Word@Work Luke130 - Luke 8:32-33
Published: Tue, 06/22/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
SEEING THE POWER OF EVIL
Luke 8:32-33 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. (NIV)
It is rare to see the raw power of evil. Jesus was about to free Legion from the many demons that had controlled and manipulated his life. But why did He do it? Firstly, it was a warning to Satan that his wicked rule would be challenged until it was destroyed; secondly, it was Divine compassion for a tormented man; thirdly, it was evidence of the power of Jesus to the local townsfolk, jolting them out of their indifference to the Saviour. But it also showed the disciples the extent of the devil's wicked power which could only be handled by Jesus. As the trainee leaders of the Early Church they would need to know that, in Jesus' Name, they could deal with Satan head on, and win.
Some have asked about the ethics of Jesus 'destroying the pigs'. Well, actually it was not Jesus who brought destruction on the large herd, but Satan. The drowned carcasses of the swine was a potent reminder of Satan's nature, to destroy and kill (John 8:44;10:10). The demons had been operating in that naked man for so long and he had been held under sentence of death by the devil. Jesus changed all that and considered the spiritual freedom of one man to be more significant than the loss of thousands of pigs.
The values of Jesus are refreshingly wonderful in a greedy and corrupt world. He put the salvation of one person above the wealth of a town; and He exposed the way in which Satan operates by showing that wickedness has great power. In other words, the devil has to be dealt with, and Jesus is the only One who can do it! This was going to be the message of the cross and Pentecost, sparking the church into action around the world for the next two thousand years and more. The disciples needed to see this message in action so that they might preach with confidence and have no fear of evil. We need that same assurance today. Surrounded by evil, we must not be intimidated from our purpose as servants of the gospel; and so this account was included to encourage us that however strong the opposition, Jesus is able to rescue souls who have been held captive by Satan.
Prayer: Dear Lord God. Thank You for this account showing the destructive power of evil, but also of the authority of Jesus to release the tormented man. Forgive me for being frightened by big displays of wickedness, when I have Jesus with me. Please help me to develop the confidence to reach out to those in need in the Name of Jesus, knowing that only He has the authority to demolish wickedness and restore the captive soul to the dignity of being a child of God. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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It is rare to see the raw power of evil. Jesus was about to free Legion from the many demons that had controlled and manipulated his life. But why did He do it? Firstly, it was a warning to Satan that his wicked rule would be challenged until it was destroyed; secondly, it was Divine compassion for a tormented man; thirdly, it was evidence of the power of Jesus to the local townsfolk, jolting them out of their indifference to the Saviour. But it also showed the disciples the extent of the devil's wicked power which could only be handled by Jesus. As the trainee leaders of the Early Church they would need to know that, in Jesus' Name, they could deal with Satan head on, and win.
Some have asked about the ethics of Jesus 'destroying the pigs'. Well, actually it was not Jesus who brought destruction on the large herd, but Satan. The drowned carcasses of the swine was a potent reminder of Satan's nature, to destroy and kill (John 8:44;10:10). The demons had been operating in that naked man for so long and he had been held under sentence of death by the devil. Jesus changed all that and considered the spiritual freedom of one man to be more significant than the loss of thousands of pigs.
The values of Jesus are refreshingly wonderful in a greedy and corrupt world. He put the salvation of one person above the wealth of a town; and He exposed the way in which Satan operates by showing that wickedness has great power. In other words, the devil has to be dealt with, and Jesus is the only One who can do it! This was going to be the message of the cross and Pentecost, sparking the church into action around the world for the next two thousand years and more. The disciples needed to see this message in action so that they might preach with confidence and have no fear of evil. We need that same assurance today. Surrounded by evil, we must not be intimidated from our purpose as servants of the gospel; and so this account was included to encourage us that however strong the opposition, Jesus is able to rescue souls who have been held captive by Satan.
Prayer: Dear Lord God. Thank You for this account showing the destructive power of evil, but also of the authority of Jesus to release the tormented man. Forgive me for being frightened by big displays of wickedness, when I have Jesus with me. Please help me to develop the confidence to reach out to those in need in the Name of Jesus, knowing that only He has the authority to demolish wickedness and restore the captive soul to the dignity of being a child of God. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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