What has He done for you lately? (Nurture Notes 008)

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Last week’s Nurture note looked at the Centurion whose servant was sick to the point of death. Despite social standing and reputation, it was the Centurion’s faith which healed his servant as opposed to him elbowing his way in front of Jesus with remarks of ‘Do you know who I am?’

The reason I start there is because something the Centurion had, was a perspective of God which shifted things. He knew something of God. He knew who Jesus was, and he knew he wasn’t worthy of being in his presence.

What do you know of God, I wonder? If you’re reading this, you’re likely to know him as Lord and Saviour (if you don’t, drop me an email and let’s talk about it), but you might also know him as healer, as comfort, as your peace within the storm? As your friend? Your provider? The lover of your soul?

As we look at Luke 8, we see a variety of narratives of regular people like you and me whose lives had been changed as a result of an encounter with Jesus.

The passage opens with mention of Jesus traveling from town to town and village to village proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. As well as the 12, some women were accompanying Jesus. We read about Mary Magdalene, who had been delivered from seven demons, for example - and we also read about Susanna, the manager of Herod’s household. From a woman who would have undoubtedly been a social outcast, to one who would have had great social standing, both were following Jesus and both were helping to support the ministry from their own means (see verse 3).

Both women knew Jesus and followed him. Both believed in him enough to support his ministry with their own finances. Both almost certainly had different stories of what Jesus had done for them and each of their equally significant testimonies would have had impact and weight on different people for different reasons.

Do you know the same can be said for you? That the weight of your testimony, no matter how insignificant you believe it to be, can truly be what changes everything for someone?

Jesus was of course the person who first knew this to be true, as we’ll note in our chapter today (Luke 8) from verses 26-39. Rather than going through the entire story verse by verse, which I’d love but appreciate you have other things to do beyond read this message, I’m going to summarise what’s happened here and why what Jesus says to this formerly demon possessed man is crucial for us.

There’s a man who Jesus and his disciples meet as soon as they arrive at the region of Gerasenes. Scripture tells us that ‘for a long time’ this man had been demon possessed, homeless and naked and that he’d lived in tombs. As soon as he lays eyes on Jesus, his disposition is to drop to his knees and plead with Jesus not to ‘torture him’. Interestingly, this is the point at which we see that Jesus had commanded the evil spirit(s) to come out of the man before and at those points, it hadn’t actually happened (this makes for a good message on the importance of persistence, but I’m sure I’ll get there as we continue our journey through Luke.)

Whether the man dropped to his knees at Jesus’ feet because of his own desire and desperation to be healed, or whether it was the demons which dragged him there, we don’t know. But we do know that he was at the feet of Jesus.

Knowing he’s tried casting these demons out before, Jesus changes tact and asks its name (see Luke 8:30). The response comes - “legion”, and it’s here that Jesus recognises he’s dealing with more than just one demon. Knowing what Jesus had the power and authority to do, they beg him not to send them into the abyss and ask instead to be sent into a nearby herd of pigs. Jesus, interestingly, grants their request and the pigs drown.

Those looking after the pigs go and tell everyone and the town then come out to find out what had happened. When they see the man sitting at Jesus’ feet, this time in his right mind, they’re scared and ask him to leave. This seems like an interesting response to me. One which is perhaps fuelled by suspicion and doubt as opposed to the reverence and awe one might expect to happen after a miraculous encounter like this.

Let’s pause here for a quick question - What does what Jesus has done for you lead you to do? To feel? To act like? Linger there a while and ask yourself whether this is what Jesus wants for you and what he might be challenging you to or comforting you with.

The man from whom the demons had gone out was ever changed. Verse 38 tells us that he begged Jesus to go with him and that Jesus sends him away and here’s what’s key…

Jesus says: “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” Almost as significant is the man’s response - “So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8:39)

The man wanted to stay with Jesus. He understandably wanted to keep walking with the one who had healed him and saved him. Staying would have been comfortable. Perhaps he would have known that he could turn to Jesus whenever he needed, that he would have been safe and that anything which had happened to him in his past would never happen again. That all makes sense, right?

And yet, what Jesus knows is what will make for a more powerful testimony and so he tells him to go and not just to preach but to “tell how much God has done for you.” And that’s why I started where I started. Because honestly, he is so good and he’s done so much. Even if right now, what you’re going through doesn’t reflect that, I pray that he’ll bring to remembrance for you what he’s done in the past and that it will increase your faith as you consider that he may just do it again.

Luke 8 is filled with testimony which causes people to move. Even the testimony of the pig herders caused the town to move. And so with that, some final questions by way of food for thought:

1. What has Jesus done for you recently?

2. How have you/will you respond(ed)?

3. Who will you tell?

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