As
Jesus steps off the boat into the Gentile region of Gerasenes He is immediately
confronted by a man whose life is an absolute mess. Demon-possessed not just by
one demon but a Legion, living in the tombs naked, with broken chains around
his hands and feet and tormented out of his mind. If this is not bad enough, he
lived in isolation away from his loved ones, and from society altogether. He
was one of those that you would avoid any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
This
man embodies humanity’s bondage to sin and darkness.
Yet,
instead of running away like everybody else, Jesus steps into this man’s
darkness and hopelessness and with one single command restores this man’s life
and with that his dignity, his humanity and gives him a purpose.
What
we see here is Christ’s absolute authority over everything including the
powers of darkness. The Scripture tells us that Satan “…comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10) but Christ
has “…disarmed the powers and
authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the
cross.” (Colossians 2:15).
One
thing is for sure, no evil or demonic power can stand against Him.
Verse
35 describes to us a man who now is “sitting
at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind”.
Friends,
when Christ comes into our lives, we are not only saved …we are renewed … we
are become a new creation (2Cor. 5:17)…we are seated with Him in the heavenly
realms (Eph. 2:1)…clothed in His righteousness … and eternally secured! But
there is more…
Jesus
tells him to go home and tell everybody what God has done for him.
What
a transformation. The man has purpose now; he has become a “preacher”.
So,
what can we take away from this? Know that Jesus has authority over all things
and over every kind of darkness in your life!
When
He enters your life, He will not leave you as you are. Transformation is
guaranteed.