SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS
“Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.” Luke 8:35
The man we find “sitting at the feet of Jesus” was one of the most demonically controlled cases of the New Testament. According to the Word of God, he wore no clothes, lived in the tombs, and could not be bound with chains and fetters. Many devils possessed him. Jesus brought freedom to the enslaved man, driving the devils from him. When the people of the city came to see what was done to the man, they found him “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.” What a difference Jesus makes!
There are several important lessons that can be drawn from our text. We see, first of all, the transformation that occurs at conversion. Everyone’s testimony of salvation will not be identical, and obviously, few will be as dramatic and noticeable as this one. However, regardless of the age or background of the new convert, he will be made a new creature in Christ. This uncontrollable man was sitting peaceably at Jesus’ feet. An immoral man who could not be kept clothed was properly attired. One who was tormented and demented in his thinking was now “in his right mind.” Salvation changes a person. It changes his values, his conduct, and his thinking. People who are saved act differently because they think differently.
This man not only demonstrates the fruit of conversion; he also illustrates the position of discipleship. When a person is saved, he will want to be near Jesus and he will desire to learn of Him. When a person who claims salvation has no interest in spiritual things, his testimony is suspect. We see no evidence in the text that this man was taught the importance of being near Jesus or learning from Him. Rather, it was the natural response of a gratefully redeemed man. As the children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, our lives will be spent sitting at His feet.
Finally, this man models for us the place of security and stability. A Christian is strongest and safest when he stays close to the Lord and continues to grow in His grace. When a child of God does not take the time to love and worship the Lord, and learn the doctrines of His grace, he will be more vulnerable to Satan’s snares.