THE COST OF REDEMPTION
Text: Luke 8:26-39
This story is filled with all kinds of things that we could mention. Perhaps, the main things is the cost of redemption. What is that cost? Someone (Mel Lawrence) once said, “Redemption is God’s mighty act of delivering us from anything or anyone that holds us in bondage”. (The Complete Guide To Christian Quotations. Uhrichsville: Ohio, 2011, p. 374). There is no doubt that Jesus did a mighty act in delivering this demoniac from his bondage. There was a cost. There is always a cost involved. If there is a cost, then we would have to say that there is often a misplaced value that is sometimes put on that cost. The response of those in the community of the Garsenes echoes how some people in world might have the same kind of response to the cost of redemption. How we view the “cost factor” seems to shape the way we look at the condition, domination and liberation of the demoniac.
THE CONDITION OF THE DEMONIAC
It appears that the demoniac had to be restrained because of the fact that he was potentially dangerous. Do you blame the Garasenes for restraining him? If you ever watch one of the cop shows on tv, then you will notice, when they handcuff a suspect, they do so because of the potential for danger. Such was the case with this demoniac for the Garasenes.
What do you think of when you hear the word “tomb?“ A tomb is a place where bodies of deceased loved ones and friends are placed. In thed days of Jesus’ earthly ministry a tomb was usually in a cave. Today it is usually a man made chamber. This was tameless due to the demons that possessed him until he met Jesus Christ the Lord face to face. demoniac lived in the tombs (Luke 8:27 NIV). Herbert Lockyer put it this way: "To any ordinary Jew, tomb dwelling was abhorrent, and to dwell in tombs was indeed a sign of insanity". (H. Lockyer. All The Miracles Of The Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1961, p. 188). Jews would have been abhorred by the idea of someone living in a tomb (Numbers 19:16). How would we respond if we encountered someone living in a tomb on the grounds of a cemetery?
What about his relationship to others? By the fact that he was driven into the solitary place, especially that of a tomb, we can conclude that he was friendless, shameless, tameless and homeless (Luke 8:27,29). "For a long time this man had not ... lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs" (Luke 8:27b NIV). Let's face it, with all of these details, it is more than obvious that by the standards of the Gentiles, the Jews and maybe even you and I, this man was hopeless and helpless . As someone (Richard J. Shaffer Jr.) has said, “Over the years people have tried to explain the condition of the demoniac in temporary terms---he has a “psychiatric condition as opposed to a demonic condition”. (David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. eds. Richard J. Shaffer, Jr. “Pastoral Perspective”. Feasting On The Word. Year C. Volume 3. Louisville: John Knox Press, 2010, p. 166). It seems that the world we live in uses labels to decide who we will help and who we will ignore doesn’t it? It is just as possible for someone to demonize another as it is to use psychiatric label. The demoniac was not hopeless and helpless to Jesus!
THE DOMINATION OF THE DEMONIAC
This person was governed by the demons that possessed him. Notice how the demoniac addressed Jesus: "When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell on 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!" (Luke 8:28 NIV). The demons begged for mercy because Jesus is absolute in His power and authority. Consider Jude :6: "And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home---these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgement on the great Day" (NIV). The home that the devil and his demons abandoned was heaven.
Jesus asked the demoniac what his name was. This question seems ambiguous at first. Did Jesus mean the names of the demons that possessed him or the name of the man? (Lockyer p. 189). Notice who answered, it was the demons. Their answer was "Legion". William Barclay reminds us what is meant by the term "Legion": "A Roman Legion was regiment of 6,000 soldiers." (W. Barclay. The Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel Of Luke. Revised Edition. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975, p. 108). Whether a metaphor or an accurate figure, this man was tormented. Barclay suspected that this man had doubtlessly seen a Roman Legion on the march "... and his poor afflicted mind felt that there was not one demon but a whole regiment inside him" (p. 108). The demons had no choice but to tell Jesus who they were because Jesus has absolute authority over them. They could dominate this man and his behavior, but they could not evade Jesus's authority. They therefore begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them into the Abyss (Luke 8:31). An Abyss has no bottom. That fact can make one come to the conclusion that hell must not have a floor.
People do not have to be possessed by demons to become their victims. Leslie B. Flynn in his book The Miracles of Jesus (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1990, p. 82) notes the insights of Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones from his book Healing AndÿScripturesÿ(Nashville: Oliver-Nelson Books, 1988, pp. 158-73). Loyd- Jones is a "... noted English preacher-physician ..." (Flynn p. 82). Loyd-Jones has said that there are two categories which are oppression and possession (p. 82).
Concerning oppression he lists four diagnostic clues which are the following. "First, the onset of the condition. Second, unexpected behavior. Third, extreme weakness. Fourth, no response to medical treatment, baffling those who render medical or psychiatric treatment" (p. 82). I believe that oppression can be and sometimes is a matter of one's spiritual condition.
