Daily Devotional For Monday, October 6, 2026
Good morning. We are picking up where we left off from Sunday. We are in Matthew 8 and specifically here is the passage. It is Matthew 8:28-34:
“When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met Him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area. (29) They began screaming at Him, ‘Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?’ (30) There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. (31) So the demons begged, ‘If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.’ (32) ‘All right, go!’ Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. (33) The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. (34) Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged Him to go away and leave them alone” (NLT).
When we read the Bible and the stories that occurred there, it is similar to sitting in the front seat of a huge theater looking at the screen as some epic movie unfolds. I imagine that the disciples were constantly amazed not only at Jesus’ teaching, but the miracles He did. They had just come off the calming of a violent storm at night by Jesus on the Sea of Galilee to be confronted with 2 violent demon-possessed men. This had to terrify them being caught off guard as they were with the storm on the sea.
The scriptures show us that those who are demon-possessed often exhibit self-destructive behavior and super human strength. New Testament scholar Robert Lightner describes it this way:
“One is demon-possessed when a demon (or demons) takes up residence in that person’s body, resulting in degrees of derangement and the inability of the possessed to free himself or herself from demonic control.… Possession occurs when the demons go beyond exerting influence and actually indwell their victims.” (Source: Robert Lightner, Angels, Demons and Satan, quoted in Swindoll’s Leadership Library, pp. 160-161).
Mark’s Gospel tells they could not be subdued or restrained and were harming themselves (Mark 5:4-5). Luke’s Gospel tells us they were living like savage animals (Luke 8:27) and Matthew’s Gospel tells us they were so violent, no one could pass by that way (Matthew 8:28). Demons love to distort the image of God in us and these 2 people encounter the very God who could and would restore that image.
We read from Mark 5:9 that Jesus asked them their name and one said, “Legion, for we are many.” The demons asked Jesus, “What do you want with us?” Mark 5:7 says this, “With a shriek, he screamed, ‘Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!’” (NLT). Luke records this in Luke 8:28, “As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of Him. Then he screamed, ‘Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg You, don’t torture me!’” (NLT). They wanted Jesus to leave them alone because they had nothing in common with each other. How truthful they were in this situation. Jesus came to heal and give life. They were there to kill and to destroy life. What is amazing to me is how easily demons recognized who Jesus was and how people in that day did not. They wonder if Jesus had moved the appointed time or timetable up to torture them (see Revelation 20:10).
Here is what stands out to me in this story: First, the demons know who Jesus is and His authority over them . Second, the demons knew their ultimate judgment and destination. Third, the number of demons possessing these men was huge. When Jesus asked their name, they said, “Legion.” A legion was a battalion of soldiers in Rome. One legion was 6,000 troops. These men were not only possessed, but they were infested. Fourth, with just one word, Jesus ordered them to leave. Jesus said, “Go” and they immediately did.
It is interesting that everything begins with uncleanness and then centers on animals that were considered unclean – pigs or swine. The Old Testament Law prohibited Jews owning or eating pigs (Leviticus 11:7-8). Unclean demons entered unclean animals and the result was all the pigs ran over a cliff into a lake and drowned. Why did the demons request permission to enter the pigs? The Bible does not tell us. Maybe it was because they were attempting to delay their own destruction or maybe it is because they prefer inhabiting a body, even if it's an animal body. I think Jesus allowed the demons to enter the pigs to show how destructive, deadly and evil the devil and his demons are.
Some people believe we do not see demon possession today as in Jesus’ day. I have never seen it, but maybe the reason it was more visible and pronounced in Jesus’ day is that the devil and his demons wanted to do anything and everything they could to thwart and stop the life and work of Jesus. When 2,000 pigs (Mark 5:13) washed ashore, the towns’ people fearfully asked Jesus to leave. Maybe they were afraid of what Jesus might do to them. To the owner of these pigs and the towns’ people, this was a huge economic loss. They preferred money rather than the Master. They preferred their sin rather than salvation. They preferred 2 demon possessed men rather than 2 demon-freed men. Jesus honored their request to leave. How sad for them to reject the Messiah and Savior of the world.
Assignment: Who is it you consider to be “unclean” or “undesirable?” Do you ever choose money over our Master? Do you ever let circumstances or other things or people keep you from the Lord? Who do you know that has told Jesus to leave them alone? What could you do to help them see Jesus for who He really is? Have you ever experienced evil and the demonic? If so, how did you respond to it?
Scripture To Meditate On: 1 John 4:4, “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I do not want to take evil and the demonic lightly. I want my understanding to come from Your Word and my You to be my defender against evil and the demonic. I know who You are and I thank You that evil and the demonic will submit to You. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly