The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 8 Part 6 Jesus Restored A Demon Possessed Man

We will look at the synoptic gospels to gain a full picture of how Matthew 8 concludes.

The Spirit of God moved these men to write a narrative that pulls back the curtain to give us a view of the unseen spiritual world.

You will notice that the gospels record an inordinate amount of demon activity during Jesus' earthly ministry.

This activity also carried forward through the book of Acts as the gospel spread outward from Jerusalem into the world.

No doubt this heightened demonic activity was one of Satan's weapons to hinder the work of Christ. 

However, in every single case the Lord Jesus imposed His will upon the demons and they submitted to Jesus' authority.

In this case, Matthew, Mark and Luke recorded one of the most dramatic examples of demon possession that Jesus encountered.

This encounter happened after Jesus calmed the storm and they reached the eastern region of the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus sailed to the Gadarenes because He was going to save a demon possessed man.

Matthew 8:28  And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 

Mark 5:1  And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 

Luke 8:26  And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 

Matthew mentions the country of the Gergesenes.

Mark and Luke mention the country of the Gadarenes.

Gadara was a city not far from the Sea of Galilee, one of the ten cities that make up the Decapolis. 

Gergesa was a city near the Sea of Galilee about 12 miles to the southeast of Gadara. 

There is no contradiction in the gospels for they were writing about an area between the two communities. 

Jesus arrived at the region between these two cities  which was a good location for burying their dead. 

Matthew tells us that two men approached Him coming out of the tombs.

We learn that both men were "exceeding fierce" which means they were excessively savage, dangerous men.

The demon possessed men were so fierce that no one could use the road that passed by the tombs. 

The cruel, hopeless life of those who are demon possessed.

Mark 5:1-5  And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2)  And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3)  Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4)  Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5)  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 

Mark's gospel focused on one of the two men who was the most notorious and feared by all.

Again, survey the cultural depravity that surrounds us with an understanding that Satan is having his way in ruining the lives of many men, women and children.

Mark's record gives us a picture of not only a demon possessed man, but of one who is in the tight grip of utter despair. 

The life of a demon possessed person is bleak, cruel and devastating.

This man "met" Jesus which is a word used to describe a military confrontation.

Mark tells us he lived among the tombs and that his strength was so great that no one could bind him.

He broke any chains placed on his hands or fetters fastened around his ankles.

Mark describes his life as one of wandering between the mountains and the tombs, cutting himself as he wailed.

Even demons fearfully acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Matthew 8:29  And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 

Mark 5:6-7  But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7)  And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 

Matthew records that both demon possessed men cried out when they saw Jesus.

They knew who Jesus Christ was: the Creator, the Son of God and they were afraid.

They asked Jesus if He had come to torment them before the Great White Throne Judgment (See Revelation 19-20).

Mark takes us back to the single man whose condition was the worst.

Often, the Holy Spirit guided men to use this beautiful word "but" as a conjunctive word.  

This simple word alerts us that something different or contrary is going to happen to this poor, demon possessed soul.

Notice the immediate reaction of the demon in the man. It caused him to run to Christ and worship Him.

James tells us that even the devils believe and tremble at the thought of standing before Holy God at Judgment day (See James 2:19).

Thus, this demon worshiped Christ. It had to bow before its Creator in subjection. Such is the vast power of Jesus, the Son of God.

No wonder that the winds and waves obeyed His will.

No wonder that demons reacted in the way that they did.

Jesus could undo them with a word! He begged Jesus not to torment him even though he certainly deserved it. 

Jesus was not there to torture the demon, He was there to restore the demon possessed man.

Jesus commanded unclean spirits to come out of the man and they were compelled to obey!

Mark 5:8-10  For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9)  And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10)  And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 

Mark's gospel adds some detail about what happened next.

Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to leave the man.

Our Lord asked the demon for his name and he readily replied his name was "legion" implying there were a host of demons living in those men.

A Roman legion consisted of 4,000 to 6,000 soldiers and the fact that the demons entered a herd of swine that numbered two thousand, shows there was indeed a legion of them.

Notice their testimony in that all three gospels record that the "legion" called Jesus the Son of God.

Let this be a warning to heretics who claim that Jesus is not God manifest in the flesh, for even His demonic enemies did not dispute Jesus' deity!

