From 2001-2006, the reality-TV game show Fear Factor brought contestants and viewers alike face to face with fears that they did not know they had. From death-defying stunts, to eating gross concoctions and so much more, contestants faced their fears in order to win challenges in the hopes of winning a big pot of money at the end of the season.
While people have genuine fears, the nature of the show and regulations here in the states made safety a priority. So when stunts were done, the contestants truly had to face their fears, but catastrophic danger was mitigated.
Did they really have to fear anything at all? Yes and no.
Motivational speakers have turned “fear” into an acronym - False Evidence Appearing Real. In some ways, our fears are more mental than real, but some fears that we experience are genuine and they impact how we act. What’s more, they may even impact how we relate with God and His will for us.
Today, as we continue looking at Luke 8, we get to see three different ways that people responded to Jesus - some with fear, some with faith.
For the sake of time and since we already read the text, I’m not going to re-read it here or in much of the sermon, but I do want to encourage you to have your Bibles open to Luke 8:22-39 so that you can see in your copy of God’s word what is happening, and make notes as you see fit.
Last week, we considered Jesus’ teaching on the Parable of the soils - the opportunity, responsibility and blessings that we receive when we hear and obey the Word of God. It’s unclear if this next segment is chronological. Luke simply tells us that “one day” Jesus and his disciples got into a boat. Jesus wanted to go to the other side. Along the way Jesus fell asleep. This must have been a deep, heavy sleep, because as they sailed they faced a big storm and began taking on water. When the disciples awoke Jesus, he “rebuked the wind and the raging waves…and there was calm.” He then asked the disciples, where is your faith? Luke notes their response in verse 25
Luke 8:25 ESV
…And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
What I find so interesting here is that…
The disciples responded with fear when they realized Jesus was greater than natural forces (22-25)
Sure, they had some fear over the storm, but they should have been used to those and several of them were fisherman. Many of these guys were familiar with the conditions as storms on Galilee are common.
Luke notes that their fear (phobos) was in response to Jesus’ calming the storm.
I do wonder, when they woke him, what were they expecting him to do? Did they simply want some help? Did they want his sympathy? Did they want a miracle? If so, then why did they respond in fear when he calmed the wind and the waves?
Jesus said they would go to the other side. That was his objective. They had reason to fear the storm, they were taking on water, and yet they doubted that they would survive, in spite of what Jesus said.
We may not face the periodic storms on Galilee that threaten our lives, but we do have storms in our lives.
There are natural storms - true weather events - like the flooding that some in our area are experiencing now. There are natural disasters that we have no control over.
There are relational storms - betrayal of a friend or loved one, hurtful words,
There are physical or medical storms - pains, disease, cancer, medical conditions with seemingly unknown origins or prognosis.
There are emotional storms - feelings of discouragement or depression, heart ache, disappointment.
There are mental storms -
There are spiritual storms as well - we’ll get into this in a moment, but these would be blatant attacks from Satan and his forces. Temptations, trials, …
The journey that Jesus has us on will not always be smooth or even. Jesus said
John 16:33 ESV
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
We should trust that Jesus will bring us to where he has promised. Which begs the question…
What has Jesus promised?
He didn’t tell the disciples “I promise we will get to the other side” he simply said “Let us go across to the other side.” Jesus had every intention of getting there. We could look all over Scripture and find promises of God - things that he has fulfilled and will fulfill. What has Jesus promised about our lives now and our future?
Matthew 28:20 ESV
…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
John 14:1–3 ESV
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Hebrews 13:5 ESV
… “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
His presence is with us by his promised Holy Spirit:
John 14:16–17 ESV
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
We will face storms. Will we trust Jesus more than we fear these storms? As Jesus asked his disciples…“Where is your faith?” Do we believe that Jesus will see us through what ever storm he allows?
So, in spite of their fear and lack of faith, Jesus and the disciples landed on the other side of Galilee where they met a demon-possessed man. As we read earlier, the demons in this man were called Legion because there were many of them. They had tormented this man for years. Rather than casting this legion of demons into the “Abyss” or a bottomless pit, Jesus cast them into a herd of pigs - who then ran into the lake and drowned.
Some of the people around there went into the local town and began to tell people all that Jesus had done. Many of the townspeople came out to observe. What we learn is that…
The towns people responded with fear when they realized Jesus was greater than spiritual forces (34-37)
Let’s look again at how Luke depicts their response:
Luke 8:35–37 ESV
Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.
They came to see what had happened to this man.
They knew him to be running around the tombs, now he is sitting at Jesus feet.
They knew him to be naked - now he is wearing clothes.
They knew him to seemed to be out of his mind - now he is in his right mind.
