Legion

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians1:1-2]

         Redemption is the act of atoning for guilt, a fault, or a mistake. It can also be an act of being rescued as well as recovering property or person by payment.

         The first definition is usually done by a person to redeem their reputation or even their own life. This person would confess or ‘own up’ to their mistake in order to be forgiven. The second form of redemption is when the person in distress is rescued from their dilemma by an outside power. The third method is when a person redeems something of value for themselves. 

         According to the Gospel of St. Luke, the eighth chapter, the life of Jesus Christ, our true and only Redeemer, is recorded for us by witnesses who would later become Christ’s church on earth.

         This is not merely a story, but a witness to the revelation of God’s power in His creation as Jesus Christ.

         The focus of this narrative is on the demon-possessed man from the town. We are told, “For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.” [Luke 8:27b] These tombs were most likely a series of caves either natural or manmade, hewn into the stony ground.

         This man was possessed not by one demon but by many. Because the name given to Jesus when asked is Legion, one can assume the number was over 1,000. For an ancient Roman legion contained anywhere from 3,000 – 6,000 men.

         Why would so many demons possess this man? We get an idea from Jesus’ words in chapter 11 of St. Luke’s Gospel:

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” [Luke 11:24-26]

Therefore, we see a man plagued by demons more wicked than the first and his state is far worse. The village feared him, chained him hand and foot, and kept him under guard. [Luke 8:29b]

         This man cannot save himself. He cannot cast out his demons and be free. By the authority of his Father in heaven, Jesus Christ commands the evil spirits to come out of the man. Rightfully so, the demons do not wish to be cast back into the great abyss of hell, for they too burn, gnashing their teeth in darkness.

         Jesus allows the demons to enter into the herd of pigs, which St. Mark notes were 2,000 in number. The possessed man was completely healed by Christ’s command. The people of the village,

“…found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.” [Luke 8:35-36]

This is the second example of redemption. The man was saved from his lowly state by a power outside himself. This was the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

         In this same narrative, those to be redeemed reject their savior in order to continue a life in their sin. Verse 37 states:

“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.” [Luke 8:37]

They did not wish to be saved. They did not want to follow Christ into freedom from sin and everlasting life.

         We see this type of reaction more each passing day. “There is no God.” people say. “I am the one in control of my life.” One has to wonder how good of job they think they are doing when they find themselves drowning in the foul sin of their own making. One has to wonder if they think pain and suffering is a good thing.

         When I ask people, who confess to believe in God, why they do not go to church, I often get this reply: “I want to go to church. I want to hear the Word, but I have to get myself right with God before I can come back.”

         This is another example of a person rejecting the redeeming grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Here is God saying ‘Here I am, here I am.’ as Isaiah wrote at God’s command. God stretched out his hands to a rebellious people by sending His Only Son to pay the price of their sin by his death on the cross. Yet people ask Jesus to leave because they are overcome with guilt and fear. [Luke 8:37]

         Such thinking is a false and deceiving hope. We cannot, through our own willpower or physical strength, save ourselves. We cannot get ourselves, ‘Right with God’. No matter what we do, no matter how hard we strive, we will never be righteous and without sin before God. This is why we come to the foot of the cross.

         This is why we hear the Word, baptize those lost in their sin and kneel before the altar to receive the forgiving, healing body and blood of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. The only way to get ‘Right with God’ is through His Son.

         This brings us back to the first instance in a redemption situation. The person or persons redeem themselves by means of their own power or fortitude.

         As I have just stated, we cannot redeem ourselves from our sinful condition and we fool ourselves if we believe we can. But there is one man who can and did redeem himself and all believers: Jesus Christ.

         He took our legions of sin from our souls and carried them to the cross where he died. He took that sin into the abyss, the place where even the demons fear to go. In the pit, he left our sin. On the third day, he raised himself up from the grave. By his own strength and power, by his authority as God with all dominion over life and death, he walked out of the tomb.

         Jesus Christ not only redeemed himself, but all of us as well. Our sin, like the legion of demons, is drowned in our baptism. Death is no longer the gates to Hades and the eternal abyss. Death has been overcome and cast away from us. Jesus Christ is now the gate to Our Father’s home where a room is waiting for us.

         In the Word, God the Father is saying to us, ‘Here I am, here I am.’ In our baptism, the Holy Spirit is saying to us, ‘Here I am, here I am.’ And in the Holy Supper, Jesus is saying to us, ‘Here I am, here I am.’

         As members of the body of Christ and heirs to his eternal kingdom, we are given the gift of forgiveness of sins and with that comes not only the authority, but the obligation to point others to the cross. We are not to hide away from our fellow human beings instead we are to say, ‘Here I am!’ Here I am, a child of God. Here I am, a baptized and redeemed soul through the saving work of Christ Jesus.

         Just as the man, from whom the demons had gone out, begged to go with Jesus, we too are being sent into our hometowns, cities and countries. [Luke 8:38] Our Lord has given us a command, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” [Luke 8:39]

         This is a very beautiful instruction. Where does our witness as Christian men, women and children begin? At home. How we live and forgive in our family is how we live and forgive with our neighbors. How we bear witness to the Gospel in our homes is how we tell others this Good News of Redemption.

         Do not worry yourself in thinking you do not know God’s Word well enough to tell others. Do not be embarrassed by your faith or ashamed of your belief. Do not think that because you cannot preach like Paul that you are worthless.

         It is very simple: ‘Tell how much God has done for you.’ You know how sinful you are, and yet God still gives you your daily bread. You know Jesus Christ has saved you from eternal death. You see the blessings of the Lord every day. All you have to do is, ‘Tell how much God has done for you.’

         Jesus Christ has redeemed you, a lost and condemned human being. He has purchased and freed you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. [Luther’s Small Catechism]

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” [Luke 8:39]

Amen