The Man Among the Tombs
"Describe how much God has done for you"
This story talks about evil spirits and a man who suffered for a long time.
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
Across the lake from Galilee, a man controlled by many demons lived among the tombs, and no chains could hold him. When Jesus asked his name, he said "Legion," and Jesus sent the demons out of him and into a herd of pigs, which rushed into the lake. The townspeople found the man sitting at Jesus's feet, dressed and in his right mind, and were afraid, so Jesus left, but first he sent the man home to tell how much God had done for him.
Where it is in the Bible: Luke 8:26-39
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God.
- A man with demons: A man from the town, controlled by many evil spirits. He lives among the tombs.
- The disciples: Jesus's closest followers, who crossed the lake with him.
- The people of the region: Mostly not Jewish. Some of them keep pigs.
Setting
- The region of the Gerasenes, on the east side of the Sea of Galilee.
When
- About 2,000 years ago, during Jesus's work in Galilee.
Before the Story
Jesus had just calmed a storm. The disciples asked, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!" (8:25).
They landed across the lake. It was an area where many people were not Jewish.
Here's what you know: The wind and waves obeyed Jesus. Now he will meet something even more frightening than a storm.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A man among the tombs | 8:26-29 | A man with demons meets Jesus |
| 2. "Legion" | 8:30-33 | Jesus sends the demons out |
| 3. Clothed and in his right mind | 8:34-37 | The town comes out and is afraid |
| 4. "Return home" | 8:38-39 | Jesus sends the man to tell his story |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 4A Man Among the Tombs
Jesus and his disciples sailed across the lake. When Jesus stepped onto the shore, a man from the town came to meet him.
The man had demons. Demons are evil spirits.
For a long time he had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house. He lived among the tombs, where the dead were buried.
People had tried to chain him, but he broke the chains.
When he saw Jesus, he fell down and shouted, "What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!" (8:28).
The demons knew who Jesus was.
Scene 2 of 4"Legion"
"What is your name?" Jesus asked (8:30).
"Legion," he replied (8:30). A legion was a group of thousands of Roman soldiers. Many demons had gone into him.
The demons begged Jesus not to send them into the Abyss, a place of punishment.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside. The demons begged to go into the pigs. Jesus let them.
The demons came out of the man and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
Scene 3 of 4Clothed and in His Right Mind
The men tending the pigs ran to the town and told everyone.
People came out to see. They found the man sitting at Jesus's feet, dressed, and in his right mind.
"And they were afraid" (8:35).
They asked Jesus to leave. So Jesus got back into the boat.
Scene 4 of 4"Return Home"
The man begged to go with Jesus.
But Jesus sent him home. "Return home and describe how much God has done for you" (8:39).
So the man went all over the town telling how much Jesus had done for him.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "He stayed in the tombs" (8:27) | He was cut off from everyone, living among the dead. |
| "Son of the Most High God" (8:28) | The demons knew who Jesus was, and were afraid. |
| "Legion" (8:30) | He was controlled by many evil spirits. |
| "Sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind" (8:35) | Jesus gave the man his life back. |
| "They were afraid" (8:35) | Jesus's power scared the townspeople more than the man had. |
| "Describe how much God has done for you" (8:39) | Jesus made the man the first messenger to his people. |
Back Then
Jewish people didn't keep pigs. God's law called pigs unclean (Leviticus 11:7). A pig farm tells us this was mostly non-Jewish land.
Tombs were often caves cut into hillsides. Someone could take shelter in one.
Mark and Matthew tell this story too (Mark 5:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34). Mark says the man went through a whole region of ten towns telling his story.
Literal Reader Alert
Is mental illness the same as having a demon? No. Mental illness is a sickness, like other sicknesses. Doctors and counselors can help, and getting help is good. The Bible describes evil spirits as something different.
Why did Jesus let the pigs die? The Bible doesn't fully say. The pigs showed everyone that the demons were really gone. And it showed how much one man was worth to Jesus.
Why didn't Jesus let the man come with him? Jesus gave him a job. He was sent home to tell his own people. Jesus doesn't just rescue people. He gives them a purpose.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The man | Tormented | He lived alone among the tombs (8:27) |
| The demons | Terrified | They begged Jesus not to send them away (8:31) |
| The townspeople | Afraid | They saw the man healed (8:35) |
| The man | Grateful | He begged to go with Jesus (8:38) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What part of this story speaks to you? Tap one.
Feeling trapped
The man was trapped for years. Jesus set him free.
Feeling alone
He lived among the tombs. Jesus crossed a lake to meet him.
I want to tell someone
"Return home and tell how much God has done for you." You can too.
It's scary
Jesus is stronger than every evil. You don't have to be afraid.
You Might Have Heard
"Some people are too far gone to be helped."
What's true: Some people are in very dark places.
What the story is mainly about: This man was cut off from everyone. No chains could hold him. Jesus crossed a lake to reach him, set him free, and sent him home with a story to tell.
Where Jesus is: On a lonely shore, among the tombs, giving a man his life back.
Good News
No one could help this man. Jesus could.
"Return home and describe how much God has done for you" (8:39).
Jesus is stronger than every evil power. He seeks out people who are alone and in darkness. He sets them free.
Jesus crossed a lake to set one man free. He is stronger than every evil, and he gives people their lives back.
Big Idea
Jesus set a man free from many evil spirits, gave him his life back, and sent him home to tell how much God had done for him.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther's hymn "A Mighty Fortress" says the devil is strong, but "one little word can fell him." Luther taught that Christ has already won the battle.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year C, it reads Luke 8:26-39 in June (Lectionary 12).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Return home and describe how much God has done for you.
How did that feel?
You finished The Man Among the Tombs.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Lectionary 12 Year CGospel, Luke 8:26–39
For a newsletter or sermon notes
The Man Among the Tombs, explained in plain words. A man no chains could hold lives among the tombs. Jesus sets him free. About 8 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/the-man-among-the-tombs/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church