July 8

Luke 8:26-39 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon
26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, [1] which is opposite Galilee. 27 When Jesus [2] had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 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. 36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed [3] man had been healed. 37 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. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “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.

Observation

-The demons fear Jesus and obey His command.

-When the man was possessed by demons, he was not in his right mind and had lost his dignity (unclothed).

-Although the man who was freed from demons wanted to be with Jesus, he was sent away. Instead, Jesus instructed him to return home and declare what God did for him.

Application

-Just like the possessed man, those who are driven by evil motives are not rational and eventually lose their dignity. To avoid the snares of Satan, believers need to rely and be totally dependent upon God.

-Believers in Jesus Christ have many things to be thankful for. He forgives us for our sins if we accept Him as our Savior, allowing us a home in heaven. It is a joy-filled desire and obligation as believers in Jesus to do the same as He instructed the one-time possessed man --- declare to others what Jesus has done for us.

Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank you for allowing your Son to die on the cross for us. Thank you for the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, that we may be guided, counseled, and comforted by Him. Please keep us from temptation and protect us from the evil one. Give us the desire, courage, and opportunities to speak the good news of Jesus Christ to those who we encounter.

Amen

--Michael Hong