed the storm and the disciples asked a question. Who is this that he can command even winds and water? The following incident with the demon possessed man should have helped them to better answer this question. Let's review today's reading.
26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,---A Gentile Region --- which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 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. 28 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!” 29 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.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss That is Hell.
32 A large herd of pigs ---- Mark's account of this event states 2000, --- was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission.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.
Actually, the problem with Satan and the demons has been with us since Genesis 3 when the deceiver made an offer that Eve and Adam could not refuse. Today's encounter with the demonic is but another battle in a long war. To further illustrate this, lets go to Luke 8:4ff where Jesus teaches using the parable of the sower. He talks about some of the seed ---- the word of God --- falling among the thorns and the thorns growing and choking the good seed. These are those who hear the Gospel message but are choked by life's worries and the deceitfulness of wealth and pleasures. They do not mature as disciples and may eventually fall away. Verse 33 says 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. Some translations --- King James for example ---- say they rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were choked. The original Greek text uses the same word in both places which can be translated as choked. The disciples and readers of the original Greek text would have got this connection. They would have seen, in the choking herd, a vivid illustration of how the world and the distractions of the world often separate us from our call to follow Christ. ( Jason Zirbel June 23, 2013 LCMSSERMONS.com )
Now my research tells me that pigs can swim. Obviously the demons were in complete control. The pigs did not voluntarily die. The demons chose suicide by swine as their way out. Isn't this what some demon possessed people do when they provoke situations that result in suicide by cop?
Our demons, unchallenged, left to run amok, can certainly destroy both body and soul in hell. (Math 10:28) Think of some of the things that act like demons, that are placed in our lives by the demonic such as alcohol, drugs, behavioral addictions. These can kill both body and soul wrecking havoc on the victim and families and friends. Luke tells us of other encounters between Jesus and the demonic.
In Chapter 4 He tells us about how Satan tempted Jesus in the desert. He also tells us about an incident in the Synagogue in Capernaum where Jesus cast out a demon from a man.
In Chapter 9 He heals a boy with an evil spirit.
There is another incident in chapter 11 where Jesus drove out a demon and a man was then able to talk.
Luke then proceeds to explain that when an evil spirit returns to a person because it finds no other place to rest, it brings more evil spirits and the person is in worse shape than he was at the beginning.
So we can see from Luke's writing and other Biblical passages that the demonic forces were quite active in the time of Jesus' earthly ministry. What about their activity now? It is not hard to see the demonic in our world when we see some of the heinous crimes against humanity reported almost daily. Demonic possession is the only explanation that I can conceive of for a pilot purposefully crashing a plane loaded with passengers into a mountain or the twin towers in New York.. Demonic possession is the only explanation I can conceive of for a person to go into an elementary school and systematically kill small children.
British author, professor, theologian, intellect, C.S. Lewis, now deceased, offers this sage advice regarding demons:
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”
C.S. Lewis wrote a book called The Screwtape letters which chronicles the advice of Screwtape, a senior assistant to Satan, to his young protegee Wormwood as to how he might tempt his “patient” - actually victim - into serious sin and ultimate rejection of Christ.
One of the truths that I was reminded of in the book is Satan works in subtle ways. He doesn't need to turn is all into fiendish criminals to send us to hell. He doesn't need to have us naked, chained and living in the tombs. Screwtape writes to Wormwood:
"You will say that these are very small sins, and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from God -who he calls the enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to keep the man away from the Light.… Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."
When we rely on our own falsely perceived goodness, rather
than the cross of Christ we need to repent. When we defiantly celebrate our sins we need to repent. When we live “high on the Hog” and fail to adequately support the work of Christ in the local Church with our time, talents, and financial offerings we need to repent. When we pray like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11 we need to repent.
Listen carefully:
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
Which of these two men went home justified before God?
If we examine ourselves we know that the demons want us. They know our strengths and weaknesses. They know us better than we know ourselves. They want us. They want to reason with us, they want to share their enlightened view points. They tell us about all of the good things that we deserve. Their voices of reason tell us that Biblical truths are outdated –the church needs to update it's teachings. They tell us that only some scripture is the inspired Word of God. Truthfully, they want to grab us by the neck and drop our spiritually dead soul at Satan's feet just like the family cat drags his prey to our door steps. This is spiritual warfare. God is love, Satan is hate --- Opposites – we can not serve both. We too can sit at Jesus' feet restored --- forgiven for all of our sins ---- because of His atoning death for us on the cross and His glorious resurrection.
Remember the evil demon Screwtape's advice to Wormwood.
You can separate your patient from God with little things. The wickedness does not need to be spectacular.
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Jesus gave us the best advice when He taught us to pray.
We are to ask God to protect us from the evil one. We are to ask that His will be done. We are to ask to be free of temptation. We are to forgive freely so that we may be forgiven. We are to ask that His Kingdom come. We are to ask that His name be hallowed. We are to ask for our daily needs.
The prayer that God answers yes all the time is that which is in His will. If we pray for His will to be done we will ultimately align ourselves with His will. And His will is that we deny self, take up our cross daily and follow Christ. (Luke 9:23) Jesus wants committed followers not fans sitting on the sidelines.
Saint Paul, who himself had a messenger from Satan to harass him, tells us to put on the full armor of God.
Paul writes:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,(O)which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Eph. 6:10-20)
Like a general encouraging his troops, Paul tells us that the victory is certain because Christ has already won the war. Through our Baptisms we are clothed with Christ. The demons can drown in our Baptismal water. Christ has promised us living water to further drown our demons. We rely on the strength of Christ. Demonic forces are lined up against the Church and followers of Christ. This is spiritual war and it must be fought with spiritual weapons not worldly weapons.
