September 17, 2006
“When Jesus was Hard on the Pig Business”*
Luke 8:26-39
Dr. Dan Ivins, preaching

Much of life as I’ve experienced it makes sense. But a whole lot of it doesn’t. Some things we do to each other is mind-boggling. When we get the rug pulled out from under us, or bushwhacked a time or two, it throws you for a loop.

The Bible is familiar with that. Luke tells a story about Jesus paying a visit to a basket case. He was forced to live in a graveyard. Kinda spooky to say the least. But for some reason this man felt more at home with the dead than the living. Maybe he thought it was safer. The dead can’t hurt you. And as long as he stayed in the burial caves, nobody mistreated him. We aren’t told why they put him there. It could be that somebody he loved very much had died. It was so emotionally traumatic, that perhaps it was the only way he knew how to be close to the person he lost.

Whatever happened earlier to this man, he’s pictured in Luke’s Gospel as one whose personality had been shattered into many pieces; broken by the blows of life. Fragmented into lots of people in one body. Multiple personalities, we’d call it today. Everyone was afraid of his many selves. So they bound him in chains, thinking that would hold ‘em all down. But he must’ve been strong, because he broke free. And that scared ‘em even more, because he was out of control.

Then Jesus came. As soon as he stepped off the boat, he was recognized by evil impulses within the poor man. He ran to meet Jesus because he thought Jesus might straighten him out. The first thing he said was, “What do you want from me?” “Please don’t punish me!” He had come to expect pain from those whom he met. To them he was no more than the crazy cemetery guy. Somehow people have had instilled into their theology, a God who punishes us when we’re bad. Churches trafficking in guilt and judgment have contributed to that distorted understanding of God.

So “What do you want from me?” And Jesus wanted to know his name. He was a fearsome figure. Outcast from society. Running around naked. Ripping off chains. And Jesus wants to know his name. Always treating nobodies like somebodies. To have a name is to have a self. “What’s your name, son?” “My name’s “Legion,” because “we are many.” The man with the distorted mind immediately began to beg Jesus not to send the spirits out of that region. Apparently they liked the place. Why would a sick man plead to hold onto what’s making him ill?

I don’t know but people do it. It could be the fear of change? Routines are important. Its scary to upset them. Especially when we become addicted to a way of life. It may be awful but at least its familiar. “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know.”

I see people in damaging relationships. But still refuse to do anything about it, because of the fear of the unknown that’s sure to follow any change. It makes no sense, but when it becomes a way of life, it’s hard to break.

My wife watched a member of her family put up with alcohol abuse from her husband for decades. Each time we’d talk with her, she knew that she oughta leave. But for reasons unknown, she stayed way beyond what made sense. And I said, “When she gets tired of it, she’ll leave.” Finally, she did. And she gained her life back. But the fear of change, made her hold on to an untenable situation much longer than she should have.

Here’s this crazy guy, living in a graveyard, who knew how people would respond if he screamed and cut himself and tore off his clothes. If he were to get over what was causing that, he wouldn’t know how to act! So he begged Jesus to back off. But Jesus gave him back himself, the many parts of himself that had gotten lost.

And word traveled fast back to the town that a person possessed was a new man. And folks came out to the cemetery to see for themselves. Because they thought nothing could change this guy. When they got there, they found Jesus with him, sitting still, “clothed and in his right mind.” And that scared the heck out of ‘em! You’d think they’d be glad. But once we get somebody pegged, we don’t know how to react when they act out of character.

Now they ask Jesus to leave their territory! They’re afraid of him because he had the power to still the storms and heal the tough cases. Anybody with that kind of power is threatening. He could bring about change that they weren’t sure they wanted. So they asked Jesus to leave. And he left. It made no sense, but he didn’t resist. Jesus didn’t wanta be where he was not wanted. Here were people who preferred insanity in a man. And wanted Jesus gone for disturbing their familiar ways? Or maybe it was hard on the pig business, would it be too much to say this is the 1^st instance in all history of “deviled ham?” They were fine with the demonic, as long as it was exiled in the tombs with chains. They feared the power to restore more than the diseased mind. So who’s in chains? Those who cared for swine and property rights and profits? Or a pitiful man in his right mind? So they ran Jesus off!

