Luke 8:26-39

            {Prayer}

            A couple of weeks ago we entered into the longest season of the church year, Pentecost. Pentecost is about bringing to life. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and brought to life in them the ability to speak other languages but also the courage to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

In these Sundays after Pentecost, the color on the altar is primarily green because green is the color of life. During this season, we look at the life and ministry of Jesus and the life God provides to all His people each and every day.

            But before we jump into our gospel lesson for this morning, I want to you think of those home makeover shows or one of those antique restoration shows. On those shows, they take something that is dusty, warped, worn out, broken, or falling apart and turn them into something amazing. Things get cleaned up, repaired, restored, and made beautiful again. Whether it’s an old house, a piece of antique furniture, or an old car or truck … it’s not just about fixing it … it’s about restoration, about bringing something back to life.

            Jesus arrives on the shores near the city of Gerasa and encounters a man who is broken, who is thought by his own people to be a man beyond repair. Jesus encounters a man enslaved by demons. This demon-possessed man is all alone, forced to live in isolation. He is naked, unclean, and surrounded by death. Local citizens tried to bind him with chains, but that didn’t even work.

            You could say that this man, that his life … it’s the spiritual equivalent of a condemned building. This man is out of control, too dangerous to be around. This demon-possessed man is too far gone to salvage. He is thought to be beyond restoration, beyond fixing.

            And if unchecked, if left to fester within our hearts and minds, this is what sin does to us.

            Sin isolates. Just like this man lived alone among the tombs, sin cuts us off. It cuts us off from God, from others, and even from our true selves. It tells us we’re unworthy, unloved, and unfit to be in community with others.

            Sin deforms. The man was naked and out of control. Sin does the same thing. It distorts our thinking, it twists our identity, and strips away peace and our dignity.

            Sin enslaves. This man wasn’t in control of his own body or voice. In the same way, sin takes hold of us. Sometimes it’s subtle. Other times its not. It binds us to guilt, fear, addiction, pride, bitterness, or shame.

            Sin leads to death. The man lived among tombs because sin always moves in that direction. It slowly and relentlessly drains us of life. Paul even says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a).

            King David describes it well in Psalm 32, “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer” (32:2-3).

            We may not live among tombs like this man in Luke 8, but we know what’s like to feel unclean, to be ashamed, to be out of control, and maybe even too far gone. Whether it’s things we’ve done or left undone, whether it’s wounds we carry or lies we’ve believed … sin leaves us feeling like condemned buildings. We’re written off, hopeless, broken beyond repair.

            And maybe that’s where you are today. Ashamed, exhausted, hiding behind guilt or failure. If that is you, hear this … Jesus doesn’t shy away from brokenness. He steps ashore in your life too.

            Jesus sees what others don’t. He doesn’t walk away from brokenness. No, instead He walks straight into it.

            Jesus steps ashore and is instantly recognized by the demons. The demons also recognize His authority and power. Knowing that the time for the demons demise is still come, Jesus, with a simple word, cast the demons out and into a herd of pigs. Those tending the pigs run through the countryside into town telling everyone what they saw.

            And in amazement, “the people went out to see what had happened” (Luke 8:35a). Luke tells us that “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” (8:35).

            The before and after of what the people saw of this man are mind-blowing. You’d swear it wasn’t the same guy.

            Before there was chaos, his eyes were wild, his voice tormented, his soul unraveling. The kind of person you avoid, not just because he’s dangerous, but because it’s too painful to look at that kind of suffering.

            But now, now there is this divine calm. He’s sitting at the feet of Jesus like a disciple. Clothed, yes, but also clothed in peace. Shame has been transformed to dignity. Possession has been settled with a peace that surpasses human understanding.

            And this transformation isn’t like slapping on a new roof, repainting some walls, and buying new furniture and making everything look great. This isn’t just fixing up the place cosmetically. This is more than that. The change in this man, the change that Jesus can do is foundational, it’s to the bones of the place.

            This is what Jesus does. He doesn’t just patch us up or do a temporary fix. No … Jesus restores us completely. Jesus makes us alive again. No person, no life is ever too broken, ever too far gone.

            Where sin isolates, Jesus restores relationships. This demon-possessed man had been cast out of his community, left to live among the tombs. But now he’s sitting at the feet of Jesus. He’s no longer alone, but brought near. That’s what Jesus does. He doesn’t just forgive you of your sins … He draws you back into a relationship with God and with others.

            Where sin deforms, Jesus restores identity. The man who had once been naked and wild is now clothed and in his right mind. Jesus restores not just his body but his dignity. And He does the same for you! Jesus speaks your true identity. You are a beloved, redeemed, child of God.

            Where sin enslaves, Jesus sets free. This man had no control over his life, but Jesus breaks the chains the demons had placed on him. The same Jesus has come to break the chains of sin, addiction, guilt, fear and shame in your life too.

            Where sin leads to death, Jesus brings life. This man had been living among the dead … but now he is fully alive and with a new mission, a new hope, and a new future.

            That’s the kind of restoration Jesus brings. It’s not cosmetic. Not only surface-level. It’s foundational. It’s soul deep.

            And when the man begs to stay with Jesus, Jesus says something shocking, something surprising. Jesus says, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you” (Luke 8:39a). This man’s restoration becomes his mission. He is a living, breathing, walking testimony to all he encounters.

            A restored antique isn’t meant to sit in the attic and collect dust. It’s meant to be seen, used, and appreciated. Same with a restored life. A restored life, your restored life isn’t meant to be kept hidden but instead to shine in the darkness. It’s meant to tell others where the healing came from. You are a living, breathing, walking testimony to all you encounter of the love and grace God.

            As you think about that … that you are a living, breathing, walking, brought to life testimony … think about who needs to hear your story. I’ve said it numerous times, you don’t have to be a theologian or a Bible scholar … just tell others what God has done for you.

            This demon-possessed man once lived among the dead … but now he brings life to others. You were once dead in your sin, but now you are alive in Christ Jesus. Jesus makes broken people beautiful, He makes them handsome, not so they can admire themselves, but so they can go out and reflect God to the world.

            Jesus told the restored man to “Return home and tell how much God has done for you” (Luke 8:39a). Jesus says to the restored you … “Go … tell your story.” Amen.

            The peace of God, that surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus, now and forever. Amen.