Volume 44   Number 3                                                                                    November 2001

He was a man that people feared, and with good reason. “...[He] wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs” (Luke. 8:27), and was “...exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way” (Mt. 8:28). “...[He] was kept under guard...” (Luke. 8:29), but “...no one could bind him, not even with chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones” (Mark 5:3-5).

He was a man possessed, and in an extraordinary way, on an enormous level. For when the Lord encountered him on the eastern banks of the Sea of Galilee, in Gentile country, and asked him his name, “...he answered, saying, ‘My name is Legion...’” (Mk. 5:9). Legion. To the Romans, that meant six thousand soldiers. Apparently, however, the name was intended not to give an exact number, but simply to convey “‘...we are many’” (Mk. 5:9). Nonetheless, there were enough demons in this man to drive a herd of “...about two thousand” (Mk. 5:13) swine into the sea once they were cast out. This man was possessed of many demons, and had been “...for a long time” (Luke 8:27).

Jesus changed this man’s life. He cast out the demons, permitting those unclean spirits to join themselves to unclean swine, thereby cleansing the man. Consequently, he who had been compelled to behave in such an unseemly manner for so long was now free to choose how he would behave. The changes in his behavior were dramatic. When those who had lived in fear of the man “...went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus...(they) found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind...” (Luke. 8:35-36). The change was so profound, “...they were afraid” (Mk. 5:15).

There is a beautiful allegory here, one that depicts the experience of every converted sinner. Once, we were naked in the eyes of God, not dwelling in His house, but in the tombs of this world, with those “...dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). Once, we were crying out, having no peace in our hearts, and were injuring ourselves with our own actions. Once, we were slaves, not of demons, but of sin, and allowed it to compel us. Jesus, however, changed our lives. He cast out the sin, and by His truth made us free (John. 8:32). The changes in our lives were dramatic. And, now, like the demoniac whom Jesus cleansed, we sit at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in our right minds.

We sit—we have rest. We have enjoyed the fulfillment of His promise: “Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). No longer consumed by the troubles of this life, “...the peace of God which surpasses all understanding...guard[s] [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). And, having learned that “...the kingdom of God is...righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17), and that if one will “...seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Mt. 6:33), God will provide for his/her needs, we have experienced “...godliness with contentment...” (1 Tim. 6:6).

We sit at Jesus’ feet. Like Saul, who was “...brought up...at the feet of Gamaliel...” (Acts 22:3), we are growing into spiritual adulthood under the guidance of Jesus. And, unlike Martha, who was “‘...worried and troubled about many things’” (Luke 10:41), we emulate Mary, who “...sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word” (Luke. 10:39), who, Jesus said, had “‘...chosen that good part, which [would] not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:42).

We are clothed. We have “...put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27), and “...[God] has clothed [us] with garments of salvation...(and) covered [us] with robe[s] of righteousness” (Is. 61:10). Because Jesus said, “Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame,” (Rev. 16:15) we “...groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life” (2 Corinthians. 5:4). Additionally, because we know that “‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’” (James. 4:6), we have followed the apostle’s instructions to be “ ... clothed with humility ...” (I Peter 5:5).

We are in our right minds. We are “...sober, vigilant; because [our] adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). We are girding up the loins of our minds and being sober (1 Pet. 1:13), putting away foolish fancies pertaining to this life. We have the eyes of our understanding enlightened (Eph. 1:18), enabling us to see the world for the transient place that it is. And, finally, we know that “...the end of all things is at hand...” and that we ought to be “...serious and watchful in [our] prayers” (1 Pet. 4:7).

Like the demoniac, we have experienced the Savior’s saving power, and the wonderful changes that come when one submits to the Master. Let us remember, and be thankful for the compassion God has had on us. Yes, “...God be thanked that though [we] were slaves of sin, yet [we] obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which [we] were delivered. And having been set free from sin, [we] became slaves of righteousness” (Rom 6:17-18).