Yet, rather than wanting to get to know how this happened or the person who caused this man to be cleansed, they were afraid.
They may not have liked the man, but they at least knew what to expect from him. They could avoid him most of the time.
Jesus introduced a whole new dimension of power and authority to them, it seemed like THAT is what they feared. They could not control what aspect of their lives that Jesus might affect.
For those of you who are still investigating faith in Jesus - I understand that it may cause some anxiety and fear. There was a time in my life when I felt that same way. I had made a profession of faith a few years earlier, but as I looked at my future, I feared that if I totally surrendered to Jesus that I would be okay. Frankly, I was more concerned with having a good life here than I was with having an eternal life with him. What I’ve found is that by surrendering to him fully, in many ways, I got both! Yes, everything changes when we come to faith. Our world view, how we speak, how we act, how we use our money - giving as an act of worship and as an act of generosity, how we spend our time, what pleasures we enjoy. Yes, these will all change in time. It’s not a check-list that Jesus is forcing us to go through, but a process of transforming us, even blessing us.
John 10:10 ESV
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
So, if you’re investigating Jesus, let me encourage you not push him away in fear like these people did. Seek him out. Talk to others who have followed him. Investigate. Press into your fear.
So, we’ve seen that the disciples responded with fear when they saw that Jesus was greater than natural forces and the towns people responded with fear when they saw that Jesus was greater than spiritual forces. Finally, we get to see that…
The man responded with faith when Jesus saved him (26-33; 38-39)
In some ways, this is difficult for us to fathom. This man had been tormented for years with this demonic possession. We don’t see that much today. Maybe we see it more than we realize and just call it other things. But, when this man had been freed from his spiritual bondage, he wanted to be with Jesus. He wanted to travel with him. He begged to “be” with him.
I can imagine this is not unlike the testimony that we heard from Alec last week. As Jesus tugged on his heart in January 2024, Alec longed for more. He wanted to read, listen, learn, grow, worship - and still does.
Beloved, there are seasons in our walks when we may become a bit stale and cold to the things of God. I pray that we would have this same sort of passionate desire to be with Jesus. To be in His Word. To bask in his presence.
I’m not exactly sure why Jesus did not let him come with him. Neither Luke nor the other gospel writers give us any insight into Jesus’ reason. But Jesus simply gave him this command:
Luke 8:39 ESV
“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Mark notes that this man traveled through a region called the “decapolis” or 10 cities east of Galilee.
He heeded Jesus’ command and testified about all that Jesus did for him. He gave glory to Jesus through his witness. We don’t know exactly what he said, but I can imagine he would talk about life before meeting Jesus, oppressed by these demons, in spiritual bondage. He may have shared a bit about what happened in his moment of salvation. He may discuss the hope he has in Jesus now.
Several years ago, we got to go to the ruins of the city of Jerash, east of Galilee in Jordan, one of the cities of the decapolis. While there we got to see the ruins of a church that dates back to the first couple of centuries. The ruins of this church may be some of the fruit of this man’s witness. In many was this is a good model for us.
How are we doing about telling all that God has done for us?
Testimony of salvation
life before Christ
What God did in this encounter
Life with Christ.
Are you comfortable sharing your testimony? Let me encourage you to pray for an opportunity to share your salvation testimony this week.
But our testimony doesn’t have to be limited to our salvation experience. God is continuing to work through divine encounters, answered prayer, and so much more. This man testified about what Christ did for him.
In recent months, Tammy has experienced some amazing things from God in the face of suffering. She has asked to testify about what God has done for her.
(Tammy’s Testimony)
Let’s pray.
Benediction
1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Questions for reflection and discussion
Read: Luke 8:22-39
1. What is it like to fear for your physical safety?
2. How do you react to someone else’s utter calm when all you feel is panic?
3. How did Jesus react to the growing storm? (8:23)
4. After the storm was calmed, what did Jesus ask the disciples? (8:25)
5. What did the disciples realize about Jesus’ identity? (8:25)
6. What is faith?
7. What situations or people do you consider hopeless?
8. What had the demon-possessed man’s life been like until he met Jesus? (8:27, 29)
9. What emotion gripped all but the man who had been possessed by demons? (8:34–37)
10. Why did Jesus say no to the man’s request to go with Him? (8:38–39)
11. What was the result of the man’s obedience? (8:39)
12. Why do the words “fear” and “afraid” come up so much?
13. What can you do this week to be more aware of Jesus’ ability to help you with your most serious problems?
14. Whom can you tell today how much God has done for you?
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Beeke, Joel R., and Paul M. Smalley. Reformed Systematic Theology: Man and Christ. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 1:1-9:50. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 1–12 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
