Are You Crazy?

Verse 1-5-Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.

And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains,

because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Matthew 8:28-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.

He was not only a harm to himself (Cutting himself with stones) But he was a harm to others (Exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way).

Verse 6-10-When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”

For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”

Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

Matthew 8:29-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?”

I implore You by God that You do not torment me-That is an interesting statement, the demons know that God is just and fair, they know there is coming a time when they will be judge right along with Satan, but they also know they can be sent to the abyss, the pit, the bottomless pit, where one day Satan will be sent for a thousand years, this is where some angels already are 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6, they know that time is coming but they don’t understand why Jesus is messing with them right now!

Demons want to stay where they can do the most damage, where they can have free range to do what they want without being interrupted!

You don’t hear about demon possession in the old testament, but I think when Jesus is in there presence they have to reveal themselves! Mark 1:21-26

My name is Legion; for we are many-a legion had up to six thousand soldiers

Let me put it this way…That would be one more demon than you would want!

Why is Jesus asking his name? Because He wants all that witness this deliverance to know the power Jesus’ possesses to cast out a legion of demons!

Verse 11-13- Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.

So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.”

And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

Why did the demons want to go into the swine? I don’t know why!

Why did Jesus allow the demons to go into the swine? Because it would be a visible demonstration that the demons left the man and to show the destructive nature of the demons!

You know what happen here don’t you? They Commited Sooey-side!

Or maybe they were trying out there…Swine Dive!

Verse 14-17-So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.

Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

You would think the towns people would be excited that this man is delivered, but all they want is for Jesus to leave!

Verse 18-20-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.