‘Then [Jesus and his disciples] arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him.’ Luke 8: 26-27a
When I was a college sophomore back in 1978, my roommate and I decided that we were going to drive the 1,900 miles to Key West for spring break, so we piled into his rusted out Chevy Vega and hit the road. When we were almost through Chicago, we followed an exit sign that implied that it would lead us in the right direction, but instead led us into a neighborhood that was quite unlike any place we’d ever been.
All of a sudden, in the middle of the night, we found ourselves on a dimly lit street lined with shuttered factories, seedy-looking liquor stores, pawnshops, sketchy looking bars, and even sketchier looking people. We turned onto a side street, and losing our sense of direction, we kept driving further into the darkness. After what seemed like an hour, we stumbled across a sign directing us back to the interstate. We headed up the ramp as fast as that ridiculously underpowered Vega would go, and on to the sunny beaches of Florida.
When I read the latter verses of the eighth chapter of Luke’s gospel, I’m reminded of my first expedition into the darkness of urban blight, because Jesus and his followers are on a bit of a first expedition of their own. Jesus has told his disciples to “get into the boat” and to head out across the Sea of Galilee with him. Their journey hasn’t just crossed the water; it also crossed boundaries. Like pulling off the interstate into south Chicago at 3 in the morning, they’ve stepped into a world that is very different from their own, a country populated by Roman military veterans who have settled on land given to them as a reward for their service.
Jesus’ disciples know full well who lives across the Sea of Galilee. It’s the same folks who have been oppressing them for generations. When Jesus takes the wheel and yanks them off the comfortable thoroughfare they’re on and down the exit ramp, they’re suddenly in a very unfamiliar place. If they’re not sensing it as they pull up on shore, it doesn’t take long for it to sink in. A naked man greets them by yelling, “What have you to do with me, Jesus? I beg you not to torment me!”
Nice welcome! You have to wonder if those disciples didn’t just stay in the boat, desperately trying to keep from making eye contact with this guy.
According to Luke, Jesus is willing to step into the sketchiest of places and among the sketchiest of people in order to confront the darkness. This is a story of healing and witness, and it centers on Jesus’ willingness to enter into a relationship with a man whom no one else will go near. He’s in exactly the same place as any one of us living with demons of our own are, whether it’s addiction, dementia, abuse, illness, hatred, some immorality, or whatever else might claw its way into our lives. Just like this man bound by chains and living among the dead, our own demons have the power to steal our identity away from us, too.
We read that this man is so filled that when Jesus commands them to come out, his demons negotiate for a better deal. Does that sound familiar? That’s how our brokenness often tries to push God away from us. Let me take this one last drink, or snort this one last line, or steal this one last thing, or cheat this one last time … then I’ll give it all up. But thankfully, negotiating with God doesn’t deter God from reaching into our lives. Jesus casts out this man’s demons, and his life is transformed. He is released from everything that has separated him from his family and his community.
We are invited to respond to the gospel by changing this world as Jesus did; one person at a time. We’re called to fearlessly tear down whatever walls separate us from others, just to find that one life in need of compassion, hope, or resurrection; whether that person is living down the road from us or lost somewhere amid the rubble of abuse, conflict, and despair. We are invited to enter into these broken places and live lives that declare what God has done for us so that the light of the Christ may shine into each and every human being.
If you’ve ever wondered what you’ll experience visiting a church here along the North Shore, this story of Jesus reaching into the life of a struggling stranger perfectly describes the love and care you’ll encounter. Every church in our community, regardless of denomination, will welcome you, care for you, inspire you, guide you, and help you find healing and wholeness in the midst of whatever you’re struggling with. Check us out. Come to love. Come to be loved.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month’s contributor is Tom Murray of the Lutsen Lutheran Church and Baptism River Community Church of Finland.
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