Cemeteries in those times were often stone tombs constructed above ground, in addition to graves in the earth.

Tombs were lonely, desolate and usually isolated places and the Jews considered a grave unclean for seven days after a burial.

Demons in this case showed their uncleanness in that they did not want to be sent away from the tombs and graves.

Demons asked Jesus permission to enter a large herd of swine and the entire herd ran off a cliff.

Matthew 8:30-32  And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31)  So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32)  And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 

Again, the demons demonstrated uncleanness for they asked permission of Jesus to enter into a herd of swine.

Jews did not consume pork as God's law listed it as an unclean meat.

Notice also the demons had to ask Jesus' permission. They were not free to do as they chose but were in all respects, subject to the Son of God's authority.

The "legion" went into the herd of swine, taking up habitation in those animals, and they caused the entire herd to run violently over a cliff and drown.

Mark's gospel tells us that the herd of swine numbered two thousand!

Herders keeping the swine ran away into town in sheer terror, telling others what happened.

Matthew 8:33-34  And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told everything, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 34)  And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. 

Mark 5:14  And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 

Hired men kept the herd of swine for the owners and when they saw what happened they were terror stricken.

They ran into the city and told people what happened.

Matthew tells us that the whole city came out to see for themselves.

When people from the town saw that they suffered a serious financial loss from the large herd of swine drowning, they begged and urged Jesus to immediately leave this area.

Mark and Luke tells us something very important that Matthew did not record.

The man possessed by a "legion" of demons was fully restored and saved by Jesus!

Mark 5:15-17  And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 16)  And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17)  And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

When the people from town arrived, they saw the demon possessed man sitting, clothed (for he was before naked) and in his right mind!

Remember that little conjunctive word "but" that means something contrary is going to happen.

Well, it happened in a most life changing way and this is why Jesus sailed to this location.

Often in the Bible, those who are demon possessed are naked, without clothing, again an indicator of uncleanness within.

This man was clothed, calm and sitting by Jesus. 

He was no longer an object of hatred and fear.

He was in His right mind, fully restored to God and his community.

Jesus came to restore both men, but in particular, the one man in whom the legion resided.

Jesus sent this man back to tell his family and community what Christ did to save him.

Mark 5:18-20  And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19)  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20)  And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Take note of this truth. The people asked Jesus to leave and He did indeed leave them.

People can keep saying "No" to Jesus and His gospel but if they do say "No" they run the risk of Christ no longer seeking to save them.

God wants to save all men and He wants all men everywhere to repent and be born again (See 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:1-5).

What does it look like when someone is born again?

This demon possessed man was clothed, in his right mind and he knew Jesus as his Savior.

This man begged Jesus to let him follow in the boat Christ entered.

Notice Jesus' answer.

He told the man that he must return to his friends, to his community and be a witness for Christ and the power of His gospel.

Jesus said he must tell others about the compassion of Christ and the mighty work Jesus did to restore this man.

The man readily accepted with joy the task Jesus gave him to complete.

He traveled throughout the Decapolis, ten cities spread around in Judea.

He made a public proclamation of all that Jesus did and how his life was radically changed by the power of God.

His faithful testimony was heard by everyone he came in contact with and they were astounded that such a miracle could happen.

There are some fundamental truths we can gather from the marvelous work Jesus did to save this demon possessed man.

First, although our culture is waxing worse and worse as sinners try to normalize perversity and depravity, remember that the Devil is behind this.

God is still on His throne and His kingdom purposes are moving forward according to the good pleasure of His will.

Jesus has already defeated Satan by His suffering death, burial and resurrection from the grave!

Second, when we are "saved" our life will not be the same as it was before we repented and turned to Christ.

Old things pass away as God makes all things new and we begin walking in newness of life with Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:4-6).

Third, Jesus sent that man back to his community to be a witness to his family and all the people he came in contact with.

Christian, Jesus also sends us out to be a witness to our own family and circle of friends, and to our neighbors and community.

Though the man Jesus restored wanted to follow Christ in the boat, Jesus had work for him to do.

In like manner, we must be fulfilling the Great Commission where we live, happy in the knowledge that Jesus will call us home to heaven one day.

Until that day, let us be about the Lord's kingdom!

Bob