GARDARENE- SON OF GOD SETS FREE FROM DEMON-POSSESSION.Luke 8

When the Son of God calmed the winds and the sea of Lake Galilee, His disciples asked, ’what manner of Man is his, for He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him.

‘They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.’ As soon as the Son of God landed, ’ A certain man out of the city met Him, who had demons a long time, wore no clothes, neither stayed in any house, but in the tombs.’ (v27) He was mentally deranged, having been driven by demons. He discarded his clothes, even thought eh Lord had decreed that, after Adam and Eve had sinned, they must wear clothing as covering for their shame. He preferred the graves for his eerie environment rather than the peace of home life.

He responded amazingly when he saw the Lord; ’he cried out,, fell down ( in submissionto His Deity) and with a loud voice said, ‘What have I to do with you, Sonof the most high God.

I beg that you do not torment me.’ How did he know who Jesus was? Who told him that He was the Son of the eternal God? When had he learned of the torment of judgment which would follow in eternity? He was demon-possessed; and they recognised the eternal Son of God. Truly, ’the devils believe and tremble’.

Christ acted, ’ when he commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For often it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters, and was driven of the devil I to the wilderness.’ ’what is your name,’ Jesus asked him. ’Legion,’ he replied, because many demons were entered into him. He knew that he was enslaved to the demon and under its control, and wasted his life. They pleaded with him, ’ that He would not command them to go out into the deep.’ Our Lord Jesus is Sovereign over all principalities and powers including demons, who recognised His dominion. They knew Him, and trembled before Him.

‘On the mountain a herd of swine was feeding.’ (v32) They pleaded that He would allow them to enter into them. And He granted their request. Then a miraculous transfer of demon life occurred, so that ’they went out of the man, and entered into the swine, who responded to the destructive urge ‘when the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and were choked. ‘ (v33) God had created man to possess him, and not to be indwelt by fallen demons, serving satan, their master.

How did the disciples view this scene, and how deeply did they revere their Lord and Master.

The swine-keepers panicked, ‘ They that fed them saw what was done , and went and told it in the city and in the country. ‘ They had never witnessed such deliverance. They bemoaned their loss of property; their financial woe; loss of daily employment; hence their amazement;

Material love can rob eternal enrichment. Worship of things denies the Lord’s right to it.

The town erupted, quickly responding, ‘They went out to see what was done and came to Jesus. Not what they found. The man, not a demon-posses monster, for the demons were departed from him. He was sitting, not rushing or tearing uncontrollably. He sat at the feet of Jesus, the source abd Fountain of wisdom and compassion. No longer naked, he was respectably clothed. Healed, his mental derangement gone,; now ‘he was in his right mind’, which they discerned on a glance. They were terrified. Why did they not praise their God?

The townspeople listened to the swine-keepers, ‘ they also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the demons wa made whole. How many times did they reluctantly relate the marvellous power of Christ the Deliverer.

‘You must go. We are terrified of your power. ‘ Tge whole mul;titude of the country of the gadarenes round about besought Him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fer; and He went up into the ship, and returned back again. (v37) Tragic! After the might miracle of freeing a man, of infinite eternal worth from demon-popssession, fear robbed them of the Lord Jesus teaching eternal truths and wonders of heaven. God’s Son never returned to this region. ’he came unto His own, and His own received Him not.’

Understandably, the man healed wanted to follow the Lord jesus, to express his gratitude.

The man, out of whom the demons had departed, pleaded with HIM, that he might be with HIM; but Jeus sent him away, saying, ’ Return to your own house, and show how great things God has done to you. And he went his wy, and published through the whole city how great things Jesus had done to him.’ (v39) He was the first missionary to the people of decapolis, with a testimony confirmed by every one who had known him in the days of his demonic-possession. He was a new creation in Christ Jesus: all things had become new.

Why we should study this story, marvellous as it is. Many are possessed by demons in both western and less-developed nations. ‘Demonisation’ is the theological term used.

A Demon of Road rage, where anger overflows, causes deliberate accidents, intended to maim or kill, often with hit and run driving. Some shout their abusive obscenities.

A Demon of sexual lust is inflamed with alcohol, or drugs, driving man and his partner into an orgy of sexual activity. When the heart is lust-driven, God’s law is dethroned.

A Demon of jealousy and envy may degrade a beautiful life, plunging that one into bitterness, where the soul is shrivelled and depressed by these degrading demonic powers.

A Demon of hatred drove Cain to kill his brother Abel. ‘Sin ( a demonic beast ) crouches at the door.‘ Injury may be from stabbing or shooting or violence.

Demon of covetousness as seen in gambling eg poker machines ( small amounts repetitively ), horse racing, or vast sums at a casino. Achan was an example of a demon-driven greed.

A Demon of occult worship may grip crowds or individuals, producing such hysteria. I have seen huge crowds, pressing for anointing for pregnancy or prosperity with superhuman force.

A Demon may blaspheme with unrestrained language. Demonic vocabulary is infinite, and constantly attacks the name of our beloved Saviour. And scorns the true servant of God.

A Demon of fire-swallowing came. I have peered eye to eye with the fire-swallower, observed the demonic glassy-eyed person, performing this feat. The name of Christ restrained him.

A Demon of lying gripped Ananias and Sapphira, who sought public recognition for their sacrificial giving . They lied to the Holy Spirit, paying the price in their premature deaths.

A Demon of drugs may drive one into a chemical and spiritual dependence. And it may imperil the life of the drug-taker. And ultimately destroy that person.

A Demon of pornographic slavery may cause married people to forfeit a harmonious, marital oneness for the dubious excitement of demon-inspired attraction.

Mary Magdalene was possessed of 7 demons, ( probably sexual ) before her Lord set her free. Never again was their power evident in her dignified, liberated service of the Lord Jesus.

‘If the SON shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.’ Do you know this freedom?