“WHO IS THIS?”
Luke 8:22-39
Key Verse: 8:25
“‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the waters, and they obey him.’”
Since last fall, we have studied Luke’s gospel with the prayer topic to learn Jesus, the Son of God, who came to seek and save the lost. In today’s passage, we encounter Jesus who went through a storm to Gerasenes, the gentile territory, and who found a man tormented by a legion of demons and restored him to his right mind by sacrificing a herd of pigs even. What does this have to do with us and me?
No one is free from problems of life. Everyone inevitably encounters problems, difficulties, struggles, or challenges, outwardly like a storm or inwardly like demon possession. When confront with such difficulties, many often experience a sense of powerlessness. Unsure of what steps to take, people fall into despair. Do you know over 13% of American adults reported taking antidepressant medication? We need to know Jesus who can calm all troubles of life, who can redeem us from all kinds of fears and worries which cause depression.
Through this bible study, we may learn Who Jesus is. We may put our faith in Jesus who is with us in storms of life and who is powerful enough to calm the storms. We may come to Jesus who can free our hearts from all kinds of burdens, fears, doubts, and troubles and who restores each of us to be a man/woman of God with beautiful image of God, with wonderful missions and visions.
First, Who Is This (22-26)
Look at verse 22. “One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out.” In Galilee, Jesus and his disciples traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. These days might have been long and tiring busy days for so many people came and crowed around Jesus to be healed and also to hear Jesus’ teaching. We can imagine how Jesus might have served all of them, one by one, not rejecting or refusing a single person who came to him; how Jesus might have taught the word of God with all his strength tirelessly. When Jesus said, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake,” the disciples were very happy and excited, thinking that they could finally get away from the crowd. So they quickly got into the boat and set out. As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. Though he is God, he was also fully human with a physical body. Just like any one of us, after enduring hard work, Jesus become tired, and fall into a deep sleep.
But what happened to them? Look at verse 23b. “A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.” The Sea of Galilee is known for its unpredictable and sudden storms due to its geographical location and topography. These storms often referred to as squalls, can arise swiftly and with great intensity. Strong wind from the top of surrounding mountains came down upon the lake and it whipped up the water and turned the water into big waves. Because of the strong winds and the big waves, the boat was turning and twisting back and forth, up and down. The big waves of water crashed into the boat. Though at least four of the disciples were experienced fishermen, it was beyond their ability to handle. In such fierce storm, all their effort became useless. The more the water filled the boat, the more they were in panic. They were completely overwhelmed with fear of death. Out of panic, they went and woke Jesus, screaming at the top of their voice, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
The first fascinating detail is that while the disciples were filled with fear and panic, Jesus was found peacefully asleep amidst the raging storm. This shows that Jesus was really tired. It also shows that Jesus had no fear, but was sleeping peacefully, like a baby, rocking in a cradle. In Jesus is no fear. If Jesus is in our boat, with us, we have nothing to fear. If Jesus is with us, he will carry us through the storm, safely to the other side. However, the disciples were completely paralyzed by the fear of death, though Jesus was with them in the boat. It is because they did not know who Jesus truly is. They knew that Jesus was the good shepherd who welcomed and healed all kinds of sick people; Jesus was the wonderful bible teacher who taught the word of God with authority and power. What could a shepherd and bible teach have done in the face of the life threatening storm? Since they did not know who Jesus is truly, they thought that neither Jesus could do anything.
But, look at what Jesus did in verse 24b. “… He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided and all was calm.” Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters. Then, all was calm. What was happening here? Jesus rebuked the wind and the waters and they obeyed him. That is something that only God can do. Jesus revealed his divine power as Creator God who created all things by his words. John 1:3 says, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Colossians 1:16 says, “For in him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” As our good shepherd and bible teacher, Jesus will feed us, lead us, and teach us the word of God. Moreover, as God almighty Creator, Jesus is able to protect us and save us from storms, no matter what storm we face. That is why we have nothing to fear as long as Jesus is with us. That is the faith what Jesus would have expected the disciples to have.
