Luke Part 2 Week 3

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 8:26-27 

²⁶ So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. ²⁷ As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town. 

Notice that this man who met Jesus was possessed of more than one demon. Imagine how frightened the townspeople were of him. It was bad enough that he was homeless and naked, but he also lived in the tombs outside of town. People were frightened of him. 

REFLECT 

Do you agree that this would have been a frightening person to be around? Have you ever encountered such a person? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about those who say that just believing in Jesus is not enough. These people may quote James 2:19. Even though demons know Jesus exists, they do not believe in Him for salvation. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 8:28-29 

²⁸ As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” ²⁹ For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. 

Notice all that the demons inside of this man knew about Jesus. They knew more about Jesus than the unbelieving Pharisees. The demons knew that Jesus was the “Son of the Most High God.” The demon-possessed man had unusual strength enabled by the demons. Chains and shackles could not contain him. 

REFLECT 

Think how this shows the power of the demonic world. 

RESPOND 

Encourage a friend by the reminder of 1 John 4:4. This is true of every believer who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Demons can “oppress” believers but they cannot “possess” them. Ephesians 6:10-12 tells believers what to do. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 8:30-31 

³⁰ Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. ³¹ The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. 

Jesus engaged the demon in conversation. This demon said his name was “Legion.” This meant the person was filled with many demons. They begged Jesus for their destiny. They knew He could do with them whatever He chose to do. They did not want to be sent to the “bottomless pit.” This is a translation of the Greek word abussos from which the word “abyss” is derived. It is the place of the dead. 

REFLECT 

Think how troubled the man with the legion of demons would have been. 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading some verses in Revelation that refer to the “bottomless pit.” Those references are Revelation 9:1, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3. Some Bible versions use the word “abyss.” 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 8:32-33 

³² There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. ³³ Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned. 

The demons wanted to inhabit bodies and begged to be cast into a herd of pigs. (The Jews considered swine to be unclean animals.) Jesus granted their request. At last the man was free of the demons. The large herd of pigs “plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.”  

REFLECT 

What would you have thought had you been caring for this herd of pigs? 

RESPOND 

The Bible does not always give full details about an incident, such as telling how people felt about matters. This larger passage will reveal what the townspeople did, but not necessarily how they felt. One must decide from their actions how they felt.  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 8:34-35 

³⁴ When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. ³⁵ People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 

Those caring for the pigs ran to town and told everyone on the way what had occurred. This caused people to rush out to verify it for themselves. A crowd gathered around Jesus, although the Bible does not record what they may have asked Him. When the people saw the formerly demon-possessed man they were frightened. Surely they had been frightened by him before. What was their reason now? 

REFLECT 

Sometimes people are frightened when God does not work. At other times they are frightened when He works in an unexplainable way. Have you experienced that? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about times when God has worked and people were alarmed. Such an occasion might have been when revival came to an area. People do things then they normally were not doing. That can be alarming to some. It usually began with the confessing of sin.