Title: Who Is He…? (2)
Text: Luke 8:26-39
In the last message, we saw how Jesus calmed the storm.
When people saw that even the wind and waves obeyed Him, they started asking an important question:
“Who is He, that even the winds and the waves obey Him?”
This question is more important than asking “Should I believe or not?”
First, we need to know who Jesus is. And if we believe in Him, then the next question is, “What should we do?”
Today’s passage continues in the same theme.
It doesn’t directly ask, “Who is He?” — but it shows us the answer.
People may focus on the fact that Jesus cast out demons.
The demon in this story (called “Legion”) said very accurate things about Jesus.
It called Him the Son of God — something many people didn’t understand.
But knowing who Jesus is does not always mean we believe.
True faith comes when we listen and obey His words.
This story is not just about a man being freed from demons.
It’s connected to the previous story — when Jesus calmed the storm.
Before, the storm was outside the boat.
Today, the “storm” is inside a man’s heart — in his soul.
So we can ask:
“Who is this, that even calms the storms inside a person’s heart?”
Through this story, we learn that Jesus is the one who gives true peace to our hearts.
God is the God of peace.
There are two types of storms in life:
Outside storms — things we can see
Inside storms — troubles in our hearts that others cannot see
When the disciples faced the storm, Jesus was sleeping in the boat.
This is similar to the story of Jonah in the Old Testament.
God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell the people to repent.
But Jonah didn’t like the people of Nineveh because they were enemies of Israel.
Jonah wanted them to be punished, not saved.
So he disobeyed God and got on a boat going the other way — to Tarshish.
Then a big storm came.
Jonah knew that God caused the storm because of him.
But he also believed God would not let him die — because he still had a mission.
Strangely, people with a purpose from God can have peace.
Jesus also slept in the boat during the storm.
This reminds us of Jonah.
But Jesus was greater than Jonah.
Jonah went to a city.
Jesus went to one man across the sea — a man with many demons.
Jesus saw the value of even one soul.
He gave peace to this one man, while Jonah didn’t care about many souls in Nineveh.
Let’s compare more:
Jonah was upset about a plant (a vine) that gave him shade.
But God said, “You care about the plant, but I care about the people and animals in Nineveh.”
In today’s story, instead of a plant, there are pigs.
The demons entered a herd of pigs.
Jesus allowed it — because He wanted to save that one soul, even if it cost the town’s business.
The pigs were important for business.
Jews don’t eat pork, but Roman soldiers did.
So people raised pigs to make money from the Romans.
Even if it broke God’s law, they did it for profit.
We can be like that too.
Sometimes we care more about business than about people.
Some make money by hurting others.
Some don’t pay fair wages or overwork employees.
But God cares about the people — their hearts, their families.
Which does God love more — your money, or a soul at peace?
In today’s story, two different groups of people asked Jesus for something:
The townspeople asked Jesus to go away — because they were afraid and their business was hurt.
The man who was healed asked Jesus to stay with Him — because he found peace.
Which will you choose?
True peace is in Jesus Christ.
Without Jesus, people live with storms in their hearts.
Even if they look calm outside, they are not truly at peace.
But when we are with Jesus, we can have real peace — peace that no one else can give.
Because in Jesus, there is not only peace, but also a mission, a cross, a resurrection, and salvation for the world.
I bless you to have that peace and walk with Jesus every day.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
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