Lesson 79 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).
Cross References
I Christ's Voyage of Mercy
1. Jesus crosses the sea, [MAK:5:1]; [LUK:8:26].
2. A man in need comes to Jesus and worships Him, [MAK:5:2-6]; [LUK:8:27-28]; [MAT:9:13]; [MAK:2:17]; [LUK:19:10]; [JHN:3:16].
3. The unclean spirit is commanded to come out of him, [MAK:5:7-8]; [LUK:8:29]; [MAK:1:27].
II The Enemy of Humanity
1. The adversaries are identified as devils, [MAK:5:9], [MAK:5:12]; [LUK:8:30]; [JOB:1:7]; [EPH:6:12].
2. The legion of devils is humbled and powerless before the Son of God, [MAK:5:10]; [LUK:8:31]; [MAT:28:18]; [PHL:2:9-10].
3. Satan is cast out, [MAK:5:11-13]; [LUK:8:32-33]; [LUK:4:35-36]; [COL:2:9-10]; [MAT:8:32]; [MAT:17:18]; [ACT:5:16]; [ACT:19:11-12].
4. In the face of this manifestation of Jesus' mercy, the people ask Him to depart, [MAK:5:14-17]; [LUK:8:37]; [MAT:8:34]; [2TM:3:8].
III Transformation by Grace Divine
1. The inward change gives a new outward appearance, [MAK:5:15], [MAK:5:19]; [LUK:8:35]; [2CO:5:17]; [TIT:3:5].
2. The man desires to be with Jesus, [MAK:5:18]; [LUK:8:38]; [PS:73:25].
3. Jesus gives the Gadarene a work to do, [MAK:5:19]; [LUK:8:39]; [PS:107:2]; [MAT:10:32-33]; [ROM:10:10]; [ACT:4:20]; [ISA:62:6].
4. The testimony of Jesus' miracle causes men to marvel, [MAK:5:20]; [MAT:15:30-31]; [LUK:4:37].
Notes
Seeking the Lost
God has never ceased to seek for the hearts of men. The Son of God never hesitated to leave the ninety and nine to journey far, if necessary, that one lost soul could be brought safe into the fold ([JHN:10:11]; [LUK:15:4-7]). The Scriptures state that Jesus came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). For this reason Jesus went to the land of the Gadarenes across the Sea of Galilee. He had been teaching parables to the multitude, but as evening came He told the disciples that they would go to the other side of the sea. Perhaps the disciples had hoped to go somewhere for a rest, but Jesus had other plans. He knew that there was a man in trouble on the other side of that sea " a demoniac, a man who was in sorrow, bound and shackled by Satan. As the demoniac walked along the shore that dark, stormy night, perhaps there was something within him that longed for a better way to live.
As Jesus and His disciples were crossing the sea, a great storm arose, and waves filled the boat. The disciples called to Jesus who rebuked the wind and calmed the waves. They marvelled at what they saw, just as men marvelled when He calmed the storm that raged in the life of the demoniac.
Help for the Helpless
When the ship reached the shore, a man who was possessed by a whole legion of devils met Jesus. Sin had robbed him of his reason. He was controlled and mastered by this evil power, so the people tried to help him by putting him in chains, which he broke in pieces. He went to the tombs, cutting himself with stones and crying in the agony of his soul night and day. Perhaps one would think that this man was too far gone for any help, but Jesus is help for the helpless and hope for the hopeless. "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
The man saw Jesus in the distance, ran and worshiped Him, and Jesus rebuked the unclean spirits and commanded them to leave the man. The army of devils (so many they were called Legion) was powerless in the presence of Jesus. At His command they had to leave the man, and at His consent they entered into some swine, which plunged over a bank and were drowned in the sea. At Jesus' word the man was freed and healed in soul and body.
Concerned About Their Property
When the people of the community heard what had taken place, they hurriedly came to Jesus. They did not marvel at the change in the demoniac, the man whom they had feared and whose cries had startled them during the night. They did not realise that they had benefited in this, too, when the menace of the community had been turned into a good citizen. Their only thought was in terms of the money in the loss of their property.
Many times people seem to overlook the miracles that Jesus performs because they have their eyes on material things instead of spiritual. They may even look at the life that has been changed by power divine but fail to see or comprehend what has taken place. Let us not fail to give God the praise and glory for the miracles He has performed in our lives and in others, lest we, too, by word or action, ask the Saviour to depart, as did the Gadarenes. No doubt, there were others there who needed a healing touch from Jesus, but they were denied both spiritual and temporal blessings by praying Him to depart.
Power in the Blood
The wonderful experience of salvation, wherein one is "born again" ([JHN:1:12-13]; [JHN:3:3-21]) and passes from death unto life, was purchased by the Son of God on the cross. Salvation is an instantaneous experience, in which one is removed from under the rule of the devil unto fellowship with Jesus; and can be obtained by going to Jesus with a broken and contrite heart, forsaking all sin, and turning one's whole life to Him. The shed Blood of the Lamb of God cleanses from all sin when it is applied to the penitent heart. (Read [1JN:3:8-10]).
In the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah we find not only the promise of a Saviour and Redeemer but also of a Divine Healer. The plan of redemption includes divine healing, for God's great economy has made provision for all the needs of His people. In the death of Jesus on the cross, He purchased healing for both soul and body. In [EXO:15:26] God states plainly that He is the One who heals His people; and His promises are true and change not ([NUM:23:19]; [ISA:40:8]; [1PE:1:25]). The power of God has not diminished in the least; Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever ([HEB:13:8]).
God is very explicit in giving instructions to trust Him at all times and to place our confidence in the healing power of the Blood. We are told in [JAM:5:13-15] exactly what steps to take when we are afflicted. A curse is placed upon the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm ([JER:17:5]), and a blessing is promised for the one who trusts in the Lord ([JER:17:7]).
The Adversary
There is an enemy today who tries to keep men from God, who binds them with the fetters of sin, and makes them as helpless as the poor demoniac. Satan is the one who seeks to make men the captives of sin; but Jesus came "to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" (Isaiah 61:1). God wants men to believe the Word, and then they will be conquerors through Jesus who has all power in Heaven and in earth.
A Commission
The desire of the Gadarene was to be with Jesus, but Christ saw the need of a witness in that land. This man who was a living miracle was instructed to return to his own people and witness of the power of God. He could remind them of the man he once was: how sin had robbed him of reason and every other good thing in his life; and that Jesus came, and rebuked the devils and cast them out. Then he had peace for his mind and rest for his soul. One way that he could thank the Lord for what He had done was to be obedient to testify of the great change, which had come in his life. As he did so, all men did marvel.
Questions
1. What was the condition of the Gadarene?
2. What was the cause of this evil condition?
3. What was the only remedy for him?
4. He is a type of what kind of person today? What is the remedy?
5. What manner of people were the Gadarenes?
6. Why was their request different from that of the man who had been a demoniac?
7. What commission did he receive, and what effect did it have upon the people?