28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!”
Some of the greatest understanding of the work and person of Jesus comes from the mouths of non-followers. Here a demon possessed man is confronted with Jesus and the demon is overcome with terror. He thinks Judgment Day has come. He knows who Jesus is and the attendant authority that is present because He is God. He knows his role in connection to demons, that Jesus is their ultimate judge. And for the demon, these things are true. But for the man possessed, Jesus is also his Savior and deliverer. So Jesus acts on behalf of the man and delivers the demon to a future day of judgment. You can hear the shriek in his voice, the desperation coming out in his begging. The demon knows something is happening and puts fear in the man. But the man discovers that fear is not the appropriate response when Jesus enters your space. Jesus wants to bring restoration and wholeness, not judgment and torture. Demons get the latter on that final judgment day. We get to enjoy the former. And yet so many of us do not enjoy the restoration and wholeness that Jesus desires to bring into our lives. We hold onto our sin and sickness of soul thinking that they have some value to offer us. Our pride prevents us from acknowledging just how much of a mess we have made of our existence. We limp along in life unwilling to see the consistent scuffing of our dragged shoe. When someone points out the scuffing, we just say we like it that way and point out their faults in an effort to deflect the attention away from our sin. We are just like this man, afraid of something that is meant for someone else. Jesus wants to bring restoration and peace to your life today. Will you let Him?
The Arnold Journey 