In The Word
Read: Luke 8:22-39
Jesus Stills the Sea
22 Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23 But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. 24 They came up to Jesus and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. 25 And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”
The Demon-possessed Man Cured
26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He stepped out onto the land, a man from the city met Him who was possessed with demons; and he had not put on clothing for a long time and was not living in a house, but among the tombs. 28 And seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, and said with a loud voice, “What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” 29 For He had already commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into the desert. 30 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; because many demons had entered him. 31 And they were begging Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.
32 Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding there on the mountain; and the demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs. And He gave them permission. 33 And the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 Now when the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported everything in the city, and in the country. 35 And the people came out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. 36 Those who had seen everything reported to them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been made well. 37 And all the people of the territory of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Him to leave them, because they were overwhelmed by great fear; and He got into a boat and returned. 38 But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city what great things Jesus had done for him.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Today, we read of two accounts where Jesus was confronted with overwhelming needs. One in which the disciples were gripped with fear, and another where a man was gripped with demonic possession. In the case of the disciples, Jesus rebuked the wind, and, in the case of the possessed man, Jesus rebuked an entire legion of demons. In both cases, they obeyed. But who was behind these encounters? Did the wind simply choose to defy its Master? Did the demons simply choose to possess the man on their own? The scripture suggests something else. Jesus rebuked the wind and commanded (rebuked) the demons. The word rebuke is most often used when Jesus deals with evil spirits. This would suggest that satan was the one stirring up the storm. Satan also commands evil spirits, suggesting satan was the one who authorized the possession.
Although satan had the power to cause these events, Jesus had the power to stop them. Jesus remained calm in both cases because He was confident that, when He spoke the Word, they would stop. Satan must obey at the command and name of Jesus. As children of God, we are co-heirs with Christ. We too have access to this power through our relationship with Jesus Christ. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8a). The safest place you can be is in the presence of God. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by the enemy, press into Jesus because at His command satan must obey!