This passage from Luke is a very strange story of a man who had lived for a long time in tombs where dead bodies lay. It is strange too that this “demon-possessed” man recognised Jesus for who he was and was afraid of him. Then, at Jesus’ command, the demons transferred themselves from this man into a herd of pigs.
Maybe it is not so strange that those who witnessed what had happened were afraid of Jesus and his miraculous power – all except the man himself who had now been set free by this man of God! He was no longer afraid of Jesus. The fear had gone with the demons. He wanted to be with this man who had set him free.. “No” said Jesus: “Return home and tell how much God has done for you”. So the man went away rejoicing in his new freedom, and telling everyone he met what Jesus had done for him.
In Galatians 3:23-29, Paul talks about us all being locked up and prisoners of the law until faith in the God of love is revealed to us. Our faith has set us free to be our true selves as beloved children of God, so we no longer need the law to constrain us. The law of love sets us free to be the beloved children of God in and for a hurting world.
Rev Adelene Mills