Daily Devotional For Sunday, January 28, 2024

Today, we come to the fifth miracle Jesus did after arriving in Matthew 8. Read the following in Matthew 8:28-34, “And when He (Jesus) came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met Him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. (29) And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (30) Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. (31) And the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” (32) And He said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. (33) The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. (34) And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region” (ESV).

Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior for the world. Yet, in giving us this story about Jesus, Jesus cannot be all of these if He did not have power over the supernatural, the devil and his demons. Here Matthew shows us that Jesus has not only power over demons and the devil, but He also has power over anything emotional, psychological and mental. In Luke 9:1, we read this: “And He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases” (ESV). It seems they were very successful with everything except casting out demons. They found this to be very challenging and difficult. 

In Matthew 17, when Jesus disciples could not cast a demon out of a young boy, the father brought his son to Jesus. Look at Matthew 17:16 19-20, “And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not heal him . . . (19) Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” (20) He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”” (ESV).

It is amazing that when you are doing great things for God and giving God all the credit, there are people who get jealous of you for all kinds of reasons and their jealousy breeds suspicion and innuendo. This happened with Jesus in Luke 11. After Jesus had cast out a demon, His enemies said this about Him in Luke 11:15, “But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons . . .” (ESV).

There is a strange story in Acts 19 where the Apostle Paul cast out demons, and some Jewish charlatans attempted to do so using Jesus’ name. Look what happened in Acts 19:13-16, “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” (14) Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. (15) But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (16) And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” (ESV). Its’ like the old saying, “You play with fire, you will get burned.” 

In our passage today, they arrived by boat to the country of the Gadarenes. It was also called Garasenes (see Mark 5:1 & Luke 8:26). What do we know about this place or town? The town, called Gedera, was a small town of 10 towns (I.e., the region was called The Decapolis). It was south and inland. These two towns, Gerasa and Gadara, was in a region called “the region of of the Gaderenes” just south of the River Jabot (see map below).

These demon-possessed men are described as [δαιμονίζομαi, daimonizomai], a Greek New Testament word that unfortunately does not let us know the degree of their  possession. Were they obsessed, oppressed or possessed by demons. Traditionally, to be demon-possessed meant you were under the control of 1 or more demons either mentally, spiritually, physically or emotionally. In the spiritual world, these demons advocate cults, psychologically, immorality and even murder (see Rev. 9:20–21; 18:23–24). In the area of intellectual and psychological areas, these demons promote false doctrines, insanity, masochism, self emasculation (see Mark 5:5) and the inability to speak (see Mark 9:17-22).

The good news is that nowhere in the Bible does God or Jesus ever blame people for being demon-possessed. As in our story today, sometimes demons can take over a person’s voice and personality (See Mark 5:9). We are told these two demon-possessed men lived among the tombs and graves on the hillside or cliffs. In those days, if Jews touched a dead body, it was considered the greatest ceremonial defilement. Therefore, these men might be Jews. Living in a cemetery only adds to these two men’s humiliation and torment. When we go Mark 6:4-5 and Luke 8:27-29, we learn that at least one of these men was naked and he had super human strength. He also cut himself with stones. 

As the Gospels show, demons have to submit to Jesus. They ran up to Jesus asking, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (Vs. 29). Notice these demons acknowledge whose Presence they are in at that moment — God. We are also told this in Mark 5:6, “And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before Him” (ESV). Interestingly, the Greek New Testament word Mark uses for “fell down” is [προσκυνέω, proskuneo] means “to worship.” 

Satan and his demons hate Jesus, but in His presence, they express worship, awe, and respect. One day, all of us will witness all of the hosts of hell doing this. Read Philippians 2:10, “So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (ESV). They know they are in God’s Presence by their question to Jesus in verse 29 “. . . Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (ESV). This question revealed they knew their days are numbered. Another interesting point is it seems the demons knew more about Jesus, His ministry and divine plan of salvation than Jesus’ own disciples did. 

