Lk 8:26,27 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 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.

In the previous two meditations we saw people coming to Jesus. In this account we find Jesus going to this man in need. We aren't told why Jesus took the disciples across the Sea of Galilee to the eastern side, but presumably he knew who he would meet and what would happen. Perhaps it was also a learning exercise for the disciples!

In these accounts it is the first time we have encountered demons. Today people have watered down the meaning of demons to simply mean the bad aspects of a person's character, but in Scripture demons are fallen angels, spirit beings who have rebelled against heaven and who ‘follow' Satan. They are often referred to as ‘evil spirits' or even ‘unclean spirits'. Virtually always in the Gospels, when they appear, they appear as having taken possession of a human being and so here we find the description, “a demon-possessed man.” What Scripture indicates is that a person can only be ‘possessed' when, by their life, they have given Satan, or the demon, authority or permission to take possession. Thus those who regularly dabble in the occult or witchcraft find the demonic presence becoming stronger and stronger in them until they are taken over.

To see the characteristics of what happens when a person is ‘possessed', we need to note this account of this man. Here we see that he “had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.” He has bizarre behaviour, cannot stand living in society, and dwells in the place of death, i.e. he is essentially out of control of his life, isolated, desperate and dwelling on death. A few verses later we find, “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.” (v.29b) Thus we see further common characteristics observed in the possessed: violent behaviour, immense strength and isolation. If we remember that Satan seeks to destroy God's creation, we can understand these expressions of the demonic.

But there is another characteristic of the demonic we need to note: “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!” (v.28) i.e. demons have to be submissive to the Son of God. These spirits, we must remember, are simply created beings that have gone astray. They are part of God's creation and are still subservient to Him. A wider reading of Scripture suggests that God tolerates them so that He may use them to discipline the wayward and to bring judgment. Yet it seems that Jesus had taken the initiative: “For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man.” (v.29a). So what happened was that Jesus arrived, was confronted by the man who was clearly possessed, commanded the demon to come out of the man, and found resistance within submission. It was this that caused Jesus to ask, “What is your name?” (v.30a)

Now we might say that Jesus knows all things and therefore ask why did he have to ask this? The answer has surely got to be for the benefit of the on-looking disciples and for us. He receives the answer, “Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him.” (v.30b) i.e. the depths of the man's depravity and occult involvement had been so great that many demons had possessed him. We then find something very interesting: “And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.” (v.31) We assume that ‘the Abyss' is simply shorthand for hell and the demons know instinctively that this is their ultimate .destination.

What follows is bizarre: “A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. 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.” (v.32,33). Now we aren't told why this happened, but Jesus grants them permission and they immediately destroy the pigs. Some have suggested that pigs were forbidden meat for the Jews and Jesus was allowing a temptation to be removed by these demons. We simply aren't told.

Although some of this story may seem strange and alien to us, there are some very basic and obvious lessons to be observed. First, we note the depths to which this man had fallen and that, ultimately, by his own behaviour, which had opened him up to demonic invasion. Second, there is no indication in him of wanting to be free but it seems that Jesus assumes that and confronts the demons. In such a case, it seems, obvious repentance is not always possible, but Jesus assumes it as he reads the heart of the man being controlled. Third, note that Jesus takes control and the demons have to obey him. Fourth, we find that Jesus restores the man completely. It is left to Peter in Mark's Gospel to remember that, in respect of people from the area, “When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.” (Mk 5:15)

In the meditation about the leper, we saw Jesus with power to heal severe sickness; in the account of the Centurion, we saw that he merely needed to speak a word to bring complete healing. Now we see his authority includes even the demonic world. This is the Son of God who moves to do His Father's bidding to restore whoever will come. We said Jesus came to this man? Yes, but the other side of the coin is that, despite his possession, this man came to Jesus. He was there to meet Jesus, despite all the pressure from the demons who knew who Jesus was and who would have wanted to avoid him. Here is a wonderful truth: even when we have fallen into such depths, it is possible to cry out to God or meet the Son of God. The person may be unable to do anything else, but that is sufficient to enable Jesus to bring about a confrontation which brings about freedom. Hallelujah!