Luke 8:35
Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
At Gadara two furious men who lived among the tombs and terrorized all who passed were freed from demons and restored to sit calmly at Jesus' feet, clothed and in their right mind. Their change was complete, from wild torment and danger to peace, intelligence, gentleness and grateful praise, showing Christ's power to break Satan's bondage and make a person whole. Yet those who saw it were afraid rather than glad, valuing their drowned swine above the healing and begging Jesus to leave lest greater loss follow, revealing how love of worldly gain drives Christ away. The healed men then became living proof of His mercy, carrying the good news through their homes and all Decapolis, so that what Satan meant to turn hearts away instead prepared thousands to receive Christ on His return. That same restoration still occurs when sin-bound and degraded souls are brought to learn humbly at Jesus' feet, clothed and sound in mind, and when the restored become meek, lowly and willing to serve, to the joy of God and angels.
The Demoniacs Healed
The setting is Gadara, where two men made their home in caves and tombs beside the road leading from the lake. Their furious, dangerous madness was regarded in the place as a supernatural visitation. They had long been the terror of the community, endangering all who came near, so that efforts were made to restrain them with bolts and chains.
After the demons left him, Jesus' power had overcome the evil spirits and restored the man to sit at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind. The two who were freed are seen sitting at His feet, clothed, listening to His instruction.
His restored condition is calm, peaceful, intelligent, gentle and mild, with light returned to the mind, intelligence in the eyes, stillness in the hands once violent, and dignity renewed. He listens to Jesus' instruction and converses intelligently with Him, grateful and praising God for making him whole. That calm, intelligent sitting at Jesus' feet stands in sharp contrast to his former torment and danger, showing Christ's mercy and power to free people from Satan's bondage and make them whole.
The people who knew the men and came to see what was done were afraid at the sight instead of rejoicing over the deliverance, looking on with indifference. They counted the destruction of the swine and the loss of property of far greater importance than the men's restoration. Fearing still greater calamities and financial ruin if Jesus remained among them, and valuing worldly interests above spiritual blessing, they without understanding what they were rejecting begged Him to leave their vicinity. In this they illustrate how love of property and fear of loss can lead people to refuse Christ and drive His Spirit from their hearts.
Witness and Gospel Work
The men who had been a terror to their community were restored to reason, clothed and in their right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus with dignity and sound mind renewed after Christ freed them from the demons. Their changed lives and changed condition became living evidence of Christ's power and mercy, making them witnesses to His saving power whose testimony helped convince people that Jesus was the Son of God. The people saw and heard them, yet instead of rejoicing over the deliverance they were afraid, valuing financial interests and fearing further loss of property more than the healing. In worldliness they treated Jesus as an unwelcome presence, rejected His visit of mercy, and asked Him to leave without understanding what they were rejecting, illustrating how worldly interests can lead people to refuse Christ and drive His Spirit from their hearts.
After Christ freed them from Satan's bondage, the healed men obediently carried to others the good news of Christ's power to save and how He had freed them from the demons. They told it to their households and neighbors and to the people throughout Decapolis, becoming witnesses to Christ's saving power. Because the people of Gergesa had asked Jesus to leave, the men He healed carried the light of the gospel to them in His place.
The destruction of the swine, intended by Satan to turn the people away from Jesus, instead drew attention to Christ. When He returned to Decapolis, thousands heard the message of salvation through the witness thus prepared.
Restoration Applied Today
Gospel work still lifts sin-sick souls bound in vice, iniquity, dissipation, sin and degradation, including the deluded and insane who without help would perish, until they are clothed and in decent condition, restored to a sound mind, and set as learners at the feet of Jesus. This takes place when workers put on the robe of Christ's righteousness and, having cleansed and purified their own souls, work humbly in His lines on the right hand and on the left. It takes place when they put the same energy and careful thought once given to worldly matters into seizing every opportunity to extend a helping hand to the perishing. Seeing such souls restored causes workers to rejoice together with God and the heavenly angels with singing and praise and thanksgiving, and receiving from God and rendering back what He has lent to be used for His glory brings His blessing, proving that blessing and service are linked together.
For the individual, restoration to a right mind means sitting at Jesus' feet and learning from Him. It means getting rid of lofty ideas of self, coming down in meekness, feeling nothingness without Christ, becoming meek and willing to receive counsel and help, and becoming willing even to be a servant in imitation of Christ, who though King of Glory was a servant to fallen man. It means being transformed and ennobled with faith in God, devotion, good humble religion, and the disinterested benevolence that characterized His life, following humble confession with repentance that needs not to be repented of. To those in this condition Christ becomes a very present help in time of need, makes their labors effectual, and uses them to convert souls from error to truth. Rejoicing over one so restored, even when for years he caused perplexity and many burdens, is right because the lost sheep is found, not because his influence is needed.
The same restoration is seen when a woman who had been hopelessly insane was healed in answer to prayer, returned to her right mind, and attended Christian meetings with hope, faith, and love for God. It is seen in Sr. Israel, who after mental disturbance was restored to sound, clear thinking and to her right mind, with an entire change in her mind, when she believed the testimony joined with consecration to God. It is likewise seen when a woman freed from Satanic influence became quiet and peaceful, showing the calm and peaceful state of one delivered and in the right mind. It is seen when a believer overcame a long-standing tobacco habit through prayer and the grace and strength of Jesus, so that old things passed away and a new life began, which is what being clothed and in the right mind describes.