Luke 8:26-39_Sermon_Plot Twists

{ILS} Plot twists - we know the path, we know the hero/villian, until…

• Bad news - Vader and Skywalker - I am your father

• Good news - Andy Dufresne - remember Red, hope is a good thing

{MPT} Plot Twist Going to the other side

• The stories in chapter 8 elevate Jesus’ power and authority, but also separate

• A large crowd  gathers, what you would hope for when building

• Parable of the sower - 75% of you are not going to get this

• His mother and brothers try to get close but they cannot

• Family lines and traditions - “my family is who follows the word”

• Jesus has total conviction to visit all communities along the lake shore

• Furious storm rips past the disciples

{SCR} Luke 8:26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 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. 28 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!” 29 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.

{MPT} Plot Twist - surrounded inside and outside, yet isolated

• Two men that have never met, share a similar burden

• Jesus has crowds pressing in, but often feels alone

• The possessed man totally alone,  but surrounded at all times by voices

• warring thoughts and motivations 

• invisible strings that direct his every thought and action

• The moment is so urgent, this man cannot wait in line

• When sick people saw Jesus, they were excited, this man is concerned

{SCR} Luke 8:30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the abyss. 32 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. 33 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. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. 

{MPT} Plot Twist - Demons pleading for the mercy that they have never granted

• Control is such a toxic path

• These being are parasites, only taking and often harming

• Jesus broke the ties of control by

• Religious

• Political

• Demonic 

{SCR} Luke 8:35 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. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 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. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “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.

{MPT} Plot Twist - Jesus often asked people to “go” but here he asked the man to “stay”

• Potentially painful - when you have a dog and its Saturday and you go for the door

• ultimately powerful - the one that was most frightened by it, will now be sharing it