WORDS OF JESUS -- READING THE RED
Jesus Casts Out Demons
Matthew 8: 28 When He arrived at the other side in the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming out of the tombs met Him. They were so extremely fierce and violent that no one could pass by that way.29 And they screamed out, “What business do we have [in common] with each other, Son of God? Have You come to torment us before the appointed time [of judgment]?”
30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was grazing.
31 The demons began begging Him, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
32 And He said to them, “GO!” So they came out [of the men] and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and died in the water.
33 The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the men under the power of demons.
34 And the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.
The IVP New Testament Commentary
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/ivp-nt/Jesus-Authority-Demons
Even Demons Know Who Their Lord and Judge Is (8:28-29)
The demoniacs ran to Jesus (Mt 8:28), and the demons protested his coming to torture them (compare Test. Sol. 5:5). Jesus' presence also reduced them to entreating permission just to enter some pigs (v. 30). Yet in contrast to demons, many people remain unaware of Jesus as Lord and Judge.
The Kingdom Is "Already" As Well As "Not Yet" (8:29)
The Kingdom Is "Already" As Well As "Not Yet" (8:29)
Because the King of the future age arrived in the first century, his kingdom also invaded this world in a way hidden to people but recognized by the evil one and his forces (see also Cullmann 1950:71). The demons here, believing they are free to torment people until the final day and expecting eternal torment in the day of judgment, recognize that their judge has just shown up, before the appointed time. God's ultimate intervention is yet to come, but this does not prevent us from depending on his power over the evil one in the present.
Jesus Values People More Than Animals or Property (8:30-32)
In ancient exorcism traditions, demons typically made a public scene when they departed, melodramatically indicating their protest and the exorcist's power (as in Jos. Ant. 8.48-49; Philostr. V.A. 4.20); but rarely did they make this much of a scene! Pigs can normally swim for some distance if necessary (Alexander 1980:214); given the mortality of demons in some Jewish traditions, this account may suggest that the demons were at least disabled or bound in hell. It would have made sense to the earliest Jewish hearers of this story that demons wished to enter pigs and that Jesus let the herd perish, but to the owners of the swine (in preinsurance days) the destruction of their herd meant financial loss, not just "deviled ham." The deliverance of the demoniacs mattered more to Jesus than the fate of the swine (see also Hooker 1983:39).
Most People Value Property More Than God's Deliverance (8:33-34)
Most People Value Property More Than God's Deliverance (8:33-34)
Gentile wonderworkers were often "magicians," whose power others perceived as malevolent more often than not (as in Apul. Metam. 2.5, 20, 30; 3.16-18; 9.30). Ignoring the men's deliverance and focusing on the destruction of the property, the Gadarenes viewed Jesus as a magician, dangerous to their interests.
People's presuppositions are so strong that even divine miracles will not always convert them. I once debated for about seven hours with a professor in his office, providing evidence to refute his objections to Christianity and citing line after line of evidence for the truth of the Christian faith, each of which he dismissed on the basis of presuppositions. Finally exasperated, I demanded, "Would you believe in Jesus if someone were raised from the dead in front of you in his name?"
"No," he responded, "I'd say they weren't really dead."
"And you have the audacity to call me closed-minded for being a Christian?" I retorted.
We cannot, however, assume in advance who will respond to our testimony; most of us would have guessed that of all the Gadarenes, the ones least likely to respond to Jesus would be the demoniacs. As an atheist I argued vehemently against the gospel the first day I heard it, and the people who witnessed to me did not learn until a year later that I had become a Christian later that day and led ten people to Christ in the intervening year. We are responsible to sow seed everywhere and leave the harvest with God (13:3-23).
"No," he responded, "I'd say they weren't really dead."
"And you have the audacity to call me closed-minded for being a Christian?" I retorted.
We cannot, however, assume in advance who will respond to our testimony; most of us would have guessed that of all the Gadarenes, the ones least likely to respond to Jesus would be the demoniacs. As an atheist I argued vehemently against the gospel the first day I heard it, and the people who witnessed to me did not learn until a year later that I had become a Christian later that day and led ten people to Christ in the intervening year. We are responsible to sow seed everywhere and leave the harvest with God (13:3-23).
Break Every Chain - Jesus Culture w/ Lyrics
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Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I give credit and have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.
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