I do not watch horror movies. I know that some of you are probably flabbergasted that I haven’t and will never watch anything that falls in your favorite movie genre, but I just don’t enjoy horror films. I don’t like the jump scares. I don’t like to be kept up all night worrying that someone or something is going to kill me. And since most horror movies feature some demonic character, I don’t like focusing on these creatures that are very evil and very real.

I think a lot of people can forget that demons are real beings because we don’t typically see obvious examples or evidence of demon possession in today’s world. But they are real, and they have possessed many real people. During His ministry, Jesus encountered many people who were possessed by demons. One of them was a particularly burdened soul who dwelled in the Gentile region of the Gerasenes.

We don’t know this man’s name or how long he had been possessed. All we know is that he had a legion of demons living inside Him (Luke 8:30). Because of this, he had no home, he had no clothes, and he had supernatural strength that allowed him to break out of shackles and chains (Luke 8:27, 29).

When Jesus enters the scene, the demons immediately recognize who He is and the divine power He has over the demonic realm (James 2:19).

“When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.’” Luke 8:28, ESV

Knowing the power and authority He holds, the demons begged Jesus to not send them to the abyss (Luke 8:31, Matthew 25:41, 2 Peter 2:4), and they asked to instead be sent into a nearby herd of pigs. Jesus allowed this to happen, and the entire herd (which consisted of about two-thousand pigs) ran off a steep bank and drowned in a lake (Luke 8:32-33, Mark 5:13).

The man was now free. His great burden was lifted, and he was no longer a slave to the demons who raged in his mind and body. He was clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning from His infinite wisdom (Luke 8:35). The townspeople were not too happy with Jesus after losing such a large number of pigs (Luke 8:37). But I’m sure the man was overjoyed! He had been fully and completely healed (Luke 8:36). The original word used to describe his condition (Gk. sozo) can actually been translated as “saved.” Jesus saved him, both physically and spiritually, and like many new believers, he wanted to be as close to Jesus as possible (Luke 8:38).

But Jesus had different plans for this man. He said to him,

“‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:39

God had done so much for this man. He freed him from his bondage. He healed him of his infirmity. He saved him from a life of anguish and misery. And He redeemed His burdens as a testimony of His great power and glory. So, the man ran through the city, telling everyone he could about what Jesus did in his life.

The same is true in our lives, as well. God has done so much for us! He has freed us from our bondage to sin. He has saved us from our guilt and shame. He has taken on all that has burdened us. And He has redeemed our lives as a testimony of His power and glory. We ought to be shouting this from the roof tops! Jesus has changed our lives. We are free. We are whole. We are no longer slaves. And we must spread this good news to anyone and everyone who will listen to us.

But maybe you don’t feel free. Maybe you don’t feel whole. Maybe you still feel enslaved to sin or to shame. I urge you, friend, to give your heavy burdens to Jesus. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. It is only when you fully submit your life to Him that you can find true rest, true peace, and true joy.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30, ESV