When Jesus 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. 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.” 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.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 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. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

Luke 8: 27-33

I have purposely stayed away from Hollywood’s versions of demons and demon possession, but it is nearly impossible to avoid references and be aware of scenes in movies like The Exorcist.

What we read in the passage above is quite different, isn’t it? You’re probably familiar with this encounter, but if you just breezed through the text, take a moment to review.

Notice that the demons recognized Jesus for who He is – “Son of the Most High God.” Even though their number was legion they were afraid of Jesus.

Second, notice the condition of the man – the madness of demon possession had driven him away from society and he was powerful enough to break out of the shackles they placed him in at times, but once he encountered Christ, his life was changed, “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind”(Luke 8:36).

Third, notice the reaction of the people –

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.

Luke 8: 37

Why were they afraid? Maybe it was because of the loss of the herd of pigs. Maybe they were afraid of Jesus’ power. Maybe it was something else, but the bottom line is that the people rejected Jesus. All but one.

The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “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.

Luke 8: 38-39

Jesus’ life demands a response. We can be like the people who sent him away or we can be like the man who was freed from the demonic hold and shared his personal testimony wherever he went.