September 23
72 Steps from Glory to Glory
Step 29: From Second Galilean Preaching Tour to the Gerasenes/ Gergesenes/Gadarenes
Calming the sea and casting out a demon.
Matt.8:18-23-34; Kark 4:3-5-20; Luke 8:22-39
On the map, the Gergesenes is straight across the Sea of Galilee from Magdala
- Matt.8:23-27, Mark 4:39:35-41, Luke 8:22-25 The Miracle of Calming the Sea
- In both Matthew and Luke with the scripture immediately before this story Jesus teaches the importance of leaving your old life to follow Him regardless of what it might cost you.
In Philippians 1:21 , the apostle Paul highlights the importance of following Jesus no matter what happens. He says, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” NKJV
- A sudden squall hits while Jesus and his disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee.
- The Sea of Galilee was notorious for sudden storms. The disciples were seasoned fishermen. They had no doubt been in many storms before this. This storm must have been very extreme for it to frighten them.
- In Luke 8:22 Jesus said,” Let us cross over to the other side.
- Jesus was not surprised by the storm
- Jesus intended for them all to go to the other side. This guaranteed their safety
- In Luke 8:23, Jesus’ humanity is shown here. His ministry has caused Him to be so tired that He falls asleep. Because of His tiredness, the storm does not wake Him.
Here is a question. Were they ever really in jeopardy or danger?
- In Mark4:38, the disciples say Jesus don’t You care that we are about to die? Are they accusing Jesus of abandoning them?
- Mark4:39 Why do you think that Jesus rebuked the wind?
- Jesus proved His authority over all things. The wind ceased, and a great calm came on the water. With an emphasis on the word calm, the sea became like glass.
- Mark 4:40: I believe Jesus was saying; Why are you so afraid? If I said We are going to the other side, we are going to the other side. Don’t you even have a little bit of faith?
- Mark 4:41 We should all fear Jesus exceedingly, but isn’t it amazing that, like the disciples, no matter what we have seen Jesus do before, we are always surprised when at His abilities.
- Matt.8:28; Mark 5:1-20; Luke8:26-40 Healing a demoniac.
Matthew tells of two demon-possessed men; Mark and Luke only tell about one. It is probably not important, but of the three, Matthew was likely the only eyewitness. The power of Jesus over demons was more important than the number of men possessed with demons.
- Mark 5:1-20 Immediately after overcoming the storm, Jesus faces the demon-possessed man.
- V.3-5 This man could not be controlled or contained, even with chains. He lived in the tombs and was a danger to everyone, especially himself.
- V. 6 Why did the demon-possessed man worship Jesus? Demons have to acknowledge Jesus; they have to submit to Him, and they will bow to Him. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18 NKJV
- V.7-8 The demon knows Jesus is God’s Son; he begs Him not to torment him and the many evil spirits in the man before their time.
- The very presence of Jesus is a torment to demons. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NKJV
- V. 9 My Name is Legion, for we are many. Consider the demon-possessed people in the world today who use pronouns like we, they, us.
- V.10-13 Jesus allows the demons to go into a herd of pigs.
- Why were there pigs in this area? This was not a Jewish territory.
- Jesus used this as an object lesson of the destructive power of demons.
- Also, we see that one redeemed life is worth more than a herd of pigs or any other material things.
- V. 14- 17: The pig herders reported what had happened. The people of the area were not impressed that a man’s life had been changed. They only cared that their pigs had drowned. So they asked Jesus to leave.
- V.18-20 The changed man tries to follow Jesus, but Jesus sends him to be an evangelist to his own friends and family.
From The Bible
“Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.
And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”
For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.
And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”
Mark 5:1-20 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mrk.5.1-20.NKJV
Douglas Huff
