Proper 7C - People are more difficult than demons

Isaiah 65:1-9 and Psalm 22:19-28
Galatians 3:23-29
Luke 8:(21-25)26-39

People are difficult.

I don’t know what you think - but I think that people are just plain difficult sometimes.

I know this because I am difficult, stubborn - full of nonsense. I know this too because I have the privilege of working with people - it’s my vocation; it is what God has called me to do.

It is a part of what God has called me to do that I sometimes resist… because people are difficult. It is a part of what I am called to do that when I do it gives me great joy, because even though people are difficult they really are amazing! All at once.

Although I like people, I think I prefer my books and my computer - I like to study; I like to read - because when a book frustrates me, I can close it. When my computer throws a wobbly I can unplug it.

People are difficult, we can not control them.

But we can all give ourselves a pat on the back - because being difficult is what makes us interesting. (Worth having a conversation with.)

If we weren’t all different and a bit difficult we would probably just turn into a great big blob of boringness - and there would be no point in us meeting together on a Sunday - or in Bible Study - ‘cos we would have nothing to say to each other. We would just sit around and smile sweetly… and probably get nowhere.

So next time you encounter someone in church whom you think is difficult - just thank God for them and remember how boring church would be if everybody was easy.

* * *

What strikes me about the stories we read today from the gospel according to Luke is how easily Jesus deals with what the disciples would have considered unconquerable obstacles. Jesus shows his power. Flexes his Godly muscle… yet people remain stubborn and difficult to convince.

* * *

We read two stories because I think Luke put them together for a reason. Both of them illustrate Jesus' power over the mysterious and uncontrollable. That which scares us the most.

* * *

In the first image – Jesus calms a storm at sea – in the big Lake. First century people didn't have weather reports like we have today, and winds on the Sea of Galilee could come up with sudden ferocity – boats were small and a windstorm was a threat to the lives of fisherman.

A threat that was totally out of control – and completely unpredictable. Even weathermen today would have trouble predicting the exact moment that a storm would rise on the Sea of Galilee.

Not only were storms terrifying, but first century people took them personally. Winds were described as being caused by the wings of demons. Baal the God who constantly flirted with the Israelites in the Old Testament was also known as 'The Storm God.'

Storms, chaos – were recognized as a threat to God's good order. If you remember in Genesis 1 the Hebrew's story about the creation of the world – everything has its place... the sea is separated from the land... When a storm rises, these lines are blurred. It is seen as a terrifying omen - something evil is trying to destroy you.

In contrast to the chaos around him – Jesus is asleep - a picture of cool, calm confidence.

The disciples panic. Jesus orders the wind and the waves to stop. And there is calm.

The disciples are amazed: “Who is this - that commands winds and water and they obey him?”

Not only are the disciples saved from mortal danger - but they realize the power of Jesus’ authority… authority that only God himself has.

* * *

In the second scene - upon landing at the country of the Gerasenes; Jesus encounters ‘a man of the city who had demons - for a long time he had worn no clothes.’

Just like the waves and the sea represented the chaotic and uncontrollable, here is another representation - an insane man. A man outside of human control - you couldn’t even chain him up!

When Jesus asks him his name - the man is so tormented his answer is ‘Legion!’ (Luke tells us he said this because he was tormented by many demons… a legion was enough soldiers to colonize a small country - a unit of about 5000 soldiers.

The gospel writers are telling us that this man was absolutely overwhelmed.

Jesus ordered the Spirits out of the man - cast them into pigs; and the pigs ran down a cliff and were destroyed. Some people believed that the death of the one possessed would end the life of the spirit or demon itself.

Jesus takes on a legion of demons - and destroys them.

* * *

Jesus has shown the disciples that he has authority over everything demonic; forces of nature - and the forces that possess people - Jesus is in charge.

Jesus deals with the demons and the weather with relative ease…

But people - are more difficult.

* * *

The people of the surrounding area came to see and they were afraid; they asked Jesus to leave town.

The disciples, we know, in spite of what they have seen will continue not to get it, will continue to be disobedient.

I even notice the subtle disobedience of the man whom Jesus had freed from the demons: In verse 39 - Jesus tells him to go home and tell the people what God has done; instead he goes and tells the people what Jesus has done… the people would have thought that Jesus was a powerful magician, working in his own power - what Jesus wanted to convey was that the God of Israel had been at work in their land. (People are difficult) Difficult, because God / Jesus - by his grace chooses not to treat us like demons - but as his beloved.

* * *

So often these passages comfort us… the knowledge that whatever happens, God is supreme - Jesus is in control. If we are lost in the storm of life… if we experience inner torment; here is Jesus - our redeemer - it is good news.

There is however - another side to the story…

* * *

As people learning to be disciples of Christ we cannot ignore what happens (two miracles later) in chapter 9. The disciples are given power and authority - over demons and to cure diseases and sent out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal! To do what Jesus has been doing all along.

With this sort of authority - the authority we saw in these two scenes from Luke’s gospel - I wonder what difference we Christians can make when we are obedient to Christ in the way we live…

When we challenge the demons, the powers of our day; Those overwhelming - giant - out of control things that happen to us, and to those around us?

Can the church - the body of Christ really make a difference in the world? Can we bring an end to poverty and injustice? Can we stem the AIDS pandemic? Can we stop crime? Can our prayers affect the government of our nation? Can our actions protect the children of this land?

We have to believe that we can! It can be done - because we are working hand in hand - with the living God - “Who is this - that even the wind and the waves obey him?” He is Jesus - our Lord and our saviour, our partner in bringing the Kingdom into reality.

We believe that we can - but at the same time we work with the kind of grace which Jesus showed; when we can not change minds - we show love. When we can not change policies we keep loving. When we can not change behaviour - we keep loving.

* * *

Even for Jesus, people are more difficult than demons. People like us are stubborn, we get to chose what to do - where to go, how to live…

We know that we get to choose whether - in the end - we reject him and crucify him - or accept him and make him our king.

* * *

I believe - that when we learn to let Jesus be our King… then certainly the Kingdom will be here in this place. Amen.