No One is Beyond the Redemptive Reach of Jesus

My wife and I were inspired by many scenes from the Sight & Sound Theater https:www.sight-sound.com production of Jesus in Lancaster, PA in summer 2018.  However, the scene I most remember was Jesus' encounter with the Demoniac covered in Luke 8:26-39.  This occurred right after Jesus demonstrated his authority over the potentially destructive effects of the nature, calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  In the production he and the disciples were sailing through a dismal fog when they approach the shore of the Geresenes.  The story of this troubled man was remarkably displayed on stage and his pain and suffering were obvious.  Jesus is not at all intimidated by the man, his condition, or by the demons that possessed him.  By the end of the story he's entirely transformed by Jesus' redemptive work, such that he was found to be clothed and in his right mind.  Although the man begs Jesus to leave with him and his disciples on the boat, Jesus instead commands him to return home and tell his family what God had done for him.  How would I have reacted to the demoniac in this story?  How do I react to people I come into contact with who are not entirely well mentally?  Answer: not well.  This story reminds us to put before Jesus the very people who we would rule out as being beyond the reach of anyone's help, and not just those with mental illness.  But that is not the case with Jesus.  There's no situation that's daunting to him.  So let's take that most troubled person we can think of, or that person who's in a situation that appears to be the most hopeless, and place them in the hands of Jesus to seek healing for them.     

There's a sad subplot to this story involving the residents of this community.  They were so troubled by the upset caused by the healing of this troubled man that they asked Jesus to leave!  So the Savior, who heals and restores the most troubled person in their little village upsets them so much that they ask him to leave.  They are so used to the troubled condition of this man, so resigned to the permanency of his condition, so stuck in their own ongoing lack of compassion and faith that he could be healed that their little world is tipped upside down and they can't take the healing Jesus brought.  My hope is that we would never be satisfied with the things that are plainly out of kilter.  Sadly, apart from the hope we have in Jesus we become far too apathetic.  So let's remember to place our hope in the redemptive hands of Jesus.