Luke 8:26-30: a reflection

26Then they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27When Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him. He wore no clothes, and didn’t live in a house, but in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me!” 29For Jesus was commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For the unclean spirit had often seized the man. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and fetters. Breaking the bonds apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert. 30Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered into him.

When Jesus comes to a man in the deepest bondage and misery, tormented, driven to live among the tombs, whom no chains could hold and no one could help, he comes to free him. A certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him, the account says; he wore no clothes, and lived not in a house but in the tombs. He had often been seized and driven, kept under guard and bound with chains, but he broke the bonds apart. This man was in the deepest misery and bondage: tormented, isolated among the tombs, beyond the help of others, unable to be restrained. He was, by every measure, a hopeless case. Yet Jesus came to him, precisely, to set him free. This shows Christ coming to free even the one in the deepest bondage and misery. Christ comes to free even the one in the deepest bondage and misery. No one is too far gone, too bound, or too tormented for Christ to reach. Christ comes to the hopeless case that no one else could help. There is no bondage so deep that Christ cannot reach and free.

Notice the depth of this man's misery, and that Jesus came to him anyway. By every measure, he was a hopeless case. He had been in bondage a long time; he was tormented, driven to live among the tombs, without clothes, isolated from human society. Others had tried to restrain him with chains and guards, but he broke the chains and could not be held; no one could help him or master his condition. He was as far gone, as deeply bound, as beyond help, as a person could be. And yet, into this deepest misery, Jesus came, precisely to set him free. Jesus did not avoid the hopeless case, the one beyond others' help; he came to him, and freed him. This holds a profound hope. There is no bondage so deep, no misery so great, no case so hopeless, that Christ cannot reach and free. However far gone a person seems, however bound, tormented, or beyond human help, Christ is able to come to them and set them free. This is hope for those who feel themselves, or see others, in the deepest bondage, beyond all help: Christ comes to precisely such, and frees them. We need not think anyone, ourselves or others, too far gone for Christ; he comes to the deepest misery and bondage to set free. We do well to bring even the deepest bondage and most hopeless case to Christ, who comes to free. No one is too far gone or too bound for Christ to reach and free. Christ comes precisely to the hopeless case others could not help. There is no misery so deep that Christ cannot reach into it. Bring even the deepest bondage to the Christ who comes to set free.

That is worth taking to heart, for Christ comes to free even the one in the deepest bondage and misery, and no one is beyond his reach, as he came to the tormented man among the tombs. We can think some cases too far gone, too bound, for any help; but Jesus came precisely to the man no chains could hold and no one could help, to free him. Christ reaches the hopeless. When you feel yourself or see others in the deepest bondage, beyond all help, do not despair; Christ comes precisely to such, and is able to set free. Bring even the deepest bondage and most hopeless case to Christ, who comes to free, for no one is too far gone or too bound for him to reach, as when Jesus came to a man in the deepest bondage and misery, tormented, driven to live among the tombs, whom no chains could hold and no one could help, he came to free him, since the man wore no clothes, lived among the tombs, and had often been seized and bound with chains yet broke the bonds apart; for this man was in the deepest misery and bondage, tormented, isolated, beyond the help of others, and unable to be restrained, a hopeless case by every measure, yet Jesus came to him precisely to set him free, not avoiding the hopeless case or the one beyond others' help but coming to him and freeing him, which holds a profound hope, that there is no bondage so deep, no misery so great, and no case so hopeless that Christ cannot reach and free, since however far gone or bound or tormented or beyond human help a person seems, Christ is able to come to them and set them free, hope for those who feel themselves or see others in the deepest bondage beyond all help, so that we need not think anyone too far gone for Christ, and we do well to bring even the deepest bondage to him.

Lord Jesus, when you come to a man in the deepest bondage and misery, tormented, driven to live among the tombs, whom no chains could hold and no one could help, you come to free him. A certain man who had demons for a long time met you; he wore no clothes, and lived not in a house but in the tombs. He had often been seized and driven, kept under guard and bound with chains, but he broke the bonds apart. This man was in the deepest misery and bondage: tormented, isolated, beyond the help of others, unable to be restrained. He was, by every measure, a hopeless case. Yet you came to him, precisely, to set him free. Show me the depth of this man's misery, and that you came to him anyway. By every measure, he was a hopeless case. He had been in bondage a long time; he was tormented, driven to live among the tombs, isolated. Others had tried to restrain him with chains, but he broke them and could not be held; no one could help him. He was as far gone, as deeply bound, as beyond help, as a person could be. And yet, into this deepest misery, you came, precisely to set him free. You did not avoid the hopeless case; you came to him, and freed him. This holds a profound hope. There is no bondage so deep, no misery so great, no case so hopeless, that you cannot reach and free. However far gone a person seems, however bound, tormented, or beyond human help, you are able to come to them and set them free. This is hope for those who feel themselves, or see others, in the deepest bondage, beyond all help: you come to precisely such, and free them. Take that to my heart. When I feel myself or see others in the deepest bondage, beyond all help, keep me from despair; help me remember, Lord, that you come precisely to such and are able to set free, and to bring even the deepest bondage and most hopeless case to you, who reach into the deepest misery, for no one is too far gone or too bound for you to free.