Jesus has authority over evil spirits

1. Story:

• Tell the story of Jesus casting out the legion of demons from Luke 8:26-39.
• Remember what we learnt last week? Jesus and his disciples were in a boat on the lake when there was a sudden large thunderstorm!
• After Jesus calmed the storm, the boat reached the other side of the lake to the country of Gerasenes. (Get them to try to pronounce word)
• When they went on shore, suddenly, a demon-possessed man came running up to them.
• This man was under the power of an evil spirit. The evil spirit would attack him and make him do things he didn’t want to do. He was naked! He was dirty.
• Even though the man was chained up on his hands and feet, with someone always watching him, the evil spirit would cause him to break the chains and go stay in the tombs — where dead people are placed.
• Jesus commanded the evil spirit to leave the man.
• The evil spirits recognised who Jesus was. They were afraid because they knew this was someone who had authority over them.
• The man fell down before Jesus and cried out loudly, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!”
• Jesus asked, “What is your name?”
• The evil spirit answered, “Legion”, which meant many demons.
• The evil spirits begged Jesus not to send them to the bottomless pit but into a herd of pigs nearby.
• Jesus permitted them. The evil spirits went out of the man and entered the pigs, who ran violently off the cliff, into the lake, and drowned.
• That must have been quite a scary sight — so many pigs just running off a cliff. Can you imagine how much torture the man was under by these spirits?
• Those who saw what happened went to tell other people.
• When they returned, this man was sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. What a transformation!
• They were afraid and asked Jesus to leave.
• The man who was delivered from the evil spirits wanted to follow Jesus. But Jesus told him to: “Return to your own house and tell what great things God has done for you.”
• And the man went to tell the whole city what Jesus has done for him.

Under power of evil spirits	Under power of Jesus
Naked	Clothed
Attacked and tormented	In right mind
Stayed in solitary places/tombs	Returned to the city to tell what Jesus has done for him

2. Lesson:

• So far, we’ve learnt that Jesus has authority over sickness, over death, over nature … and over evil spirits.
• The evil spirits knew Jesus was the Son of God, and they are afraid of Him!
• Because we have Jesus in us, we don’t have to afraid of any evil spirits or ghosts or anything scary. We can command them to leave in Jesus’ name.
• And today, you and I have the Holy Spirit in us. We are under the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us to do the right thing. The Holy Spirit clothes us in righteousness. The Holy Spirit gives us the mind of Christ. So we can all go and tell everyone what Jesus has done for us!
• Let’s pray: Thank you Jesus that at Your name, demons and evil spirits will run away. I do not have to fear them. And I thank You that Your Holy Spirit lives in me forever. In Your name, I pray Amen.

3. Activity ideas:

• Craft: Origami pigs with text “Jesus has power over evil spirits”
• Poster: "Jesus has power over evil spirits"

*****

Youth Bible Study

Jesus' Miracle: Jesus has authority over the demons

Leader's Guide

Read Luke 8:26-39

1.       Last week, where was Jesus and his disciples?

In a boat, crossing the Lake of Galilee.

2.       Who did Jesus meet when He reached the other side?

A demon-possessed man from the town.

3.       Describe this person’s appearance and condition.

Naked. Chained hand and foot. Lived in tombs.

4.       What was controlling this man?

Many demons — Legion.

5.       Where did these beg Jesus to send them into?

A large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside.

6.       What does what happened next tell you about the torment the man was put under?

The pigs rushed down the steep bank and drowned in the lake. The man was under a lot of oppressive powers that caused him great harm and could lead to his death.

7.       The man was delivered, but interestingly, the people’s reaction was fear and they asked Jesus to leave. But what did the man want to do? And what did Jesus tell him to do?

The man begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus tells him to return home and tell how much God has done for him. So the man told the whole town about what Jesus has done for him.

8.       State the difference in the man before and after Jesus delivered him.

Under power of evil spirits	Under power of Jesus
Naked	Clothed
Attacked and tormented	In right mind
Stayed in solitary places/tombs	Returned to the city to tell what Jesus has done for him

  

9.       The evil spirits/demons were afraid of Jesus. They recognised that He had power over them. Do we need to fear the demons?

No. We have Jesus in us, and the demons will also be afraid of us. We can command them to leave in Jesus’ name.