Why should people be or become Christians? More particularly, if you weren't born or married into the faith, why become one now?

The story in today's gospel reading answers those questions, clearly and distinctly. Why should people become Christian--especially if they aren't already? Because Jesus changes lives! He transforms people in ways that no one and nothing else can do. He can do that for you. And, just as importantly, he can do that to others through you!

Jesus changes lives. And all of this is demonstrated in the story of the man whose name was Legion.

Have you ever been approached by an aggressive street person or by someone who is obviously mentally ill? It’s not very comfortable, is it? They’re unpredictable. They don’t operate by the same rules that everyone else does. And, if you’ve spent some time with them, it’s not even clear whether they live in the same world that you do! They notice things, they believe things, they see things that the rest of us simply don’t see.

They’re scary. And all of this--and more--describes the man whose name was Legion. Jesus and his disciples have just left the hustle and bustle that his teachings and miracles have stirred up at home in Galilee. They’ve crossed to the other side of Lake Galilee, landing in a mixed Jewish and pagan community called variously, either Gadara or, as here, Gerasa.

They’re welcomed (if you can call it a welcome!) by a man whose name was Legion. Luke’s gospel says he’s possessed by demons; saying further that, for a long time, he had neither worn clothes nor lived in a house, but lived among the tombs.

Think about that. What does that mean? What are you being told about him? He’s possessed by demons. For a long time, he had neither worn clothes nor lived in a house but stayed among the tombs.

What are you being told? He’s as good as dead! He lives like a dead man! He’s got no clothes. He’s got no home. He lives among the tombs. No one can help him. No one wants to touch or be near him. He’s as good as dead.

With that firmly in mind, what happens next? Rather tamely, our translation says, “When [the man whose name was Legion] saw Jesus he cried out, and fell at his feet.” What the text actually says is that, when the man whose was Legion saw Jesus, he collapsed at Jesus’ feet and began screaming, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you, do not torment me!”

Scared yet? When you understand what’s going on in this story, you should be! Luke is describing a man completely out of touch and out of control. Nothing could hold him. No one could help him. And so, he lived like a dead man in the tombs.

In the midst of the man’s screaming, Jesus is already at work, ordering the demons to leave him alone. “What is your name?” Jesus asks.

The man doesn’t answer! It’s the demons who answer! “Legion,” they reply. (Or, as one translation puts it, “Mob”). Knowing their fate, the demons ask that they not be forced back into the abyss. Jesus obliges, sending them instead into a squealing herd of pigs. (That’s Jewish humor, by the way. Where do demons belong? In unclean meat!) The pigs are then so tormented that they throw themselves into the lake where one and all are subsequently drowned.

As for the man himself? The man whose name used to be Legion sits at Jesus’ feet, clothed, and in his right mind.

Why should you--or anyone else--be or become Christian? Especially if you haven’t been raised a Christian or married one, why start now?

This story shows why! Jesus changes lives. Jesus transforms lives. A man whose life was, literally, a living death--who could not control himself or his own destiny--was returned to his right mind by Jesus.

He was given a new life! Unable to help himself--unable to be helped by anyone else--Jesus changed and transformed his life, returning him to his right mind.

Wouldn’t it seem obvious that, if Jesus can do that for him, he can do that for you, too? But, actually, that’s where things get interesting!

The man who tended the pigs went back into town and told people what had happened. To no one’s surprise, the whole village ventured out to see for themselves what had happened.

When they saw the man whose name had been Legion, seated at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind, do you know what their reaction was?

They weren’t happy. They weren’t excited. They were scared! When eyewitnesses told them what Jesus had done, they begged him to leave.

Jesus has just changed--has just transformed--the life of someone they well knew was as good as dead. And what is their reaction? What is that they now ask Jesus to do for them?

They beg him to leave, which he does. Faced with an opportunity for real change and transformation--presented with eyewitness testimony about what Jesus can do for people--they beg him to leave. And he does.

Why become Christian? Especially if you--or someone you know--has never become Christian, why do so now? Because Jesus changes! Jesus has the power to do what no one and nothing else can: namely, to bring real change and transformation to people’s lives.

Let’s admit it. Those people in the village were right. That’s scary! That’s terrifying!

That means no person or situation is hopeless. It means that no sin or hurt is unforgivable or unpardonable. It means that enemies can stop being enemies and that relationships, minds, bodies, and souls are repairable.

That’s scary. But that’s also the gospel truth.

It’s interesting what happens after the villagers see what has happened to the man whose name had once been Legion and beg Jesus to leave. The man whose name had been Legion asks Jesus if he can stay with him.

Jesus says no. Isn’t that strange? The man whose name had been Legion asks Jesus if he can go with him, and Jesus says no.

Jesus explains. “Go back home,” Jesus says, “and tell [the folks back home] what God has done for you.”

This is what Jesus asks of all of us who have had our lives changed and transformed by him. “Go and tell the folks back home what God has done for you.” We are the witnesses--we are the ways--that show others the change that Jesus brings.

“Why should you--or anyone else--become Christian? Especially if you haven’t been raised a Christian or married one, why start now? Sit down and I’ll tell you what’s happened to me!” ... In Jesus’ name. Amen!