Our paragraph topic is: (Expulsion of the devils in Gerasa) Part 2.
We continue our discussion of the possessed men with Christ speaking to the demons of the possessed men. The demons have cried out to Christ with a plea. They beg Christ not to torment them. It is interesting to note that they say to Christ, "Hast thou come here to torment us before the time?" This simple questions infers that there is to be a time of torment for demons. There will come a time for them to suffer. There will be a time of persecution for them. Now is not that time and they are free to roam and damage. They are free to roam and cause destruction. They are free to roam and possess men to do their bidding.
Christ has arrived on the scene and they now know that they must leave the possessed men. They therefore plead with him to not just cast them out but to send them into the swines nearby. Christ hears their plea and sends them into the swines. The demons now having taken possession of the swines cause them to plunge themselves into the sea off of a nearby cliff drowning all. The demons thereby reaching their intended purpose of causing death and destruction.
The disciples are now seeing first hand how Christ deals with demons. They are there at his side learning what to do and how to do it. Their faith is increasing and their belief in Christ is improving. They have witnessed him cast out demons with a single word when he was at Peter's house,. They now have the opportunity to listen to a conversation with Christ and the demons.
Matthew has given us these passages to help us learn also. We see how the disciples were faced with certain death on the sea and how Christ calmed the waters. We see how they were faced with harm from the possessed men and how Christ cast out the demons from the men and into the swine.
This casting out must have been an eye opener for them. I would imagine that they had no understanding of what demons were and how they operated. However, seeing the demons leave the men and go into the swines gave them a reference point for understanding. They now knew that these spirits were real, traveling from one person to another. They could enter a person or an animal. They could take control of a person and could bring about the death of both man and animal.
Christ gives us examples of threats to our lives. People are possessed today and would do bodily harm to us. A murderer, possessed of evil spirits and thoughts, will kill. A rapist possessed of evil desires will rape and murder. A robber possessed of desires for wealth will kill to get what he wants. And we fear for our lives from those who are possessed of these passions and desires. Do we have the authority to cast out those evil desires? Do we have the power to stop those possessed of evil thoughts from killing? Do we believe in the power of Christ? If Christ were faced with a robber, a rapist, or a murderer what would he do?
We continue our discussion of the possessed men with Christ speaking to the demons of the possessed men. The demons have cried out to Christ with a plea. They beg Christ not to torment them. It is interesting to note that they say to Christ, "Hast thou come here to torment us before the time?" This simple questions infers that there is to be a time of torment for demons. There will come a time for them to suffer. There will be a time of persecution for them. Now is not that time and they are free to roam and damage. They are free to roam and cause destruction. They are free to roam and possess men to do their bidding.
Christ has arrived on the scene and they now know that they must leave the possessed men. They therefore plead with him to not just cast them out but to send them into the swines nearby. Christ hears their plea and sends them into the swines. The demons now having taken possession of the swines cause them to plunge themselves into the sea off of a nearby cliff drowning all. The demons thereby reaching their intended purpose of causing death and destruction.
The disciples are now seeing first hand how Christ deals with demons. They are there at his side learning what to do and how to do it. Their faith is increasing and their belief in Christ is improving. They have witnessed him cast out demons with a single word when he was at Peter's house,. They now have the opportunity to listen to a conversation with Christ and the demons.
Matthew has given us these passages to help us learn also. We see how the disciples were faced with certain death on the sea and how Christ calmed the waters. We see how they were faced with harm from the possessed men and how Christ cast out the demons from the men and into the swine.
This casting out must have been an eye opener for them. I would imagine that they had no understanding of what demons were and how they operated. However, seeing the demons leave the men and go into the swines gave them a reference point for understanding. They now knew that these spirits were real, traveling from one person to another. They could enter a person or an animal. They could take control of a person and could bring about the death of both man and animal.
Christ gives us examples of threats to our lives. People are possessed today and would do bodily harm to us. A murderer, possessed of evil spirits and thoughts, will kill. A rapist possessed of evil desires will rape and murder. A robber possessed of desires for wealth will kill to get what he wants. And we fear for our lives from those who are possessed of these passions and desires. Do we have the authority to cast out those evil desires? Do we have the power to stop those possessed of evil thoughts from killing? Do we believe in the power of Christ? If Christ were faced with a robber, a rapist, or a murderer what would he do?
