Words of Jesus: Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Luke 8:26-33    “Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And as he stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then

the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.”

 RSV

In the immediately preceding passage we read that it was Jesus’ idea to cross the lake (Luke’s name for the Sea of Galilee).  “As he stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons;…”. It certainly appears that this demon possessed man was the reason for Jesus’ trip across the lake.  Jesus appeared to be on a mission to rescue this man.   Jesus knew this man’s great need and this man’s inability to help himself.  In fact, in this account of the encounter, the man does not speak.  Jesus searched him out to save him.  That is a demonstration of the way God works.  He searches for us, finds us, and rescues us.  Praise God! 

What an amazing blessing, that the God of the universe rescues us!  Thank you God!