Do you know that demons are real? Some Christians do not believe in their existence but in Jesus' ministry on the earth, He not only lets us know they are real, but that He has all power over them. The apostle Paul writes to us in the book of Ephesians, in chapter six, instructing us to fully suit up in the armor of God because we do not fight with human beings, but rather spiritual forces of darkness.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke share an eyewitness account of Jesus delivering those possessed of devils in today's study. One thing I was not sure about was a small detail Matthew includes, but Mark and Luke leave out. Matthew says two were possessed with devils, but Mark and Luke each only speak of one. Perhaps Matthew is speaking about both because of the impact it made on his own faith journey. Maybe Mark and Luke wrote about the one they felt had a bigger impact in the events that transpired that day. Regardless, we can read and study these stories and see how powerful God is. We can also see that demons are real and they know who Jesus is. Let's jump right in.
This particular miracle takes place on the heels of the disciples watching Jesus calm the storm. Do you remember that? If not, click here, and you can study that miracle.
Matthew 8:28-29 And when He was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Mark 5:1-8 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure Thee by God, that Thou torment me not. For He said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
Luke 8:26-29 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God Most High? I beseech Thee, torment me not. (For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
Isn't this an incredible introduction to this miracle? There was a major storm on one side of the sea where Jesus displays His powerful ability to control nature and then on the other side of the sea another storm is brewing but this time it is inside the demon-possessed man. The disciples are about to encounter the power of God in a way they have never seen before.
It's important to study what is being said about this man. He is no longer in control of his body, his mind, his emotions, or his actions. He is exceeding fierce, according to Matthew's Gospel. This man is in torment day and night. While we are never told what happened to open the door for the enemy to invade his entire being like this, we do know that it had been going on for a long time. Others tried to tame him by putting him in chains and fetters but the forces of evil at work in his body would simply break them into pieces. There was no restraining this man, so instead of wearing clothes and living in a home like the rest of society, he was driven away by the devil into the wilderness and spent his time among the tombs. Imagine if all you ever saw was death, desolation, isolation, and torment day after day? No wonder the man would cry and he would take sharp rocks to cut himself. Perhaps he was hoping they would leave him alone if he gave them a way out?
The first thing the man did was run to Jesus and fall at His feet. The Scriptures say he worshipped Jesus. We know that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. These demons know who Jesus is and they know what He plans to do with them at the end of time. Notice they must get permission from Jesus before doing anything. They beg Him not to torment them. Isn't it interesting that they are tormenting spirits but they do not want to be tormented?
Mark 5:9-10 And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought Him much that He would not send them away out of the country.
Luke 8:30-31 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep.
My study Bible footnote says this, "The deep is a place of confinement for spirits, the place where Satan will be bound during the millennium (Revelation 20:1-3). The demons, who called themselves "Legion," recognized Jesus. They knew that Jesus would command them to come out of the man. They begged Jesus not to send them into the deep, which referred to the "bottomless pit," or "dark abode of the dead."
Jesus asked the unclean spirit to identify itself. The name they gave was Legion because of the amount of unclean spirits that was living in that man. In those days, a Legion was a military term, and in the Roman army it would have been about 5,000 men. Legion means a multitude, so it could be thousands of demons in this case. As we read on, we know the fate of the demons and the swine they joined themselves to and if that number of pigs equals one devil we can estimate about how many demons were in this man.
Matthew 8:30-32 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought Him, saying, If Thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And He said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
Mark 5:11-13 Now there was nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought Him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
Luke 8:32-33 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought Him that He would suffer them to enter into them. And He suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
The Lord allowed the demons to enter the pigs who were grazing nearby. Swine is unclean beasts to the Jews, so maybe that is why Jesus allowed them to overtake the herd. We do not know exactly why they wanted to enter the pigs. What is interesting to me is that pigs know how to swim instinctively. The violent running off the steep cliff into the lake demonstrates the power of evil overtaking the will of the pigs. It is clear that Jesus is showing all those present that when evil forces take over your life it only leads to destruction and death. The miracle is the evidence of God's power over every force of darkness.
Mark 8:33-34 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw Him, they besought Him that He would depart out of their coasts.
Mark 5:14-17 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray Him to depart out of their coasts.
Luke 8:34-37 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 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. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought Him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and He went up into the ship, and returned back again.
The swine are dead and those who were responsible for feeding and caring for them ran back into town to tell the owners what happened. The owners of the swine meet up with Jesus and the man who was possessed with the devil and they want to know what happened. They all know the man from the tombs. They were unable to hold him or control him in any way. Now he sits calmly, fully clothed, and in his right mind beside Jesus. The men are terrified about what has taken place. They do not demand restitution for the loss of their herd. They do ask Jesus what they must do to have the same peace as this once tormented man now has. They decide they do not want to know anymore. They beg Jesus to leave their borders! Can you imagine seeing people so held by fear and disbelief that they kick Jesus out of their country? But the story is not over yet.
Mark 5:18-20 And when He was come into the ship, he that been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Luke 8:34-39 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought Him that he might be with Him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
The young man has his life back. He wants to do something great for God and so he wants to join Jesus on His mission to heal, save, and deliver. Jesus has other plans for him. He tells him to go evangelize in his own hometown. What better example of God's power and mercy than his own testimony? Imagine when he went home to see his mom and dad and he was able to hug them and have a real conversation. The excitement and joy he felt must have been explosive. The Bible tells us that he went to Decapolis and told everyone what Jesus had done and all of them marveled! They were all in awe of the power of God. He went throughout the whole city and no doubt others were changed, encouraged, blessed, and helped by his powerful testimony.
Friends we do not ever go through battles and afflictions for no reason. We also never go through pain and suffering just for our own benefit. Everything we face and overcome gives us a voice and a platform to share with others who may be struggling with the same things. We must go around sharing God's goodness and faithfulness with everyone we meet. Keep this miracle going by passing it on. Tell your story and let others be encouraged and find hope when things may seem bleak.
I have thoroughly enjoyed diving into this incredible miracle of Jesus Christ. I pray that something I shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
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