Seeing they are trapped, they ask Jesus for a a way out. Their request is odd and strange at best. Since demons would not know God’s timetable to wrap up everyone, which included casting the devil and his demons into hell, it is possible they thought that time had already arrived. They asked Jesus to cast them into a herd of pigs near the cliffs. Pigs or swine were considered the most unclean animals in Jesus day.

Why make this request of Jesus is anyone’s guess. Maybe: (1) Thought that inhabiting the pigs and destroying them, the pig’s owners would turn against Jesus and the Gospel. (2) It is possible they thought these owners would kill Jesus as retribution for their financial loss. After entering the pigs at Jesus’ command, the whole herd of pigs went over the cliff. We don’t know if this is due to the shock of being possessed by demons or the demons took control of the pigs and caused them to do this. 

Demons are extremely powerful beings in Scripture (see 2 Kings 19:35; Ps. 103:20; 2 Peter. 2:11). We read in the Book of Daniel how a demon had delayed the prophet Daniel for 3 weeks and it took God sending the archangel Michael to end this delay (see Daniel 10:13). This is why the Apostle Paul warns us that we cannot withstand demonic attack apart from wearing God’s Spiritual Armor. (read Ephesians 6:16). 

As a result of the demons being here since the beginning, not only do they have super strength, they have superior intelligence (read Ezek. 28:3–4). This means they not only know about God’s nature, they know our nature and propensity to sin as well. So, why did Jesus allow the demons to enter the pigs and drown? We do not know but here are several possibilities: (1) First, the pigs were set to slaughter. They were going to die. (2) The text seems to imply these were Jews who owned these pigs, something strictly prohibited in the the Old Testament Law. (3) The lives of 2 men were more important to Jesus than these pigs. 

Matthew makes it clear that Jesus had authority over everything on this planet: leprosy, sickness, nature, and the supernatural — demons. Luke’s Gospel tell us that when the town’s people came out to meet Jesus and His disciples, they found the one man who was originally demon-possessed and naked, clothed and in his right mind (read Luke 8:35). The whole town also came to meet Jesus, but they asked Jesus to leave. Why? We are not told. There is nothing in the text to suggest it was due to the death and financial loss of the pigs. That is the easy conclusion many make. In all 3 Gospels that record this story, the owners are never mentioned. Why? They are not important to the story or to understanding what happened and why.

What seems to be implied here is not anger or resentment by the townspeople asking Jesus and His disciples to leave, but fear. The demons were fearful. The point is: when sinful people encounter God, they are scared. This was Isaiah’ response in the Temple worship when God showed up one day. Isaiah 6:1, 5, “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train[a] of his robe filled the temple . . . (5) And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (ESV).

When Jesus caused Peter’s boat to be filled with so much fish that it was about to sink — remember — they had been out all night fishing and had caught nothing. Peter ran up to Jesus and said this in Luke 5:8, “But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (ESV). Here these people in Gerasa, encountered the Messiah, the Christ, God in human flesh, and they rejected Him out of fear after knowing all that He had done.

John MacArthur says this is the first recorded opposition to Jesus record in the Gospels (John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, “Matthew,” p. 46). John MacArthur writes this:

“The people did not ridicule or persecute Jesus; they simply asked Him to leave them alone. Perhaps they resented His righteousness exposing their sin, His power exposing their weakness, or His compassion exposing their hardness of heart. Perhaps they could not tolerate Jesus because of His perfection. But unlike the scribes and Pharisees, these people showed no interest at all in who Jesus was or in His teaching or work. They seemed totally indifferent to His person and ministry. They did not care if He was the Messiah. They did not seem to care whether His powers were good or whether He was from God. They did not care anything about Him, except that He would go away. Their rejection of Jesus was in the form of great indifference, the same indifference to God shown by most men throughout history—the indifference that wants to let God alone and to be left alone by God. The Lord was an intrusion with whom they did not want to be bothered” (p. 46).

The good news is: this once demon-possessed and naked man now healed by Jesus asked to be allowed to go with Jesus and His disciples. Look at Mark 5:18-19, “As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged Him that he might be with Him. (19) And He did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”” (ESV). Once demon-possessed, not divinely inspired. Once evil, now an evangelist to the very people who had asked Jesus to leave. Once mad, now a missionary. 

I love what Chuck Swindoll reminds us to never forget on this passage (Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, “Matthew,” p. 164).

1. First, expect struggles with unseen forces. Ephesians 6:10–12 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.… For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Beyond the world of our five senses, an unseen world exists, where spirits of wickedness are strategizing under the direction of satan. As children of God and servants of Christ, we are engaged in battles against evil whether we know it or not. It’s important for us to realize that our primary enemies are not in the realm of what we can touch, see, and hear. Rather, our primary enemies are those who stand behind the forces of temptation, deception, persecution, immorality, and injustice.
2. Second, stand firm in the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:11–13 says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.… Take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Wear the equipment God gives you with confidence. Acknowledge that the power and resources you have in your own strength could not enable you to do battle against demons and their schemes. Without God’s provision, you will fail. His armor includes truth, righteousness, the good news of peace, faith, the gift of salvation, and the word of God (Eph. 6:14–17).
3. Third, hold up the shield of faith and pray in the Spirit. Ephesians 6:16–18 says, “In addition to all, [take] up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.… With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit.” When you feel attacked and are in the presence of a great temptation, deception, or affliction that satan is using to torment you, stand strong in faith and pray. Ask the Lord God to take control of the situation and send the forces of wickedness fleeing with a single word.
4. Fourth, never forget that you’re on the winning side. In the end, God will win the victory. Revelation 20:10 is worth memorizing: “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” In the meantime, remember that we can have victory over the spirits of wickedness and the schemes of the devil because of the power of the Holy Spirit within us, as 1 John 4:4 says: “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

Questions to consider:

1. What scares you about Jesus and your relationship to Him?
2. When it comes to your own spiritual relationship to Christ, are people and God’s purpose more important to you than position, power, possessions, and prestige? What is the proof of that? How would the most godly people who abiding in Christ answer this question about you and why?
3. Since Jesus has healed you spiritually, do you go to the people around you as His evangelist and missionary? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are people’s main rejection of Jesus, especially those, who know who Jesus is? Why?
5. Is there anything that obsesses you or takes control over you that makes you an ineffective Christian? Such as fear, control, anger, lust, greed, resentment, bitterness, money, a desire for security, another person, self-centeredness, dishonesty to yourself about yourself, the desire for power and position? Be honest. If you are unsure, ask a committed, godly Christian who is abiding in Christ, who knows you as the back of their hand, to tell you.
6. Are there times or situations in your life you would just prefer Jesus did not show up or you could ask Him to leave? If so, what are they? What happens when you do?
7. How do you handle struggles with unforeseen enemies?
8. Do you daily put on the full armor of God? Why or why not?
9. How do you perceive that you should hold up the shield of faith and pray in the Spirit?
10. How often do you remind yourself that you are on the winning side? What difference does this make?

Scripture to Meditate On: Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (ESV).

Prayer to Pray: “Dear Jesus, I need to have a respectful fear of You so that I put people and Your Purpose as a priority in my life. Jesus, I need a fearful faith in You so that I always “ . . . seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” rather than my own agenda. God, I want Your agenda to be my agenda. Forgive me Jesus when I get more enamored with myself and my agenda than with what You are doing, where You are going and what You want from my life. I commit to You to trust You no matter where You lead me, knowing that sharing the Gospel, will be a big part of it. You want to set people free from sin, themselves and give them life abundantly in Christ and a home in heaven. Jesus, I commit to join You in this. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”