First Presbyterian Church      Rev. Michael J. Imperiale

                Salt Lake City, UtahJanuary 18, 2004

“A Heart for Others”

Luke 8: 26-39

Introduction

He was found lying in a heap, naked and bleeding from a deep gash in his throat. His forehead was badly bruised and he was semiconscious. A doctor was called and used some black sewing thread to suture the wound. All the while this bum begged for a drink. He was dumped into an NYPD paddy wagon and dropped off at Bellvue Hospital where he would languish, unable to eat for three days, and die. Still unknown.

Days later, a friend looking for him was directed to the local morgue. When they scraped together his belongings, they found a ragged, dirty coat with a few coins in one pocket and a scrap of paper in the other with the surprising words, “Dear friends and gentle hearts.” Why in the world would a forgotten drunk carry around a line of lyrics?

Well, long before his tragic death at age 38, he had written the songs that made our world sing. Camptown Races, Oh! Susanna, Old folks at Home, Beautiful Dreamer, My Old Kentucky Home, over 200 songs that have become deeply rooted in our rich American heritage. Thanks to Stephen Foster, who nobody knew and for whom nobody seemed to care.

Deep within many a forgotten life are a few pennies and a scrap of hope along with a lonely melody trying hard to return. Some are in prison, some in hospitals, some in nursing homes, some on the streets. High school dropouts or emotionally starved people, those living with HIV-positive or an incurable illness, couples with infertility problems or an unwanted pregnancy. Some silently slip into church on Sunday morning, terribly confused and afraid.

Jesus has a heart that cares for others. And he wants his people to have that same heart to help those who are lost or hungry or hurting.

I. The Demons that Destroy (vs. 26-33)

We see it here in the 8th chapter of Luke. “Jesus and his disciples sailed to the Gentile area of Gerasa across the sea of Galilee, east of the Jordan. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a madman, a victim of demons. This man hadn’t worn clothing for a long time and lived outside of town among the tombs in a cemetery. He said his name was Legion because many demons, in the thousands it seemed, afflicted him.”

Dr. Luke, the writer of this Gospel, himself a physician, has already four times recorded Jesus curing people troubled by evil spirits. One in a Capernaum synagogue followed by many others in the surrounding area; others in the various towns around the Sea of Galilee. Luke knows how Jesus has a heart for people, especially people in trouble. But now for the first time, his ministry reaches into Gentile territory and involves multiple possession. As Jesus’ ministry expands, it seems he is outnumbered but not overmatched. Demons destroy – alcohol or drug addiction, pornography, sexual deviation or unfaithfulness, coveting and greed, self-centeredness and entitlement issues, anything and everything that keeps us from faith and life in Christ. But Jesus came to heal, forgive, restore, and redeem at any cost – even his own life.

There’s much speculation about this incident with a herd of pigs. Apparently, the time for judgment sending Satan and all his minions into the Abyss, the lake of fire, the torment of an eternity of death and destruction, has not yet come.

The other night, we were musing a re-write of this passage, Legion Reloaded: if I were Jesus I would at least have had a great pig-roast for his disciples and townspeople. But due to kosher laws, Jews would not be raising a herd of pigs or having such a feast. The gentiles had no such stricture. Clearly the Geresene people were upset, angry and afraid with Jesus because his ministry was causing real economic loss in favor of helping people.

How often do we hold on to what we have in favor of giving it away for the benefit of others? How often do we consider our own comfort or convenience when deciding whether we will help or not? What “herd of pigs” do you own that you would be angry and upset with the Lord if he let be destroyed in favor of the life of a person down and out?

II. The Lord who Restores (vs. 34-39)

“When the people went out to see what had happened, they came to Jesus and found the madman sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. Overcome with fear, they asked Jesus to leave them. Legion begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus sent him away to go home and tell how much God has done for him. So the man went and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.”

The scene is a picture of new life, the liberation of a soul. Here’s a plain description of II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

The demons, these unclean spirits recognized Jesus and his authority immediately. They knew who Jesus was and what his power and judgment could do to them. And although they destroyed this herd of pigs, a man’s life had been freed from the devil’s power. The demons destroy life but the Lord restores it.

People have always valued financial gain above the needs of others. So much injustice and oppression in the world is the direct result of some individual’s or company’s urge to get rich. Aren’t you glad that God values you and me more than money? Aren’t you willing to put people first in your life of faith in Christ?

And who knows? After this healed man shared with everyone all around town what great things Jesus did for him, surely a “herd of people” was saved as well. Jesus knew that Legion would now be an effective witness for the kingdom of heaven. So Jesus urged him to return to his family and tell them about the healing and saving power of Christ. Through him, Jesus expands his ministry to the Gentiles, even those not expecting a Messiah like the Jews did. So, when God touches your life, don’t be afraid to share the wonderful events with your family and your friends or with strangers in need like Legion.

Conclusion

There’s an old poem I’ve sometimes quoted that comes to mind. Many a man with life out of tune, And battered and scarred with sin, Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd Much like an old violin. A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine; A game – and he travels on. He’s “going” once, and “going” twice, He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

Almost. Almost gone. Until someone cares. And steps in. And, with the love of God, rebuilds a life, restores a soul, rekindles a flame that sin snuffed out, and renews a song that was once there.

The wonderful hymn writer Fanny Crosby put it this way: Touched by a loving heart, Wakened by kindness Chords that were broken, will vibrate once more. Deep within many a forgotten life is a scrap of hope, a melody of life trying to return.

Jesus cares. Do you? The Lord has a heart for others. Do we?

Let us pray together.