An Extreme Makeover

There is a television show called, "Extreme Makeover." Have you ever seen it? "Extreme Makeover" is a show about people who are not happy with the way they look. The TV show gives people an “extreme makeover” and promises they will look better and will feel better about themselves when they’re done. (Hold up before-and-after photos.) We also see extreme makeovers on houses, in rooms that were once dirty and are now super clean, and sometimes even in our cars when they get a wash. Can you think of other places where we see “extreme makeovers?” (Pause for responses.) 

There are many examples in the Bible of Jesus performing extreme makeovers. The big difference is that Jesus wasn't concerned about changing what a person looked like; He was concerned about what was on the inside. When Jesus did an extreme makeover, it was from the inside out. Our Bible lesson today is about one of the people who received an extreme makeover from Jesus.

Jesus and His disciples sailed across the lake from Galilee. When they reached the shore and stepped out of the boat, they were met by a man who was possessed by demons. For many years he had been homeless and naked and lived in a cemetery outside of town. As soon as he saw Jesus, he fell down before Him and cried, "I beg you, don't torture me!" He said that because Jesus had already commanded the demons to come out of him and he was completely under the control of the demons.

There happened to be a herd of pigs nearby. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and He gave them permission. When the demons went out of the man and into the pigs, the entire herd of pigs ran off down the side of the hill into the lake and drowned. Those who were tending the herd of pigs saw what happened and went into town to tell everyone what they had seen. The people of the town went out to see for themselves and they found the man who had been possessed by the demons sitting at the feet of Jesus. He was fully dressed and no longer possessed by the evil spirits. The man's extreme makeover was complete.

Jesus is still performing extreme makeovers today. If we put our trust in Jesus and invite Him into our heart, He will do an extreme makeover in our life. The Bible says, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) That is an extreme makeover!

Dear Father, we thank You for the new life we have in Jesus. Amen.