-THE LIFE OF CHRIST - THE GALILEAN MINISTRY

-Jesus Heals the Demoniacs

-Matt 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39

-Matthew 8:28 says that Jesus and those with Him went “into the country of the Gergesenes”
       while Mark 5:1 and Luke 8:26 say they went into “the country of the Gadarenes”.
           -“Gerasa (also known as Gergesa) was a village on the east shore of the Sea.  The entire
             area was ruled by Gadara, some miles to the southeast.  It was therefore known both as
             ‘the country of the Gerasenes’ and as ‘the country of the Gadarenes.’  Critics of the Bible
             called this a ‘contradiction’until the ruins of ‘Kherasa’ (that is, Gerasa) were found”
             (Roper, 5, pg 18 & fn).

-Instead of finding an opportunity for rest, Jesus was immediately met by two men possessed by
 demons.

-Mark and Luke focused on one of these men - seemingly the more notorious of the two.

-Attempts had been made to constrain this man; however, the demons that possessed him
       caused him to have great strength.  Any “chains”, “fetters” and “bands” would be broken
       and the possessed man would run off into the wilderness.  Because of these demons, this
       man was a naked and homeless wanderer (Luke 8:27) who cried out and cut himself with
       stones (Mark 5:5).

-These men dwelt in the tombs.  Because of their presence, others avoided the area (Matt 8:28).

-However, when Jesus arrived on the scene, these unruly demons submitted to the authority and

  power of Jesus.
     -First of all, notice that the one spoken of in Mark’s account “worshipped him” (vs 6).  As
      C.E.W.  Dorris put it, “…perhaps the clear recognition of divinity by the demons, who not
      only believe, but tremble as the demons recognized in Jesus the power of God, he became
      overawed, thinking he had come to consign him to the bottomless pit, and his actions were
      caused by fear, being incapable of worshipping Jesus in the true sense of worship, where it
      is done in spirit and in truth, with a loving and obedient disposition, demons believe and
      tremble” (pg 117).
     -Secondly, notice that the demons realized they were subject to the power of Jesus.  Notice
      the question, “…art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matt 8:29) and their
      request  “…suffer us to go away into the herd of swine” (Matt 8:31). 
          -time – (Vines) – kairos – “primarily ‘due measure, due proportion,’ when used of ‘time,’
           signified ‘a fixed or definite period, a season,’ sometimes an opportune or seasonable time”
          -Commentators commonly connect “the time” to the day of judgment.  Although this may
           be correct, I’m not entirely convinced of it.  Perhaps this statement, “before the time”,
           indicates that the demons had some understanding that their time allowed on earth, a time
           in which they could cause havoc by possessing mankind, was temporary.

               -If these demons are indeed the angels who “sinned” (2 Pet 2:4) “which kept not their
                first estate, but left their own habitation,” (Jude 6); but perhaps allowed for a specific
                period of time to be freed from their “everlasting chains under darkness” (Jude 6),
                could “the time” referred to by the demon in Matt 8:29 be the time when they would be
                returned to their dreaded captivity in their “chains of darkness, to be reserved unto
                judgment” (2 Pet 2:4)?
                     -For the idea of a temporary reprieve allowed by God, see also Revelation 20:3.

               -One might ask, “Why would God allow these demons to be freed for a time?”  The
                answer is found in the miracles of casting them out.  The fact that Jesus could cast out
                these powerful and unruly spirits proved that He not only had complete power over
                physical things but also over spiritual things as well.  The followers of Jesus, being
                empowered with the ability to cast out demons for a “time”, were provided with evidence
                from above that confirmed the truth of their teaching.  (see Mark 16:20)

               -When God’s revelation was completed (2 Tim 3:16-17, Jude 3, 1 Cor 13:10) in its written
                form, outside confirmation was no longer needed.  The times of miraculous measures
                ended (1 Cor 13:10).  Hence, so did the time of demon possessions.  So, there would be
                a time when the demons would be returned to the torturous abyss (Luke 8:31 – the deep)
                and would dreadfully continue their wait for the final judgment.  Perhaps this is “the time”
                that the demon referred to in Matthew 8:29.

               -Hence, the idea of being cast into swine was more attractive than returning to the abyss.
                Notice, the demon requested such, knowing that he was subject to whatever command
                Jesus gave.
               -Let’s always be mindful of the fact that God hasn’t supplied us with the details involving
                every subject. (see Deut 29:29)  So, as is the case with demons, there are subjects that
                are interesting to ponder but are left to speculation.  We must realize that there are times
                when we simply don’t have all the answers.  Thankfully, by Divine design, none of these
                situations are directly related to our salvation – “According as his divine power hath given
                unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that
                hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).
-Jesus cast the demons out of the men and into the herd of swine, just as they had requested. 
 However, the herd then ran into the sea and perished.
-Those who fed the swine “fled, and told it in the city, and in the country” (Mark 5:14).  The
  people then came to Jesus and were told about what happened to the possessed men and also
  about the swine.
     -At this point, the people asked Jesus to leave.  The NIV translation of Mark 5:17 says “the
      people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region”.  Perhaps they were afraid because
      of what had taken place.  However, could it be possible that they wanted Jesus to leave
      because of the loss of the swine?  There seems to be a direct correlation between the loss
      of the animals and the request for Jesus to leave (Mark 5:16-17).
          -Luke 8:37 attributes the request to leave with fear.  However, this was not a reverent awe
            of Jesus, for if it was, they wouldn’t have asked Him to leave.  It seems that the fear was
            regarding what the people perceived as a possibility of the further loss of material things.
     -With these formerly possessed men now clothed, in their right mind and at the feet of Jesus, it
       seems that the surrounding people, with a lack of compassion, focused on the material.
-When Jesus re-entered the ship, the man who had been possessed with the demon identified as
  Legion, wanted to go with Jesus.  However, Jesus told him to return to his family and tell of the
  things that had happened.  We’re told that the man published these things in Decapolis where
  the people marveled (Mark 5:20).  (For a brief description of Decapolis, refer to page 4 of these
   notes.)

-It seems that following this event, the long day for Jesus eventually and finally came to a close.