Matthew 8.28-34

Let's just jump right in to this text today:

 ²⁸ When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
 ³⁰ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
 ³² He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. ³³ Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴ Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.


Interesting passage, is it not? You got two demon possessed guys who lived in the caves. In Mark and Luke we find out that no one could control them even with chains, that they break right through them. Then you got a herd of pigs that Jesus casts the demons into, next, all the people of the town get scared and ask Jesus to leave their region. 


So what is going on here?


How does this apply to our lives?


Some have said that the point of this passage is that although the men weren't bound in chains, they were  bound by these demons and that Jesus unbinds them, he frees them from their slavery. 


Others have mentioned that a Roman legion (a legion is made up of six-thousand soldiers) was in this region at this time, and their mascot for their legion was a pig. So when Jesus casts the demons out of the men and into the pigs and the pigs run down the steep bank and die, some have said that he was making a political statement against the Roman legion that was there. He was saying that just as I cast demons into the pigs and they killed themselves, you are controlled by demons and will fall soon as well. This is why the townspeople wanted him to leave so badly, because he was making a dangerous statement to the Roman legion there. These people didn't want to get caught in the crossfire of a massacre by the Roman legion. 


That could be true, especially in Mark 5.9, Jesus asks the demon what his name was and he responds by saying, "My name is LEGION, for we are many."


But with all this in mind, I think the main point to remember is the context of this passage. We are in the middle of Jesus' ministry. And when Jesus does a miracle, it is as if he is pulling back the curtain to show us, to give us a little glimpse of heaven. 


This is a preview of coming attractions. Like a preview of a movies that shows a little tidbit of a film that is coming out soon, miracles, specifically this one, is showing us a little piece of the future. 


And the future is this: Jesus is victorious against all the evil forces behind all the suffering and pain in the world!!!


We win!!!


There will be no more demons possessing people and afflicting people. There will be no more tears of mothers who have miscarriages, there will be no more pain or sickness or death. 


This is what we have to look forward to, and this affects the way we live now. We live differently knowing that with just a word, Jesus drives out demons from people. These demons shudder at the sound of his name. And we have that same power!!! Jesus has given us his Spirit, and that Spirit lives inside of us and empowers us to do more than we could ever dream of. 


We see this in Matthew 10, Jesus sends his disciples out to do ministry the exact same way he was doing ministry. Matthew 10.1 says:


"He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."


Isn't this what Jesus is doing here?! Jesus sends his followers out to carry out his ministry. And we are called to do the same. 


We are called to help those who are physically sick, to bring healing to the hurting, to literally drive out demons. We are called to bring little glimpses of heaven everywhere we go. 


So how are you doing?


Are you bringing little glimpses of heaven everywhere you go?


Bring heaven to someone today.