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Movies portray demonic possession fantastically – scaring us, of course with special effects and unexpected jolts – typically locating evil – within one person, one character – to be annihilated or freed.
Scripture – the New Testament in particular – in both Jesus’ back and forth with Satan – in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians – and in the vision of Revelation describe evil differently. The power and principalities – Paul writes – the cosmic powers of darkness – which are the forces Satan claims to control – and offers to Jesus in exchange for his allegiance.
This is not something we talk about much, in church – evil, Satan and the powers of darkness. But this morning we have this gospel – and a baptism – where adults on behalf of their child – will be asked if they renounce Satan, the evil powers and all spiritual forces of wickedness.
And in our world – sadly, we see evil and the spiritual forces of wickedness that - in more than one tragedy this week – violently enact hate by terrorizing and cutting short the lives of God’s people.
Where is our good news in our world which has yet to exorcise itself of the powers of violence and death? What can 21st century well-educated Christians learn about their life in God from a 1st century story of exorcism?
Jesus didn’t happen upon this poor guy in his travels. In fact it looks as though he sailed across the Sea of Galilee specifically to save this person from his illness. You all remember the story of Jesus calming the storm. Well that just happened. He and the disciples had been hanging out on the other shore – fishing and talking – I suppose – when Jesus says, he guys, let’s get in a boat and go to the other side of this lake.
The Sea of Galilee is a big lake – about 10 miles across. And it is also a dividing line – between the Jewish territory of Galilee –– and the Gentile, Greek-speaking territory of Gerasene. And there’s no reason to believe the disciples had any interest in going over there – but they get into the boat, set sail and Jesus promptly falls asleep.
Until out of nowhere the waters begin to rage against the boat as if the sea itself is possessed. The terrified disciples wake Jesus up – and without a word – the wind ceases, all is calm. And they turn to one another saying – who is this that even the winds and the water obey him?
The disciples ask – but can’t answer. The tormented man, however, does. Storm ceases, they make it across, and as soon as they step foot on that rocky shore – the man with his demons confronts them saying – What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? He knows exactly who Jesus is – and why he is there.
It is almost as if – the powers and principalities tried to keep Jesus from getting to that guy. Tried to whip up a storm – stop that crossing – and scare them back. Because as usual in gospel stories – evil has no trouble naming the saving power that it knows will cast out the darkness – to bring in the light.
When Jesus asks the man his name, however – legion is all he’s got. It’s not a name – it’s a noun. Legion means an army of 5-6 thousand Roman soldiers. Legion conveys a mind that is under siege, occupied by voices that create a delusional reality of torment. Torment made worse by having been cast out – to live, naked, ashamed and abandoned among the dead.
So – God is revealing something pretty incredible about our worth. Why did Jesus cross that lake – yes, to get to the other side – but also I believe - because he was called there. Jesus didn’t just willy-nilly decide to go out on the water. On the quiet shore of Galilee Jesus heard something and so he deliberately crosses into unfriendly territory – to get to this person.
An unclean man – living in what would be considered the faithless territory of the Greeks – amongst the ritually unclean place of the tombs. In other words – this is one of the darkest places for a Jewish prophet to be – it is the last place the Son of the Most High God should ever step foot.
And yet, there he is. The darkest places – the fallen places – can simultaneously be where we find our strongest awareness and connection to God. They are the places where none of us want to go – in here or out there. Places of grief, shame and loss. Places where – like this man – abandonment feels deserved and hiding in secret seems to be our only hope. When we’re in those places - God hears the deepest parts of us longing for wholeness. And the saving power of God will not be driven back by the wildest of storms.
Last month – I and many of you – listened to a powerful sermon by the Rev. Glenna Huber. She preached on John’s gospel story when Jesus meets a paralyzed man sitting by a pool, well-known for its healing waters. Waters that he has not availed himself of. So Jesus asks a direct – but challenging question – Do you want to be made well? And as she shared, it’s challenging because Jesus knows that healing will change us and it will upend the way we live in the world – it will upset the system we’ve gotten used to – no matter how dysfunctional it may be. So we have to want help – we have to trust that new life will come and we have to actively participate in casting out the powers of darkness. We have to work with God to bring in the light.
Not everyone wants to upset the system – not everyone wants to bring in the light – because the devil you know – may be easier than the God you don’t. Notice how the onlookers react to what Jesus has done for this man. He is restored – clothed – in his right mind – but the people ask Jesus to leave. Why? They hadn’t asked the demon possessed man to leave. What is it about God’s healing that scares them more than Legion?
That is a question very present in our 21st century world – what is it that scares us from changing what needs to be changed….as one late-night talk show host said this week - “It’s as if there’s a national script that we have learned, and…by accepting the script, we tacitly accept that the script will end the same way every time, with nothing changing, except for the loved ones and the families of the victims, for whom nothing will ever be the same.” (Stephen Colbert, NYTimes, 6/14/16)
For the 1st c. people of Gerasene when they experience a power on earth that restores a person to wholeness – it challenges the system they’ve been living in. A status quo that allowed them to pin all the evil on one person so they can shun and demonize – (Isaiah – Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy) and probably feel better about themselves. By healing one person, showing change is possible, Jesus upends how they’ve structured their society - which is why they want him to go. They can’t un-see it – and are going to keep hearing about it. Jesus says to the man – stay here and tell everyone what God has done for you. Tell them how God reaches out to those who are at the lowest of the low – finds them – restores them – and says – now go, and tell the world how love saved you.
You all know the hymn – A Mighty Fortress is Our God – Martin Luther (Bach, music)
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed / his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.
That "little word" - Baptizatus sum – I am baptized. The love that saves us is symbolized in the act of baptism. For as Paul writes – being baptized in Christ – we are clothed in Christ. That is with us all the time – God’s claim on us as worthy of being called children of God. And when you believe you are worthy of that love and belonging – you cannot despair.
That is the basis of hope – of faith in that which is not yet seen – and it is the power that helps us to change – to let in the light. And in my experience – when you deeply believe that God’s claim of love is real and forever – it’s because you’ve experienced – first-hand – perhaps when you were at the lowest – how love saved you. We have been clothed with Christ - so let us tell the world – our story of God’s saving good news. Let us show the world what saving power looks like. Amen,
The Rev. Arianne R. Weeks
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