30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus
repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. Again even the demons
knew who Jesus was and what he was capable of. Interesting that they begged him
not to torture them. In my opinion they were already being tortured.
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John Burnett:
22 One
day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the
lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A
squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were
in great danger.
24 The
disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to
drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging
waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he
asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is
this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” He is
the same One who commands the universe, hung the stars, and heals the sick.
26 They
sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[a] which is across the lake from
Galilee. 27 When
Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a
long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in
the tombs. 28 When
he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his
voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I
beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For
Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had
seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he
had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30 Jesus
asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone
into him. 31 And
they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. Jesus
had the power to order them into the Abyss but He used them for His
purposes. Even the demons do not deny that He was Jesus, Son of the Most
High God. Those who do deny Him will be spending eternity with those same
demons in a place called hell. Repent and put your trust in Him and He
will save you from having to go to hell. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving
me.
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Allen Michaels:
26 They sailed to the
region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When
Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a
long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in
the tombs. This is the most detailed description of
a demon possessed man we have in the Bible. It is the classic profile of
demonic possession. The man has been demon possessed for a long time; the
effect was to cause this man to live like a sub-human, wild animal. Curiously,
many Christians think that this is how the Holy Spirit works-by overwhelming
the operations of one's body, and making one do strange and grotesque things. 28 When he saw Jesus,
he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do
you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture
me!” These demons recognized Jesus immediately. They
knew who Jesus was and what his great power could do to them. Demons, Satan’s
messengers, are powerful and destructive. Still active today, they attempt to
distort and destroy people’s relationship with God. Demons and demon-possession
are real. It is vital that believers recognize the power of Satan and his demons,
but we shouldn’t let curiosity lead us to get involved with demonic forces
(Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Demons are powerless against those who trust in Jesus.
If we resist the devil, he will leave us alone (James 4:7). 29 For
Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had
seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he
had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30 Jesus asked him,
“What is your name?” Why did Jesus ask for a name? Probably so
that we would know the full extent of the problem, knowing that the man
was filled with many demons (Legion) not just one. A Roman legion usually
consisted of six thousand men. This does not mean that the man was inhabited
with six thousand demons, but that he had many.
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And
they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. The demons inhabiting this man did not want to be imprisoned
in the abyss, which is the bottomless pit described in Revelation 9:11.
Apparently, it is some kind of "holding cell" for certain demonic
spirits.
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Tomorrow’s reading for Luke 8:32-39
2 A
large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus
to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When
the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed
down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When
those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in
the town and countryside, 35 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. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how
the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people
of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were
overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
38 The
man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him
away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done
for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done
for him.
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