Pick a Lesson

Scripture – Luke 8:34-39: 34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35and the people went out to see what had happened. 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. 36Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37Then 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. 38The 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.

Reflection: Once again, there are so many things in this passage; I’m not sure what to focus on. I mean, we have “those tending the pigs.” What was this like for them? They have a relatively simple job, and all at once the whole herd runs off and drowns in the lake. How will they explain that?

We have the demon-possessed man “dressed and in his right mind.” Yet this great miracle is overshadowed by the loss of the pigs. How much influence does money have on ministry?

We have the people asking Jesus to leave, “so he got into the boat and left.” What did they miss? Jesus will not force Himself on us.

Then we have the man obeying Jesus by staying in his local area and telling “all over town how much Jesus had done for him.”
What do you see in this passage? What lesson would you lift up? What lesson do you need to hear?

An Invitation: A small group will be meeting this coming Sunday morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.