I. Introduction

I have been contemplating the importance of our interpersonal relationships and the necessity of being supportive to others, both in good times and challenging times. I was also thinking about the pain and suffering in this world and was wondering about the efforts by many to alleviate it. These are the moments when we experience the power of human love and community. I was also concerned about the powers that choose not to alleviate suffering and pain, the powers that would rather inflict pain on others and engage in war rather than making peace and building peace. This passage of Jesus and the man possessed by a legion of demons spoke to me as I reflected on the power and purpose of Jesus to love, to heal and transform today's world.

II. The Power that is within Him.

The power of Jesus is seen in many instances during His three-year ministry in Galilee and the surrounding areas. As the Son of God, He was filled with the power of God. Through His speech, His touch and those who touched Him, power went out of Him. He felt power leaving Him when a woman touched His garment amidst a large crowd and was immediately healed from her afflictions. He had power and authority over the earthly elements, such as the destructive gale of wind that came over the lake, which endangered the lives of His disciples, and Him as He was sleeping in the boat. By issuing a command to the storm, it abated, transforming a perilous circumstance into one of tranquility and security. He had authority over all diseases and death and by speaking and touching, He healed and raised individuals from the dead. He was risen from the dead and ascended to heaven through the power of God. This Divine power was within Him, and no crucifixion and burial were more powerful than the power that was within Him.

The man whom Jesus met in the region of Gerasenes across the lake of Galilee was called Legion because he had many demons inside him. These demons controlled his life and drove him into the tombs which were inhabited by many other demons. He was isolated from his own community and suffered immensely under the control of these demons. His life was hopeless and meaningless, and he had no clothes and no home. But, when Jesus met him, He recognized these demons and commanded them to come out of this man. We read how the demons bowed down before Him, crying out loud and called Him the Son of God Almighty and begged Him not to torture them. When Jesus commanded the demons to enter the large herd of pigs, and they stormed into the lake and drowned, we see this man freed from his demon-possessed condition, sitting at the feet of Jesus, restored, healed, fully dressed and in his right mind, says Luke. Jesus then tells him to go home to his community. "You are healed by the power that is within Me! You are healed!"

III. Conclusion

What an overwhelming experience it must have been for the disciples to witness this exorcism. The community itself was afraid, because they knew the power and danger of these demons, and wanted Jesus to leave. What they did not understand was that the power in Jesus was far greater than the power of these demons. The power from God through Him and the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, is still with us today in all its glory. It is a power of love and compassion that wants to heal and save. But we are also surrounded by powers and forces of darkness that are out to destroy and break down what God created. The powers of darkness are like a cloud over us, sometimes making us blind for the power of God within and around us. In God we have life and light and love and peace. As the church of Christ and as a community, we must pray in the powerful Name of Jesus and command these forces to leave us. We must pray for the power of Jesus Christ to heal the sick, to enter the hearts and minds of those who want to destroy others, to end the power of drugs and alcohol addictions over our people, to end poverty and to end the wars that want to destroy precious lives. We must not walk around with little power, but we must be filled with the powerful Spirit of God to speak and act, so that God's healing and wholeness can take place in our lives and in this world. May God help us and fill us with God's Spirit of power and love to go forth and be the light in this world God created. Amen!