NOTES for Luk 8:26-39

Here is another account of Jesus' victory over the dark forces that rule the earth. At the same time, this account tells us a great deal about ourselves, about the greatness and woundedness of human nature. The spirits of darkness try to destroy the possessed man, but even a legion of demons can only torment the unfortunate man, whereas, once they enter a herd of pigs, they immediately drive their “hosts” into the abyss. In this we can see the extraordinary importance of human resolve and human will. A person cannot free himself from unclean spirits; he cannot heal himself. But with those remnants of his will that have not yet been damaged by the evil demonic will, he is able to do the most important thing—to come to Jesus and worship Him. This is exactly how our salvation takes place. Which of us can independently cast aside our sinful inclinations and be healed of laziness, despondency, vanity, and other maladies of the spirit? But there is one thing we can do (this realm of the spirit is beyond Satan's power): we have the freedom to come and worship the Lord, who alone has the power to heal and save us.