“They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tunes, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with chains. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart, and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
Night and Day among the tombs, and in the hills, he would cry out and cut himself with stones… when they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed, and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told to the people what had happened to the man that was possessed by a demon, and told about the pigs as well.
Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away, and began to tell in the Decapolis, how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”
I have recently seen this story play out in the life of my dad. This was the scripture passage I used to preach his funeral three weeks ago. Like the man in the scripture, my father’s life had become uncontrollable because of alcoholism.
He and many others had often tried to rescue him from this destructive lifestyle, but were unsuccessful. Also, like the man in the scripture, my father had a life transforming encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus was strong enough to save the man in the scripture, and to redeem my dad for decades of self abuse. Jesus not only redeemed the souls of these two men, but He gave them a redeemed mission in life. Both these redeemed men became witnesses of how powerful, good, and merciful Jesus had been to them. In his redeemed life and mission, my dad helped many find salvation, sobriety, and sanity in Jesus Christ.
Jesus alone has both the will and the power to redeem all who believe. Are you a redeemed soul? Are you active in the redeemed mission given to you? At your funeral who will they say transformed your life?
John Goldwater is pastor of Christ Community Church.