Loyd-Jones also clarified clues concerning possession which are the following: "... a history of dabbling with spiritualism and the occult; dual personality; alternation between normal and abnormal behavior; and violent reaction to the name of Jesus and to the mention of the blood of Christ or of His coming in the flesh" (Flynn p. 82). I once saw what looked a demon possessed young lady shirk and jerk at a revival.
Based upon Loyd-Jones's fourth diagnostic clue of possession that was the case. The demons that possessed the demoniac did not want to have to give their host. They were scared that Jesus would send them to be chained "until the day of their judgement" (Jude :6). Jesus let them go into the swine as they requested and they swine went mad and ran off of the cliff into the water.
THE LIBERATION OF THE DEMONIAC
The demoniac was healed and liberated by Jesus. Jesus exercised the demons that possessed and dominated him. That in effect was the demoniac's healing. Now that he was liberated, he was free to receive the gift of salvation and eternal life that only comes through Jesus. Usually, people are more than eager to follow and serve Jesus after they have been liberated. Such was the case with the demoniac. In fact, he begged Jesus to let him come along when Jesus was heading back to the boat. "New converts sometimes prefer getting away from those who knew them at their worst, but on such our greatest impact can often be made" (Flynn p. 88). There are times when such an exit is necessary as in the case of Ruth. Ruth left because there was nothing more for her in Moab. Her life as she knew I had changed when her husband died.
The children of Israel in Egyptian captivity is another good example. The children of Israel complained about how they had it better back in Egypt even after God in His mercy delivered them from bondage. God took them out of Egypt, but the problem was that the ghost of their captive Egyptian bondage seemed to remain in them. It was therefore a hindrance.
Jesus wanted the former demoniac to go back to his family and friends and tell them what God had done for him. It was in God's plan. In other words, he was to be a type of missionary. Put it this way, "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain" (Psalm 127:1 NIV). Psalm 127:1 explains why neither Ruth nor the children of Israel would not have been successful, it was not God's "building plan."
Flynn tells the story of a former wayward father who was liberated. "Imagine who left his family or been asked by his family to leave because of his problems with how the Devil tempted him with drugs or alcohol, or even the power from worshipping the Devil, or just plain abusiveness from his inability to control his temper due to an extremely low tolerance level. Then, imagine that same father coming back home as his wife and kids barricade the door as they notice him driving up the drive way. He goes to knock on the door. Both children have looked at him through the peephole and they notice what his difference. "Why, Mother, he looks different! See his clothes! And his eyes are not wild!"
He knocks gently. "Wife, let me in. It's your husband. I don't blame you for being afraid. But, I've a story to tell you. I'm a different man. I've met Jesus and now I'm in my right mind." With much apprehension she opens the door. He takes her in his arms, calling her by endearing names of their happier years. He embraces his children one by one. "You won't need to be afraid anymore," he says. "you have a new husband---a new father. and we have a new home. No more demons . Jesus will run our home form now on" (Flynn p. 88). Whether this story is a scenario (which it seems to be by the clue word "Imagine") or not, it makes the point.
Consider the response of the Gadarenes.
Yes the evil spirits left this man, went into the herd of swine and they ran off the cliff and ran into the lake and drowned (Luke 8:32-33). Mark's version says that the number of swine in the herd was two thousand in number (Mark 5:13). But, so what this man's soul was saved, right? Yes indeed. But, the people valued the herd of swine more than they did the salvation of this man. What a tragedy!
Their response was that they asked Jesus to leave as a result because they got scared (Luke 8:37). Matthew's version says that they "... pleaded with him to leave their region" (Matthew 8:34 NIV). Mark 5:17 is worded almost the same as Matthew 8:34. Now, this response is contrary to what we would have expected. Flynn said that the people of Gadara were "... possessed by demon greed" (p. 87) weighing the value of the two thousand swine against the value of the salvation of this man's soul. Barclay wrote, "More people hate Jesus because he disturbs them than for any other reason" (p. 109). Jesus did not come to condone our sinfulness but to stir us and disturb us so that we might repent and change the ways of our hearts.
Borrowing from Flynn's conclusion of "demon greed" we can see that it is all around us. Look at the video poker industry. I once heard a political commercial where voters were asked to vote in favor of this industry because of the jobs at stake. But, no mention was made of those whose families have been ruined by the money that was spent in these machines with the hope of winning the jackpot while losing too much of a paycheck. The politicians in favor of the video poker industry can promote it like they want to and live in denial while doing so. But, the fact remains that the video poker industry is nothing more than a type of exploitation that evades the consequences of it's victims for "demon greed."
How much value do we as the Church place on the souls of men? The cost of redemption was great! Jesus died on the cross for you and I. Jesus paid the price for our sins with His own blood. It is His blood that washes us clean because His sacrifice gives those who will receive it the gift of eternal life for there is life in His blood (Leviticus 17:11, Luke 22:20). We need to cast aside the elements of "demon greed" in us. If Jesus values people that we might otherwise consider throwaways, then so should we! Amen.
