Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on the Savior’s might applied over the healing of two demoniacs. We are still in the stage where the Son of man, the Lord Jesus whose word and three miracles reveal authority and power. Indeed, it was he who set the conditions for those who wanted to follow him as disciples.
Already, the large crowds attracted by his teaching and his miracles have noted that the forces of nature, demons and diseases are subject to him. Thus, having reached the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, the Lord Jesus meets two dangerous demoniacs who recognize him for the Son of God and ask him if he came to torment them before time. So they beg him to send them into a herd of pigs which were grazing some distance from there. Jesus having told them to go, the whole flock rushes into the sea and perishes there.
Let’s note that these two unfortunates, whose illness, whatever the cause, stood in caves dug on the side of a mountain, and where the dead were buried. They went out when the sight of some passer-by aroused their fury. Hence the danger which made this path avoid. And they are called demonic, that is, they were under the influence of mysterious beings called spirits or demons. We read this in Matthew 8.16 and Luke 9.37. But those who grazed this herd fled to the city and told the locals what had just happened. They went out and prayed to the Lord Jesus to move away from their country.
Therefore, we note that the New Testament reported facts of perfect reality, because:
First, the Lord Jesus publicly declares that he “casts out demons by the Spirit of God.” (Matthew 12.28; Luke 11.20). Then, he solemnly gave his disciples the order and the power to drive out unclean spirits. (Matthew 10.1,8; Mark 3.15). He even explains to them why they couldn’t do it for a certain case. (Matthew 17.21; Mark 9.29). Finally, he teaches them about the action of such an impure spirit. (Matthew 12.43; Luke 11.24). And when the demons are submitted to the disciples, he sees satan, their leader, precipitated from his power. (Luke 10.17,18). So the power of the Savior came to break the power of darkness, as evidenced by the last two passages below: Luke 10.18 and more 1 John 3.8.
Already we have just introduced the passage of the day taken from Matthew 8.28-34: “ When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.”
We can understand from this poignant tale that the man fallen under the power of Satan, and driven out of the presence of the Lord (Genesis 4), built himself a city. And this city represents the figure of the world with all its amenities, and seems to provide it with everything it needs to make bearable the presence of satan and the consequences of sin. But when God presents himself in grace to deliver him, man begs him to withdraw, like the Gadarenes. Is this not what the cry heard: “Take away, take away, crucify him”, and: “We do not want this one to reign over us”? Also, since the rejection of Christ, what characterizes the world – and not only the Jews – is that satan, who was preferred to Christ, has unfortunately become the head. But the Lord God does not stop offering his grace to everyone; He displays his great patience towards all men; He begs them to be reconciled to Him, to avoid the coming wrath. Thus, the people of the world will experience a frightening situation on the day of judgment! May all souls who might not yet be saved accept without delay the grace offered to them today, so that they can wait from heaven for the Lord Jesus who delivers us from the coming wrath!
So it’s a sad picture, what happened when the Lord appeared to deliver man from the power of the devil! Because man preferred the bondage of satan to the presence of God in grace, and this is what caused his ruin for Israel; for like the pigs who perished in the waters, under the influence of the demons, the Jews were driven from their territory and swallowed up in the sea of peoples, until they recognized the one they rejected. And their power has emerged.
The various verses below have been compiled for your edification on our important theme.
I. Demoniacs are delivered
- Demoniacs, men possessed by evil spirits: Mat 8.32 “He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.”
Mat 9.32 “While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.” Mark 1.23 “Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,” Luke 8.2“ and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;” Acts 5.16 “Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.”
- The might of Christ
– it saves: Isa 63.1 “Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.”
it forgives : Matt 9.6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
-It is infinite: Mat 28.18 “ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
-over nature: Luke 8.25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
-Christ rejected: Mat 8.34 “Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. Then the whole city went out to meet Jesus; and, as soon as they saw him, they begged him to leave their territory. ”; Mat 21.42 “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”; John 1.11 “ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”
-Unity of evil: Acts 17.6 “But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here,”; Rev 17.13 “ They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.”
-Testimonial: Psa 119.172 “ May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.”; Psa 145.11 “They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,”; Mat 10.20 “ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”; Luke 21.13 “And so you will bear testimony to me.”
-Examples of spiritual blindness: Isa 59.10 “Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead.”; Mat 6.23 “but if your eye is in bad shape, your whole body will be in darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great will this darkness be!”; 2 Cor 4.4 “ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”; 1 John 2.11 “ But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”
II. The recognized deity
– Divinity of Christ: Mat 8.29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”; Mark 1.24“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”; Luke 4.41 “Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.”
-satan humiliated: Luke 10.18 “ He replied, “I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven.”; Rev 12.9 “And he was cast down, the great dragon, the ancient serpent, called the devil and satan, he who deceives the whole earth, he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.”; Rev 20.3 “He threw him into the abyss, closed and sealed the entrance above him, so that he would no longer deceive the nations, until the thousand years were finished. After that, he has to be untied for a little while. ”
– Losing reason : Mat 8.28 “ When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.”; Mat 17.15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.”
– Evil spirits: Mat 12.45 “ Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”; Luke 10.19 “ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”; James 2.19 “ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”
-Destiny of the unclean spirits: Mat 8.29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”; 2 Peter 2.4 “ For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;”
– Punishments for sin: Exo 33.3 “Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”; Jos 7.11 “ Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.”; Psa 66.18 “ If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;” Isa 59.2 “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
From all of the above we note that the Lord Jesus publicly declares that he “casts out demons by the Spirit of God.” Then, he solemnly gives his disciples the order and the power to drive out the unclean spirits, then he explains to them why they could not do it for a certain case. And when the demons are submitted to the disciples, he sees their leader satan precipitated from his power. Our prayers are with you all in your efforts to walk in the Savior’s steps.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on the theme “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord Almighty.