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The Miracles of Jesus Lesson 14: Healing the Gadarene Demoniac Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39. The gospel accounts agree that Jesus came in a boat to the eastern shore of Galilee, to “ the country of ” the Gergesenes & Gadarenes. Gadara and Gergesa.
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The Miracles of JesusLesson 14: Healing the Gadarene DemoniacMatthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39
The gospel accounts agree that Jesus came in a boat to the eastern shore of Galilee, to “the country of” the Gergesenes & Gadarenes.
Gadara and Gergesa • The people of this region were more influenced by Greek culture. • The eastern shore of Galilee has steep hills and cliffs near the water.
Healing the Gadarene DemoniacMatthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39 • Jesus and His disciples met two demon possessed men; the accounts of Mark & Luke focus on one. • The description of the demoniac: • He had his dwelling in the tombs. • He wore no clothes • No one could successfully bind him, not even with chains, although it had been attempted many times. • No one could tame him. • He wandered in the mountains and tombs day and night, crying out and cutting himself. • He was “exceedingly fierce” so that no one could pass by.
Healing the Gadarene DemoniacMatthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39 • When the demoniac saw Jesus he ran to Jesus and worshiped Him (Mark 5:6) • He addressed Jesus by name and identified Him as the “Son of the Most High God” (Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28) • The demon identifies himself as Legion (Mark 5:9) • He (they) ask if Jesus has come to inflict torment “before the time.” (Matthew 8:29; cf. 25:41) • They beg Jesus not to torment them or send them out of the country into the abyss (Mark 5:7, 10; Luke 8:31) • They ask to be sent into some nearby swine (Mk. 5:11-12) • Jesus grants Legion’s request (Mark 5:13)
Healing the Gadarene DemoniacMatthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39 • The demons enter a herd of 2,000 swine, which consequently run violently down a slope into the sea and drowned (Mark 5:13; Luke 8:33)
Healing the Gadarene DemoniacMatthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39 • Those who kept the herd of swine spread the news of what had happened in the country and in the city (Matthew 8:33; Mark 5:14; Luke 8:34) • People went out to see what had happened. • They found the man who had been possessed “sitting at the feet of Jesus clothed and in his right mind” (Luke 8:35). • They beg Jesus to leave their country (Mark 5:17; Lk. 8:37) • The man who had been possessed begs Jesus for permission to go with Him. • Jesus tells him to go home and tell his friends “what great things the Lord has done” for him. (Mark 5:19) • The man left and proclaimed in the city and the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him. (Mark 5:20; Luke 8:39)
Lessons from the Healing of the DemoniacMatthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39 • Jesus has power and dominion in the unseen spirit world (Luke 10:17-18; Matthew 12:25-29) • This fact provides us with comfort and encouragement as we battle against the forces of darkness (Eph. 6:10-13) • The doctrine of salvation by faith only would save these demons! (cp. Mark 5:7; James 2:19) • Note that grudging, unwilling obedience didn’t save the demons either – Legion left the man and went into the swine as the Lord directed, but Legion was not saved! • Future judgment and torment is real. The demons knew that torment in the abyss was their destiny!
Lessons from the Healing of the DemoniacMatthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39 • Jesus had compassion and mercy on a man bound by Satan! (cf. Mark 5:19) • Jesus even showed consideration to the demon in granting his request to enter the swine. • Note the contrasting reactions to Jesus: • The man who had been demon possessed reacts to Jesus with gratitude and faith, desiring to be with Him. • The people from the town react with fear and rejection, begging Jesus to leave them. • One who has been rescued from the clutches of Satan by a compassionate Christ will tell others!