Luke 8:26-39
Freedom for the Demon-Possessed Man
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26Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.
27When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs.
28When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”
29For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30“What is your name?” Jesus asked. “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.
31And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.
33Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside.
35So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
36Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed.
37Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.
38The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,
39“Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus and the disciples sail to the country of the Gerasenes. A man from the city who has demons meets Him. For a long time he has worn no clothes and lived among the tombs, not in a house.
The demons recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most High and beg Him not to command them into the abyss. Jesus asks the man's name, and he answers, “Legion,” because many demons have entered him. They beg to enter a herd of pigs, and Jesus gives them permission.
The demons leave the man and enter the pigs. The herd rushes down the steep bank into the lake and drowns. Those who had been tending them report what happened, and the people come out to see Jesus. They find the man sitting at His feet, clothed and in his right mind.
Chains had not been able to restrain him, but the demons must ask Jesus for permission. Their number does not put them beyond His authority. The result is visible in the man himself: someone driven into solitary places can now sit quietly at Jesus' feet. His suffering has not made him someone Jesus will avoid.
The crowd reacts with great fear and asks Jesus to leave. Luke names their fear without telling us everything behind it. The man's freedom does not mean everyone welcomes the One who freed him. The man, however, begs to go with Jesus.
Jesus gives him a different place to serve: return home and tell what God has done. Luke then says the man proclaims what Jesus has done. His own rescue is the testimony he has been given. The people who asked Jesus to depart will still have this man among them, speaking about His mercy.
Questions
1 Where has the man been living?
AnswerHe has lived among the tombs rather than in a house, without clothing, because demons have controlled and isolated him.
2 What name does the demons' spokesman give?
AnswerHe gives the name Legion because many demons have entered the man. They recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most High.
3 What do people find after Jesus frees the man?
AnswerThey find him sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind. The restored man is no longer isolated among the tombs.
4 What mission does Jesus give him?
AnswerJesus sends him home to declare how much God has done for him, and the man tells the whole city what Jesus has done.
What This Means for Us
Jesus restores a person whose illness and spiritual oppression have made him a public fear and a private exile. The healed man's dignity is visible in his clothing, clear mind, community, and testimony.
Families should not use this passage to label every mental illness as demonic. It calls us to seek compassionate spiritual and medical care, protect vulnerable people, and believe that no person's condition makes them beyond Christ's attention.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, bring freedom and dignity to people who are suffering and isolated. Give our household compassion, patience, and wisdom to seek the right help without fear or harmful labels. Amen.