June 24 Sermon - Jesus confronts the

power of evil - Luke 8:26-39

This is a strange story. It raises questions and strains the imagination. But it does get your attention and has much to teach us.

It must have even seemed strange to Jesus disciples. They were all Jewish, and Jesus had traveled into a region inhabited by non Jews - and went to the tombs, a place considered unclean by Jews - right next to a pig farm - again unclean - all so that they could visit an outcast possessed by demons - unclean spirits.

Nothing is kosher and everything is alien

Which is the first point - the Lord and his power are not bound or limited by human fears or prejudices

- and so Jesus broke through the barriers that separated people at that time...- and beyond that, no human being - and no human disorder - anytime, anyplace - is beyond the mercy and power of God. Jesus’ power extends over the gentiles - over all people - and even over the powers of evil. He is Lord of all.

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Second, maybe our gospel seems strange because 2000 years ago, before modern medicine and psychiatry - health problems were broadly divided into just two categories: either you were sick and needed healing, or you were demon possessed and needed exorcism. Thus, what we might think of as mental health problems were considered examples of demon possession, as were some medical problems.

Maybe the man who had demons today would be described as being afflicted with schizophrenia or some severe personality disorder. He is the image of severe mental illness.

On the other hand, it could me more than mental illness. Scott Peck is a psycho-therapist and a best selling author. After years of studying human behavior, he concluded that some people’s actions can not be explained by psycho-therapy. Their actions do not arise from mental illness, nor can they be adequately explained by their past - but rather, they are simply evil.

As you listen watch the news, you may have already reached that same conclusion. The only explanation for some of the horrible crimes reported is the power of evil working through some sick individual.

Perhaps they should be called demon possessed, like the man in today’s gospel.

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Jesus enters this strange scene - he reaches out - and by His word heals. There is evil in the world – it is real, powerful, dangerous. But Jesus is more powerful, confronts evil and conquers it.

No situation is to confusing - to crazy - to be beyond Jesus’ reach. There is no human disorder, anytime, anywhere, that Jesus can not heal.

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There are other things this story can teach us. For example, When we pray for healing why don’t we get exactly what we ask for?

His ways are not our ways - and while Jesus power to heal knows no limitations, His exercise of that power belongs absolutely to His own decision.

We can neither control what the Lord will do,

nor even know what to expect of Him.

We have to trust Christ - to pray with confidence, knowing that he heals and would grant us wholeness - but he will do it His way and in his time.

We may question, but at the same time must trust.

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Sometimes what we want may not be what is best for us.

There may be consequences we can not foresee.

The demons plead with Jesus not to be sent back into the abyss - the bottom of the watery deep.

Instead they say, send us into that herd of pigs, so we can remain on earth.

Jesus grants their request - the demons enter the pigs, driving them mad, and the pigs run off a cliff into the sea and drown - thus sending the demons into the abyss anyway.

Jesus gave them exactly what they asked for

- and the unforeseen consequence was getting just what they wanted to escape.

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Jesus is a great healer and continues to heal. Sometimes he may provide a miracle cure, but certainly not always. But even without a cure, there can be healing.

Let me try to draw a distinction between two aspects of sickness: disease and illness. Disease refers to a malfunction in your body. You go to the doctor and he tells you what is wrong – the malfunction – the disease. But there’s more to it than that. Illness refers to your experience of the disease – the total affect on your life. Thus illness refers the personal and social effects you experience in response to the disease. And they are just as significant – and as painful – as the disease.

For example, you have a operation and the surgeon cures you by removing your appendix or gall bladder. When they role you out of surgery, you’ve been cured. But healing will take days and weeks.

The point I’m leading up to is that diseases are cured, while illnesses are healed. Often the disease is cured, but not always. But even if the disease cannot be cured, the illness that surrounds it can be healed. Curing may not be available, but healing is always possible.

Of course, when afflicted, we pray both to be cured and healed. But I have found from experience, as I am sure you have, that our prayers to be cured are not always answered. That doesn’t mean we stop praying for the cure, but it does suggest that we also should pray for healing.

Healing can be as important as the cure – and in some cases healing may be the road to that cure. Because much of the burden of the malady is psychological – and the psychological is manifested in affects the physical.

I’m sure you’ve heard of cancer patients who were told there was nothing more that could be done for them, and were given six weeks to live - and then lived another six or ten years. In most cases like that, the disease was not curred, but they were healed - and that healing had a strong affect on their medical condition.

Remember, the doctor does not really heal you. Finally, your body has to heal itself.

So pray with confidence - ask the Lord for health, healing and wholeness for yourself and others. Trust that he hears and will do the right thing. Be persistent..

It’s also very important to pray for others Healing happens within a community of concern and support – it is a social and psychological reality. If you can be with someone who is in need of healing and pray for them - and with them - you contribute to their healing, build up their faith, and strengthen their confidence.

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After Jesus had cast out the demons, the people came out to see what had happened and “they 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. Those who had seen it, told how the one who had been possessed of demons had been healed:

then all the people asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear...”

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Was it that they simply valued that heard of pigs more than their neighbor, who was now restored to health?

I suspect there is more to it than that - they have witnessed the power of God to change and transform lives - and they’re not sure they are ready for that

Maybe I’m not really completely happy with myself - there are parts of my life that I should change - but I’m comfortable - not ready to let the Lord take charge

For all His power, Jesus does not force himself on those who fear the cost of his healing - who fear it may lead to change.

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“The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare

how much God has done for you.”

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The healed man wants to get into the boat with Jesus and the others.

Jesus gives him a different assignment.

Don’t get into the boat - but rather, be my witness right here in your town among your friends: “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”

“So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.”

In obedience, this new disciple foregoes the privilege of being part of the inner circle of disciples - traveling about with Jesus - and faithfully goes to

tell his friends what the Lord has done for him.

Could this be the Lord’s message for us today:

“Return to your home,

and declare how much God has done for you.”

Sometimes Jesus commands us to venture out. And sometimes he commands us to undertake an even more difficult assignment - to go home and tell those closest to us what God has done for us.

Go tell those you know how much the Lord does for troubled people - for you - tell of His healing power today.