I love how Jesus demonstrates time and time again that he truly is the Son of God, and therefore equal with God. He gives us the pieces of the puzzle, but lets us figure it out for ourselves. If he truly is God, he doesn’t need to say something like: “I am God, worship me.” Actions speak louder than words!
Today I read Luke chapter 8. In verses 26-39 the story is recounted of a demon-possessed man who lived on a graveyard in the Gerasenes, east of the Sea of Galilee. His situation was pretty bad:
“For many a time [the demonic spirits] had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.”
~ Luke 8:29 (ESV)
This guy was really possessed! It was not just one demon. The man had become home for many demons. When Jesus drew near, those unclean spirits immediately recognized who Jesus was, so the man cried out with a loud voice, prostrating himself before Jesus:
“What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.”
~ Luke 8:28 (ESV)
Why did the demon think Jesus would torment him? Well, Jesus will judge everyone, human and spirit, on the last day! The spirit knew what his future was… It wasn’t looking good!
From a Man Into the Pigs
Jesus then commands the unclean spirits to come out of the man. They had asked permission to go into a herd of pigs, and Jesus gives them permission. So they enter the pigs, and the pigs storm down the hill into the lake and drown.
When they hear the reports, the herdsmen and the people in the neighboring city are all afraid of this Man, of Jesus. They heard about the pigs that drowned, but also about the former demoniac who is now in his right mind and dressed, sitting at the feet of Jesus to learn from him.
The former demoniac begs Jesus that he could stay with him, but Jesus sends him away with these words: “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” (Luke 8:39 ESV)
So this is what the man who is now healed did: “And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8:39 ESV)
Jesus Never Corrects People who Worship Him
The former demoniac didn’t distinguish between what God had done and what Jesus had done. In his mind, Jesus is God and worked the miracle in his life. Notice that Jesus didn’t correct him. Jesus never corrected people when they fell down in worship before him. Neither did Luke, the author of this gospel ,who based this account of Jesus’ life on many eyewitnesses’ accounts, make a point about Jesus not being God. He should have if Jesus isn’t God! Or is God unable to protect his Word?
Which Jesus Do You Believe In?
The point Luke, and all the other gospel writers, wanted to make, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit, is that Jesus truly is God in the flesh. John, in his first letter, even goes so far that if you deny that Jesus, who is divine, came into the flesh, you are led by the antichrist spirit (2:22-25; 4:1-3).
So let’s embrace the Jesus of the Bible: YHWH in the flesh. He can work a miracle of casting out evil spirits. He can heal the sick. He can raise the dead. He can calm the storm on the Sea of Galilee.
But even more important: he is the only one we can trust with our souls. The greatest miracle of all is that he saves us for an eternity in the presence of God. Repent and turn to him, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!
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