Our October study is entitled “My Name is Complete.” Our first week mentions miracles that lead up to our focus—a woman healed of an issue of blood.
Today we will learn about a man who lived among the tombs, a wild man no one could tame. This man had been possessed with devils for many years. His life was completely out of control. You can sense his desperate needs as you read his story. I found some interesting commentary in The NIV Study Bible and will refer to some of it. It is believed this man dwelt at “an isolated burial ground avoided by most people.” When he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet and cried out to Him. Since he used the phrase, “Most High God” it was believed he was a Gentile. When Jesus asked him his name, he answered, “Legion.” Though this is debatable, some think it was the demons who answered Christ, to show they were still in control. God had already started to command the evil spirit to leave the man.
Even demons know Jesus. They knew He had the power to order them to “a place of confinement for evil spirits and for Satan.” Jesus decided to cast the demons out of the man into a herd of swine which were feeding nearby.
Picture this scene. Those who fed the swine saw that herd “run violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.” Witnesses just had to go and tell others what happened. People came to Jesus and found the deranged man “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.” As the witnesses shared their account of how the man was healed, fear caused the multitude of that country to ask Jesus to leave. The healed man wanted to be with Jesus but Jesus told him to go home and share what God had done for him. He did so, and later, when Jesus returned to that country the people gladly received Him. This scene started with a man called “Legion.” It ends with the man gaining a new name—Mr. Complete.
News of Jesus’ miraculous healings traveled quickly. Everywhere He went throngs of people came to be with or near Him. Before we hear about the woman with the issue of blood, we learn about a ruler of the synagogue named Jairus. He came to Jesus in behalf of his only daughter who was dying. But wait, there’s a commotion in the crowd! There was a woman who desperately needs to be made complete. She had to somehow reach out to Jesus. Tomorrow we will learn more about this needy woman.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Sam and June McVay, enroute to the US today from Spain, to assume a leadership role in the FWBIM office.
