Grace So Unsettling

Scripture Reading: Luke 8:26-37

              The healing of the demoniac of Gerasenes is one of the most notable of Jesus’ miracles. It is memorable because of the number of demons by which the man was possessed – a legion – and for the physical strength, they imbued him with. He was breaking chains. This was a terrorized and terrorizing man. This miracle also stands out because the demons, once exercised from the man, possessed a herd of hogs that immediately ran off a cliff, committing sooo-eeee-cide (I couldn’t help myself).

              Then, after what must have been a chaotic, tension-filled, traumatic event; the man sat down at Jesus' feet. His sanity restored. His life saved. And one would think that the townsfolk would be in a celebratory mood. One might expect that Jesus would have been hailed as a hero and invited to stay and hold daily services in the town square. Instead, they insisted Jesus go away.

              Grace is, as we often sing, amazing. It can also be quite unsettling. The grace of Jesus changes people. It is transformational. And change is unsettling, even when it is for the better. The people of Gerasenes wanted things the way they were. They didn’t like the idea that Jesus might see the demons (literal or metaphorical) hidden within their souls, and expressing themselves through their actions. They didn’t care for the idea that he might send that which possessed them away too. They liked things just the way they were.

              When, by chance, we see Jesus do a real transforming work in someone else, one of the secret, unspoken thoughts of our bent hearts is we would rather he go away if that is what he intends to be doing around us. An awakened church, a city stirred, a nation revived isn’t really what most people want. They find the grace that does that sort of thing far too unsettling.