An Uncommon Freedom on the Other Side of the Lake

A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, for they wanted to see for themselves what had happened. And they saw the man who had been possessed by demons sitting quietly at Jesus' feet, clothed and sane. And the whole crowd was afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. And all the people in that region begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. The man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too, but Jesus said, "No, go back to your family and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you." So he went all through the city telling about the great thing Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:35-39 (NLT) What is the "other side of the lake" your area? Rich or poor, it’s always where the people who are different live. It’s a side of town where if we must drive through, we drive with an alert and guarded swiftness without stopping. We may not talk about it, but we know it’s there. We shake our heads almost expectantly, when every now and then someone from "over there" makes it to the evening news. "Yep, that’s what people like that wind up like." One day Jesus sails to "the other side of the lake." Today this area is part of the Golan Heights. It has was geographically part of Israel, but it was still "the other side of the lake," and everyone on the "right side of the lake" knew it. The other side of the lake was characterized by the impure and ritually unfit. This is a place where pigs graze freely (pigs are disallowed on the right side of the lake), a place abundant with tombs (another turn off) accommodating troglodytes, an odd and insecure place for sure. Add the steep edges of the Bashan plateau dropping close upon the brink of the lake made for a obviously precarious locale for the people from the "right side of the lake." As Jesus and company climb out of the boat at the edge of the shore one of the crazed cave/tomb dwellers went out to check out the visitors from the other side of the lake. When he sees it’s Jesus, he begins shrieking something about Jesus’ being the Son of God and coming to torture him. Jesus speaks to the tormented soul and it is a demon, one of many, possessing the man who answers. It must have been a surreal scene you’ll have to read the story yourself it gets pretty wild.

Something strikes me as even more radical than demons and pigs, it’s Jesus’ seemingly reckless confidence in a person with a genuinely changed life. This recently demon possessed man wants to join the band traveling with Jesus. He wants to be part of the big show now that he has found it. Jesus says, "No." But Jesus hasn’t rejected him, He commissions him. Jesus sends him back to his hometown to represent the Jesus message and ministry. I am thinking somebody should mention this newly exorcized homeless guy from the wrong side of the lake was only moments ago running naked through hills filled out of his freaking mind! He might be really enthusiastic but he doesn’t have a snowballs chance in . . . where the demons were from . . . at getting it right. Today we might with a little coaching put him in front to tell his story, but we would sure as heck slam him into some church basic training before we even think about commissioning him and leaving him as the soul missionary on the other side of the lake! He needs to learn how to live like the people on the right side of the lake! Best I can tell this is the only time Jesus is in this area. No other disciples go with the guy to ride shotgun on his ministry! Strange, that’s not how I would manage this changed life. But Jesus doesn’t seem to share may concern. Jesus seems to have a great confidence in a life that has genuinely experienced His life. He sends him off and gets back in the boat. Jesus seems to have a reckless abandon when it comes to the things I as a church leader seem focused on so often. Aren’t there ways to do it right? Aren’t there some set of rules? Jesus’ reputation and mission in this unclean area on the other side of the lake are at risk. Aren’t they? Is there some clue here to what really matters to Jesus? Jesus could have added one more to His entourage. He could have added another mighty testimony to His already impressive ministry portfolio. Hey its church growth. No. Jesus is not interested in swelling attendance. Jesus simply trusts a changed life to change lives without worrying about much else. Is there is a lesson here for "church management?" You Lord said You would build Your church. Perhaps we have "managed" some of the risk, we have "managed" some of the reckless faith where You work through changed lives right out of the church. Perhaps at times, we on the right side of the lake are trying to control things, manage reputations and systems Jesus never did. Lord build Your church. Help me to trust your work in changed lives to change lives and stop trying to make people like me and those I have wrongly deemed the more faithful on the right side of the lake. Make me more like You, in life and in Your service. Today, show me Your way as I too, am a changed life and witness, clothed and sane from the other side of the lake. Your servant, Art So he went all through the city telling about the great thing Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:35-39 (NLT)