Look at verse 25. After calming the storm, Jesus asked his disciples, “Where is your faith?” In Matthew 8, Jesus rebuked, saying “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Mt8:26) Jesus did not rebuke their lack of skill or strength, but the lack of faith. In any storms of life, what can we hold on? Anything we have depended on such as pride, money, knowledge, carrier, our power, skill, or experiences become useless. In the storms, we can depend on nothing else, but Jesus. It is because Jesus is God the creator with whom nothing is impossible; Almighty who is able to take us through any storms. We should know THIS Jesus and believe THIs Jesus!
Life can be compared to a voyage. Definitely there will be storms. God does not promise us “storm free life.” Rather, God promises to be with us and to lead us through the storms. There are many storms of life which comes swiftly-unexpectedly such as car accidents, loved one’s death, health problems, all kinds of failures, relationship problems, financial crisis, natural disasters and even terrors and more. However, the real serious problem is not the storms around us. In this passage, we saw how easily Jesus made the storm clam. The real serious problem is our lack of faith. Because of our lack of faith, we cannot but become terrified and panic just like the disciples. “Where is your faith?” means in fact “Have faith in God.” “Have faith in Jesus.” In the middle of the storm, Jesus is able to save us. Even in any impossible situation, Jesus is able to turn out impossible possible. Even when there is no way, Jesus is able to make a new way for us. Some try to prepare themselves for storms by buying life insurances or saving money in banks. But “Faith in God” is the best preparation for any storms of life. Faith in God is everything. As long as we have faith in Jesus, we have nothing to fear. “Who is this?” Jesus is the Creator God, mighty one we trust and we believe. When the disciples experienced Jesus’ divine nature in the storm, they were filled with holy fear and awe.
Some of us may face the storm of financial crisis, others the storm of heavy study, others the storm of getting the green card, others the storm of raising one bible student, and others the storm of marriage by faith. Do you know what Jesus is capable of? We may not underestimate our shepherd, Jesus! With him, nothing is impossible. Jesus is only one who can save us. So, Let us come to Jesus, our savior.
Second, Jesus, the Redeemer (26-39).
Look at verse 26. After the storm subsided, they sailed to region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. It was Gentile territory. It had been conquered by Alexander the Great, who established the region of Decapolis (Ten cities). In the time of General Pompeii (63 B.C), Rome conquered this area and the 14th Roman Legion occupied it and still held it in Jesus’ time. Because of Greek culture influence, there were all kinds of idol worshipers and full of gentiles who ate unclean animals like pigs. It seems to be no reason for Jesus’ visit, other than to find a demon-possessed man, just like a good shepherd looked for one lost sheep.
As Jesus and the disciples stepped ashore, they were welcomed by a demon-possessed man. Luke describes the man in verses 27-29. For a long time he had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. Many times he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard. But, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demons into solitary places. We do not know how this man had become demon possessed, but we can know 2 things. Firstly the power of devils is real. According to Ephesians 6:12, there is a very spiritual battle being waged between God and Satan. In the Bible, Satan is called “Father of liars, the sons of disobedience, the prince of the power of the air” and it always prowls around us like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1Pe5:8) So, when this man was gratifying the cravings of his flesh and following its desires and thoughts, the evil spirit came into him and led him to disobedience to his parents, and bible teachers and all others.(Eph2:2-3) Eventually, it possessed the man.
Secondly, the purpose of the devil is to rebel against Go; it is to destroy the man who was created in God’s image. Look how the devil had made his life miserable. He had become so violent and destructive to himself and to others; He cried out loud out of unbearable suffering and pain in his heart; he had lived in the tomb alone. Since the demon had possessed him, he had lost his life purpose, his family, and even his own name which was his identity. The demons made him completely lonely, empty, or bitter and angry. It made him hopeless and helpless. He was completely under demons control.
Who could ever help this poor man? Sadly no one could help him, except Jesus, the Son of God who has all authority over demons. Like him, we need Jesus. We need deliverance from evil and sin since we cannot set ourselves free from evil and sin. When we do not come to Jesus for deliverance and healing, then we become instruments of evil and wickedness. (Rom6:14) We all need Jesus our deliverer, our healer, our rescuer. Thank God for Jesus. He did not pass this man by. Jesus came to find this man. Even the storm could not stop him.
