We finished today's tour of the Galilee region by going to the shore of the sea of Galilee opposite Tiberias, to a possible place where Jesus delivered the demon possessed men of Gadara. He had just miraculously calmed a storm which raged upon Galilee, and He would demonstrate His mastery of demons which raged within the bodies of men. These men were exceedingly fierce and were so terrifying no one dared pass that way. These men lived among the tombs and one Gospel account said chains could not restrain the ferocity and violence of the man possessed by many demons.
Matthew 8:29-30 reads, "And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?" 30 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding." These men lived like beasts, but the spirits who controlled them recognised afar off Jesus Christ and acknowledged His authority. They turned out to be more initially perceptive than the Jews who lived in the region. Gadara was so called because it was inhabited by the tribe of Gad and were therefore Jewish people. Pigs were deemed unclean under the Law of Moses, so this stands out as odd. What was with the pigs? Perhaps they were for trading with people who would eat them.
The story continues in Matthew 8:31-34: "So the demons begged Him, saying, "If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine." 32 And He said to them, "Go." So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. 33 Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region." The demons requested a hasty exit into unclean animals, and Jesus permitted them. The crazed animals tore off running and plunged over a cliff into the sea. Those responsible to tend the pigs ran into the town to tell others what had happened. The men once demon possessed were in their right mind, but the people of the town did the unthinkable: they begged Jesus to leave, even as the demons begged to leave. They cast out Jesus for doing good.
Why would the people of Gadara beg Jesus to leave? There are many likely answers. Jesus was a man too powerful for them to control. He was seen as responsible for the total destruction of a once thriving business. They did not understand Him. They did not trust Him. And I am convinced that at this point they did not know Him or recognise Him as the Messiah, the promised Deliverer the Father would send. These are similar reasons to why people reject Jesus as Messiah today. Almost 2,000 years have passed, and men have not changed. Thankfully, God hasn't changed either! He is still a loving, powerful, gracious God who seeks and saves the lost, delivering people from bondage, releasing people from the oppression of Satan and sin, and sets the captives free.
Don't treat Jesus like a devil. He comes to us as LORD and Saviour and those are blessed who humbly receive Him. John 1:11-13 reads, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Matthew 8:29-30 reads, "And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?" 30 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding." These men lived like beasts, but the spirits who controlled them recognised afar off Jesus Christ and acknowledged His authority. They turned out to be more initially perceptive than the Jews who lived in the region. Gadara was so called because it was inhabited by the tribe of Gad and were therefore Jewish people. Pigs were deemed unclean under the Law of Moses, so this stands out as odd. What was with the pigs? Perhaps they were for trading with people who would eat them.
The story continues in Matthew 8:31-34: "So the demons begged Him, saying, "If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine." 32 And He said to them, "Go." So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. 33 Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region." The demons requested a hasty exit into unclean animals, and Jesus permitted them. The crazed animals tore off running and plunged over a cliff into the sea. Those responsible to tend the pigs ran into the town to tell others what had happened. The men once demon possessed were in their right mind, but the people of the town did the unthinkable: they begged Jesus to leave, even as the demons begged to leave. They cast out Jesus for doing good.
Why would the people of Gadara beg Jesus to leave? There are many likely answers. Jesus was a man too powerful for them to control. He was seen as responsible for the total destruction of a once thriving business. They did not understand Him. They did not trust Him. And I am convinced that at this point they did not know Him or recognise Him as the Messiah, the promised Deliverer the Father would send. These are similar reasons to why people reject Jesus as Messiah today. Almost 2,000 years have passed, and men have not changed. Thankfully, God hasn't changed either! He is still a loving, powerful, gracious God who seeks and saves the lost, delivering people from bondage, releasing people from the oppression of Satan and sin, and sets the captives free.
Don't treat Jesus like a devil. He comes to us as LORD and Saviour and those are blessed who humbly receive Him. John 1:11-13 reads, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
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