The Reason For My Faith

1. Introduction: Chapter 8 has given us a picture of the divine power of Christ

1. His power over death and sin, leprosy is a picture of sin and death

2. His power over sicknesses and diseases, which to us are irresistible

3. His power over the weather, winds and the waves which to us are uncontrollable

4. Now we will see he not only has all power in heaven & earth but also over the demons of hell itself

5. That brings us to the first known case of “Deviled Ham” 

2. (Matthew 8:28-29)

When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. 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?”

1.  While Matthew calls the place Gergesenes, both Mark and Luke call it the country of Gadarenes

1. There was near a town called Gergesa (modern day Kersa)

1. Matthew write his Gospel for the Jews, so he used the local name they jknew

2. Largest city in the area was Gadara, Romans & Greeks were more familiar with this city

1. In the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known to foreigners

2. Matthew records two men, Mark & Luke record one man

1. As a disciple, Matthew was present and remembered two men (Matthew 8:28)

2. Mark and Luke were not there when this took place, instead they were told about the events by others. Peter probably told Mark, while Paul most likely probably told Luke

1. Events related might have only been of the one who did the speaking

2. We all relate stories to others of a situation where we only mention one person who was there while ignoring all the others who were there.

3. The Demons knew who Jesus was by name, and called Him the Son of GOD

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

James 2:19

1. The Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees never believed who He was

2. His disciples didn’t truly believe He was the Messiah until He was resurrection

4. Mark and Luke tell us the demons worshiped Jesus. 

When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

(Mark 5:6)

 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him,

(Luke 8:28a)

5. Matthew tells us the demons knew eschatology, and that their time was not yet

Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

Matthew 8:29

6. It’s not enough to believe He is who He is, without a relationship with Christ you will just fry in hell knowing you knew who He was. There must be a connection between one’s head and ones heart when it comes to knowing Jesus. One must have a relationship with Him.

3. (Matthew 8: 30-32)

Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” 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.

1. Luke tells us the demon’s name was legion

Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him.

Luke 8:30

1. In the Roman army a legion was 6000 men

2. The Roman general Titus used 5 legions to sack and destroy Jerusalem in AD 70

1. That is 30,000 soldiers

3. Imagine 6000 evil demons inside you driving you crazy

2. So they request that Jesus send them into the pigs

1. Notice that they needed Jesus permission to enter the pigs

2. Demons can only exert what God allows them to. Case in point (Job 1:6-12)

3. Perhaps they wanted into the pigs so that it would make the farmers mad if Jesus interfered with their commerce

3. Something even more remarkable about this whole incident

1. The way the demons begging at the feet of Jesus’ for mercy and release

4. Thus we have the first case of “Deviled Ham” in history

Deviled ham is ground ham with added spices such as hot sauce, cayenne pepper, hot peppers, or mustard. It is mixed into a paste, and served on bread or crackers.

4. (Matthew 8:33-34)

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. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

1. Mark and Luke’s gospel tells us that when the townspeople came out to see the demon possessed man in a right mind, they were all in fear and asked jesus to go away

Rather than being grateful that this poor wretched man was helped and healed, they were just upset because they had just lost the swine. They were more interested in pigs than they were human beings. Their descendants are still around. People who really don’t have a real concern for the needs of others could care less. Especially if it meant a loss of profit to them. So they asked the One who healed the man to leave. Instead of bringing out others who were sick and in need of help. Instead they chased away the great physician. 

5. (Mark 5:18-20)  We need to go to Mark to learn what happened next 

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.

1. These men truly wanted to be near the One who saved them, but Jesus wanted them to stay at home so that they would become excellent witnesses among those who had known them as being possessed

1. One can only guess at the tremendous impact their testimony must have made on the region

2. We all have a story to tell, and it’s our duty as Christians to share that story with others

3. Jesus wants us all to evangelize and testify about what He did for us

4. The men must have done a great job of telling their story, because later we read of Jesus returning to the area

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.

Mark 6:53-56

5. What better testimony one can have to share the good news about Jesus, than those who were formerly possessed by demons?

2. By looking at the account from all three Gospels, we get a full picture of what happened, and how this event made a difference in a place that was originally hostile to the Gospel

3. The skeptics see discrepancies, we find a complete picture

4. Where skeptics limited knowledge of the Scriptures causes others to stumble, we gain wisdom and understanding from three different point of view

5. Like the facts that come before a judge in a trial, the true verdict can never be rendered until all the facts are presented from all the witnesses.