Let’s see how Jesus restored him. As soon as Jesus saw this man, he immediately commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. While people saw this man as a dangerous maniac and had abandoned him, Jesus did not give upon him. Jesus saw him with great compassion and committed himself to help this man at any cost. Then, Jesus immediately commanded the demon. “You, Evil spirit come out of him!” But, these demons did not come out right away. The man cried out and fell at Jesus’ feet and shouted 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!” (28) It was actually not the man, but the demons. These demons knew precisely who Jesus was. But it did not submit to and worship Jesus. Still, the demon was terrified before Jesus for He has the authority and power to destroy them forever. Though the demon’s resistance strong, Jesus did not draw back.
Look at verse 30. “Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘Legion,’ he replied because many demons had gone into him.” Asking the man, “What is your name?” Jesus exposed the demon’s identity. Now we can clearly see why he was so violent and miserable and did many strange things. It was not himself, but the demons controlled him. Jesus’ question, “What is your name?” was not only to expose the demons in the man, but also to help the man come back to himself, to his true identity. Definitely the man was not a demon. He was a man made in the image of God, for a good purpose, to love God and to love others. So, Jesus cared about this man. He wanted to know him and be his friend, when no one else wanted to get near him. Others just wanted to shut him up and lock him up. Others avoided him like a plague and ran in the other direction when they saw him. But Jesus loved him and wanted to help him. Jesus was willing to risk personal harm, insult and injury to be near this man. What a friend we have in Jesus.
The demons could not but reveal his identity and also leave the man. They knew their destiny was the Abyss, a place of torment prepared by God for the disobedient (31). Then, they begged Jesus again and again to let them go into the pigs instead (32). Jesus gave them permission. It was not to have mercy on the demons, but to show his willingness to sacrifice these pigs as a ransom to free the man. The demons came out of the man and went into the pigs. The demons drove these pigs crazy. The demon possessed pigs rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside. Then, many people came out to see what had happened.
What did they find when they came? Look at verse 35b. They found the man sitting at Jesus’ feet dressed in his right mind. The people should have rejoiced that he was healed. However, they were terrified of Jesus and asked him to leave. In this materialistic and pragmatic society, it is reasonable reaction. Economically Jesus ruined the whole Town’s pig farming business, which might be around 2 million dollar business. It was just to restore one hopeless man. No one would so such stupid thing. No one wanted to keep the one who made such loss. People did not care about the man at all, but only their pig business. No one wanted to make any more sacrifice to save or heal anyone. Under the influence to pragmatism, many people don’t care about damaging others in order to make money.
However, Jesus values one person highly. Jesus challenged this society by sacrificing a herd of pigs to save one seemingly useless man. That is how Jesus values one sinner; one life. In fact, this is how God loves sinners. In order to save useless sinners, Jesus poured out his blood and gave his life as a ransom sacrifice. While we were still sinners, Christ died for our sins. In this way Jesus demonstrated his love for even one seemingly useless sinner like me. God, the creator, sacrificed himself to save his own creatures. What a great love! There are no other gods or fathers or kings who had done such things. Thank God for this amazing redeeming love for sinners. In this God’s redeeming love, we sinner find hope to be restored and to live new life.
Jesus had changed him completely. He was demon-possessed, and now he was free of demons; he was naked, and now he was clothed; he was a tomb-dweller, and now he could live at home again; he was out of his mind, and now his mind was clear; he was shouting at Jesus to leave, and now he was wanting to be with Jesus and to follow Jesus; he was useless, and now he was given a purpose and became useful to God. He was not one of God’s people, and now he was a child of God. What a wonderful change in his life since Jesus came into his heart. The demon came to kill and destroy life, but Jesus came to give and to restore life.
The man wanted to follow Jesus wherever he went. But, Jesus had greater plan for him. Jesus sent him back as the first missionary to his home town, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you” (39a). So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him (39b). From now on, Jesus wanted him to live meaningful life that bring glory to God and healing and restoration to people. In truth, Jesus was not blessing just one man, but all people of the entire region of Decapolis (Ten Cities) through him. Jesus gave him a new identity as a chosen people, a holy nation, and a royal priesthood, and God’s own special possession. This is His amazing and marvelous grace to sinners like us.
In this passage we have seen that Jesus is the Creator and Redeemer. When we trust in him, the storms of life are the opportunity to experience divine love and power and to know him better. We may fix our eyes on Jesus. We may value one life more than million dollars, so that we may be willing to help one sheep at any cost.