https://www.bible.com/events/49304128
Church of the Nazarene – East Rock
For One -Part 2 East Rock
There is no such thing as too far gone…
Last week we began a new 4-part teaching series called “For One”.
Throughout this teaching series we are seeking to know and understand the power of Jesus’ one at a time pursuit of people. We believe that Jesus came to save the whole word, and that through his life, death, and resurrection, he has made the pathway to salvation and eternal life open to us.
Jesus is for everyone.
During his earthly ministry, many times we see Jesus fulfilling this worldwide redemption mission, one person at a time.
Jesus is for one.
So, what would it look like for you and I to adopt that same model for our lives? So many times, our focus is on our country or our community, and that’s not a bad thing. But what would it look like for us to be for one, like Jesus was?
That’s what Jesus did, and it transformed the lives of many people in the gospels. Even the ones who seemed too far gone.
Luke 8:26-27
They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 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.
Our teaching text begins with a note about some travel plans that establish the location for the story. Earlier in this voyage at sea, Jesus and his disciples had encountered a great storm.
Just before our text in chapter 8, we find the miracle of Jesus calming the wind and the waves with only a word. The disciples are in such a fierce storm they are afraid for their lives. They grab Jesus and beg that he would do something. Jesus speaks and immediately the sea and storm were calm, and the disciples wonder among themselves, “Who is this guy that can even control the wind and the waves?”
Our text at verse 26 continues that same trip, with an arrival on shore. There Jesus receives a shocking welcome from a demon possessed man.
For a long time, this man had lived in the graveyard naked, making his home among the graves. The gospel of Mark records that this man was heard screaming out day and night.
Luke 8:28-29
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!” 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.
All other attempts had failed at restraining this man had failed. The evil spirits that had possessed him had such control and power over him that he was able to break free from chains. Yet, at the very presence of Jesus, these evil spirits know they are outmatched, they are done.
What this passage illustrates is the immense power of Jesus over the most seemingly uncontrollable forces in this man’s life.
Luke 8:30-33
Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 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. 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.
Much study and attention has gone into the details of this demonic oppression.
How many demons? How did this happen? What does it mean today? And to be sure, there is a time a place for those questions.
But what I want us to focus on today is the ultimate power and authority of Jesus over every single evil spirit. The demons were so sure of their immanent judgement and destruction, they are literally begging Jesus over and over, not to cast them back to the Abyss.
Commentator Darrel Bock says: “Jesus may have been outnumbered, but he was certainly not outmatched.”
Luke 8:34-37
When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 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. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 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.
When the people of the town came out to see this crazy story about the demon possessed man, what they found was a brand-new man, redeemed and restored, sitting at the feet of Jesus.
The word at the end of verse 36 that says “had been cured”. In the original language that literally means “saved” or to be made whole.
He wasn’t cured from a disease- He was rescued and re-made. Transformed.
That’s the miracle working power of Jesus.
iWhat is amazing to me is that the people don’t seem to have a category for this kind of power.
We don’t know if they were afraid of his supernatural power, if they were afraid he was there to shut down the pig industry- either way, they ask him to leave. And he does. Jesus heads back home.
But what about the man? What happened to him?
Luke 8:38-39
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “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.
The man wanted to go with Jesus and his disciples, but Jesus had another plan. Jesus wanted this man to go home and tell everyone how much God had done for him.
The one who everyone would have said was too far gone, was no Jesus’ trusted messenger to tell everyone in his hometown about all that God had done.
There is no such thing as too far gone for Jesus.
Friends as this was true for the crazed and possessed man in the cemetery, it’s still true today. There is no evil force in the world today greater than the power of Jesus Christ. Not an evil spirit, not an addiction, not an illness, nothing.
Those stories in the lives of our loved ones can be extremely painful. This story does not make light of the power and pain of sin.
But as we begin this journey together asking the Lord to give us one person, we might have a reaction or response to the name he gives us.
You might have been praying for and working with that person for a long time and you honestly have just given up hope.
Time and time again, nothing’s changed. Because of lies, addictions, poor choices, broken relationships. They just seem too far.
Friend, those feelings are real. And the truth is, someone can be to far for us to reach. But there is no such thing as too far for Jesus. He is greater!
Will you trust him today with the one he is placing on your heart?
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