People today are chained to baggage, as surely as this man. Ours may not be as physical as his, with chains and stones that rip open our flesh. But its every bit as binding, with things like schedules, systems, budgets, prestige, status, pride, winning, security.

“What do you want with me, Jesus?” Jesus came to offer him hope of a better way to live. To give him the courage to make constructive change in response to what life has done to him. He wanted to know his name. The first step to integrating all the disparate parts of his personality that had gotten all mixed up and living among the dead. Next he’s “clothed and in his right mind.” In the last scene he’s burying the dead. Which is all we can do.

And wanting to go back to the community of the living. He wanted to follow Jesus as one of his disciples. But Jesus suggested that he go back home and tell the people in town what God had done for him. The town needed him more than Jesus did.

When I served as chaplain in Central State Mental Hospital during seminary days. It was the best training I got for serving in the church. I’ll never forget the first day on the floor. We were taken on a tour of the grounds and visited each ward. When we came through a locked door and entered one room, it was unnerving. People were sitting around doing things that made no sense. Talking to themselves. Twirling on tiptoe. Cusin’ for no good reason. Drinking ashtrays.

As soon as we entered the room they knew we were there. And we were all lined up against the wall, with the secure Chaplain between us and the patients. Way back up against the wall!

There was this little old white-haired lady, in a hospital gown that didn’t fit. A hideous looking sight, sitting in a chair. To our surprise she got up and started growling and scratching on all the new chaplains’ chests! One by one, we stood straight as an arrow. She would growl and scratch and then go to the next one. Who was petrified.

I thought it was some kind of initiation. Well I lucked out and got in the middle of the pack. When she got to the guy next to me, I was waiting my turn to get scratched...standing at attention!

Then Chaplain Barton said, “Aw Bessie go sit down. You’re not a cat! You’re a woman!” As soon as he made sense out of the nonsense, she went back to her seat as timid as a lamb. All I could say was “Whew!”

Here was a man who preferred to live with the dead instead of the living. All because Jesus treated him differently than others did. And when he was treated differently, he started behaving differently. When treated like a caged animal, he lived like one. When treated like a person, he put on his clothes and started acting like he had some sense.

How did Jesus do that? He related to him positively. He wasn’t afraid of him. He believed the poor man could be much more than what he was. He had faith in him, when everybody else didn’t. Then he showed him that its appropriate to bury the dead. To quit trying to hold onto his loved ones, and let ‘em go.

Some things happen to us that are so hurtful, we never get over them. We just have to go on. It can be a relationship, a vocation, anything of value that we lose. Whatever in us that’s dead, we must bury it and move on. That’s all we can do. Or else live out in the graveyard, with the bats!

The gifts Jesus gave this man that changed his life were his presence, his support, affirmation, empathy, sensible advice. All are personal traits. Only people can give such gifts. God has called his church people to keep giving them. Because its through these graces that we discover the courage and healing of God’s presence in our lives. 

*Thanks to my buddy Howard Roberts for the idea behind this preaching

Prayer:

The life you’ve given us, Lord, pulls us in many directions, and presents many possibilities. Sometimes we don’t know which way to turn. So much pressure on our time. So many demands on our attention. The range of choices stymies us.

May this worship help us to hear your claim on our lives, because it is the ultimate one. Remind us of the important ones and those we must leave undone. May the stress and strain of life not break us, but make us stronger. May we use what we know to create what ought to be.

When we look to our own needs, our wants that masquerade as needs keep getting in the way. Grant us the wisdom to know one from the other. Enable the spirit in this worship to help us to accept ourselves, and avoid petty distractions. May our time in this corporate gathering allow us to know ourselves, that we may neither think too highly of ourselves, nor too lowly. Lay your compassionate hand on all the unfortunate ones around us, victimized by circumstances beyond their control. And many that we bring upon ourselves.

Be with the anxious and tested, who feel tension and guide them to take the next step. Be with the sick, held back from a life they would otherwise live. Bless them with your healing and hope.

Be especially close to the bereaved, who can’t stay away from the graveyard, face to face with the grim reality of death. Give them the generosity of spirit to entrust their loved ones into your loving care.

Smile upon this church. Build on our efforts. Make us more worthy not only of the best of what the name “Baptist” means…but also “Christian.” And give us joy in our Lord now and always, for his sake. Amen.