What can we learn from the demons' request to enter the pigs? Setting the scene Luke 8 describes Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee, confronting a man tormented by “Legion,” and then hearing the plea: “There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.” (Luke 8:32) Demons recognize Jesus’ authority • The spirits cannot act without His consent; they must ask. • They immediately acknowledge His supremacy—just as elsewhere: – “Demons also came out of many people, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.” (Luke 4:41) – “You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:19) • Jesus’ sovereign word remains the decisive factor in every spiritual conflict today. Why the pigs? Unclean seeks unclean • Under the Law, pigs were ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 11:7). • Evil spirits gravitate toward what is already defiled, underscoring their nature. • The request highlights that demons prefer any embodiment—human or animal—over wandering “arid places” (Luke 11:24). They dread disembodiment and judgment. The destructive nature of evil • Once granted entry, the herd “rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned” (Luke 8:33). • Evil consistently destroys its host: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10) • The scene is a graphic warning: entertain darkness and it will ultimately wreck everything in its path. The value of a human soul • One man’s deliverance outweighs a herd’s market value. • Jesus displays the worth He places on every person: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) • The townsfolk mourn lost pigs; heaven celebrates a freed captive (cf. Luke 15:7). Visible proof of deliverance • The drowned animals provided undeniable evidence that a real, spiritual transaction had occurred. • When the crowd arrived, they “saw the man … in his right mind” (Mark 5:15). • The physical aftermath authenticated the invisible victory. Spiritual order and permission • Demons needed clearance—just as Satan sought it with Job (Job 1:12) and Peter (Luke 22:31). • The evil realm is not chaotic but operates under boundaries set by God. • Believers can rest in this ordered universe: the enemy cannot overstep what the Lord allows. Christ’s mission on display • “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) • By liberating the demoniac—and allowing the demons’ self-chosen demise—Jesus previews His ultimate triumph at the cross and resurrection. Living lessons for today • Submit to Jesus’ unmatched authority; every other power must bow. • Guard against anything unclean that could give evil a foothold. • Remember the destructive agenda of sin and resist it early. • Value people above possessions, comfort, or profit. • Celebrate and testify to Christ’s visible and invisible victories in your life. |
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