When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.
When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Luke 8: 34-35.
Until now I hadn’t appreciated all the military undertones in this gospel event. The first clue is in the label that the unclean demons claim for themselves. “We are Legion, because we are many.” The Roman legions enforced law and order, often quite brutally. One of the symbols of the 10th Legion, which occupied Palestine, was that of a charging boar. It’s possible that the large number of pigs were part of the supplies for the local garrison.
Then there are the command structures at work. The demons must obey the higher power of Jesus. They request permission to enter the pigs, and permission is granted. Then there is a military charge that takes them straight into the lake. Piggies (and unclean spirits) all gone. The result of the victory over the sprits – the man is fully restored and has a healthy mind in a healthy body.
The power and strength of Jesus is shown in the way that heals the man so gently. Orders are simply given, and unclean spirits must leave. There is no massive testosterone fuelled confrontation or proving how much stronger Jesus was. And when the fearful locals ask Jesus to leave, he simply does, leaving behind the healed man, to be a living example of what God has done to heal and make whole. Jesus trusted that one man would make a difference, long term, in his community.
That power of wholeness and healing is at work in you – now and for eternity. Trust that Jesus has good plans for you. Keep bringing your needs, your hopes and your dreams to him. There are lots of forces and powers that push us around, and demand our allegiance. But they can’t deliver what we need in the long term (or even the short). Jesus can and does.
