26 And they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is over
against Galilee. 27 And when he was come forth upon the land,
there met him a certain man out of the city, who had demons; and
for a long time he had worn no clothes, and abode not in _any_
house, but in the tombs. 28 And when he saw Jesus, he cried out,
and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I
to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I beseech
thee, torment me not. 29 For he was commanding the unclean spirit
to come out from the man. For often-times it had seized him: and
he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters; and
breaking the bands asunder, he was driven of the demon into the
desert. 30 And Jesus asked him, What is thy name? And he said,
Legion; for many demons were entered into him. 31 And they
entreated him that he would not command them to depart into the
abyss. 32 Now there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the
mountain: and they entreated him that he would give them leave to
enter into them. And he gave them leave. 33 And the demons came
out from the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed
down the steep into the lake, and were drowned. 34 And when they
that fed them saw what had come to pass, they fled, and told it in
the city and in the country. 35 And they went out to see what had
come to pass; and they came to Jesus, and found the man, from whom
the demons were gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind,
at the feet of Jesus: and they were afraid. 36 And they that saw
it told them how he that was possessed with demons was made whole.
37 And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes round about
asked him to depart from them; for they were holden with great
fear: and he entered into a boat, and returned. 38 But the man
from whom the demons were gone out prayed him that he might be
with him: but he sent him away, saying, 39 Return to thy house,
and declare how great things God hath done for thee. And he went
his way, publishing throughout the whole city how great things
Jesus had done for him.
The sufferings of a demoniac were so similar to those of mental disease
that by many they are regarded as identical. Those who observe the
distinction are faced with a further problem as to whether demon
possession exists at the present day. What is most important of all is to
note the exact parallel existing between the demoniacs described in the
New Testament and those persons who at all times are tormented by envy and
lust and anger and greed and other evil passions which dominate the human
soul.
On the eastern shore of the Lake of Gennesaret Jesus was encountered by a
man whose suffering and nakedness are types of the anguish and
shamelessness of sin. He could not be controlled; he was dwelling among
the tombs, and these, too, are pictures of the helplessness and loneliness
and hopelessness which evil passions produce. Most of all it is
interesting to note that while the demon cried out in dread, the man drew
near to Jesus, really hoping for help. The experience was like that of
those who suffer from mental disease where a dual consciousness is
manifested. Likewise most of us have experienced such a conflict of
desires; we have longed for liberty at the very moment when we have felt
the controlling power of some passion. Some tell us that we must cease to
love the sin before Christ will give us help, but this picture sketched by
Luke gives a more hopeful message. It intimates that as we cry out for
relief, or even before we speak, Jesus sees the heart and recognizes the
longing and assures release.
Jesus asked the sufferer for his name. He wished the real man to be
awakened and to be conscious of the distinction between himself and the
evil spirit by which he was possessed. The reply of the demoniac was full
of pathos. He declared that his name was “Legion,” the reason assigned
being that “many demons were entered into him.” His case was particularly
desperate; but the evil spirits realized that they stood before One whose
power was absolute. Certain that they were to be expelled from the
sufferer, they asked permission to enter into a herd of swine which was
feeding on the mountain side. A question has often been raised as to why
Jesus granted this request. Probably one reason was that the sight which
followed assured the sufferer of his cure; another may have been that the
destruction of the herd would give to the men of the region an arresting
message both of their own peril and of the power of Christ. However, when
“They went out to see what had come to pass,” they were full of terror and
they requested Jesus to leave their land. They were evidently more
concerned for the beasts which had been lost than for the soul that had
been saved, when they saw their countryman sitting clothed and in his
right mind as a disciple at the feet of Jesus. Their request was granted;
our Lord never continues the gracious manifestations of his presence when
these are not desired. However, he refused the request of the man whom he
had healed. The latter wished to accompany Jesus as he entered the boat to
cross to the other side of the lake; but Jesus bade him to remain as a
witness for Christ in his own home and among his own people. It is ever
the desire of the Master that the testimony of those who have known his
power should be given first to those by whom they are best known.
12. The Daughter of Jairus and the Woman with an Issue of Blood. Ch.
8:40-56
40 And as Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him; for they
were all waiting for him. 41 And behold, there came a man named
Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at
Jesus’ feet, and besought him to come into his house; 42 for he
had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was
dying. But as he went the multitudes thronged him.
43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had
spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed of
any, 44 came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:
and immediately the issue of her blood stanched. 45 And Jesus
said, Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter said,
and they that were with him, Master, the multitudes press thee and
crush _thee_. 46 But Jesus said, Some one did touch me; for I
perceived that power had gone forth from me. 47 And when the woman
saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down
before him declared in the presence of all the people for what
cause she touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And
he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in
peace.
49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the
synagogue’s _house_, saying, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the
Teacher. 50 But Jesus hearing it, answered him, Fear not: only
believe, and she shall be made whole. 51 And when he came to the
house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter,
and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother.
52 And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not;
for she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to
scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he, taking her by the
hand, called, saying, Maiden, arise. 55 And her spirit returned,
and she rose up immediately: and he commanded that _something_ be
given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed: but he charged
them to tell no man what had been done.
As Jesus returned to Capernaum after curing the demoniac across the lake,
he was welcomed by a great multitude in the midst of which were two
sufferers for whom the Saviour showed his sympathy as he perfected their
faith and relieved their distress. They were strangely contrasted in
circumstances, alike only in their desperate need. One was Jairus, a man
of prominence in his community, “a ruler of the synagogue,” a person of
comparative wealth and power and social position, whose home for twelve
years had been brightened by the presence of a little daughter, an only
child, who was now lying at the point of death.
The other was a woman, poor, weak, ceremonially unclean, friendless, who
for twelve years had been suffering from an incurable disease and who knew
that by no human power could her life be prolonged.
As Jesus was starting for the home of Jairus this woman came up behind
him, touched the border of his garment, and was instantly healed. Her
faith was imperfect but it was real. She had supposed the power of Christ
to be merely magical and mechanical. Jesus showed that it is inseparable
from divine knowledge and love. He had felt the touch of her trembling
finger. He had distinguished it from the press of the jostling throng; and
now for her own sake he required the woman “in the presence of all the
people” to acknowledge her cure. Jesus would have us know that faith is a
dependence upon his gracious person and purpose, and also that only after
public confession of our relation to him can we receive the assurance that
we are saved and can hear his blessed word, “Thy faith hath made thee
whole; go in peace.”
The faith of Jairus was likewise imperfect. It was more intelligent than
the faith of the woman but it fell short of that revealed by the centurion
in the same city who felt it unnecessary for Jesus to come to his house
but only to speak a word and a cure would be effected. Nevertheless this
faith was genuine and so Jesus strengthened it and rewarded it. The very
fact that Jesus started toward his home was reassuring to the father, but
his faith was tested by the delay caused in curing the woman. However, it
was also strengthened by this proof of divine wisdom and power. Most
terribly was his faith tested by the message which then reached him, “Thy
daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher.” Yet again, it was confirmed by
the word of Jesus, “Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made whole.”
As he entered the house, Jesus spoke another word which rebuked the
faithless mourners and cheered the agonized parents, “Weep not; for she is
not dead, but sleepeth.” He meant that in his presence and in virtue of
his power death loses its reality and is robbed of its victory. Nor has
the word lost its meaning and its comfort for the followers of Christ
during all the subsequent years.
Jesus showed clearly what he meant as he took into the death chamber his
three closest friends and the two trembling parents, as he stood before
the sleeping child and “taking her by the hand, called, saying Maiden,
arise. And her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately: and he
commanded that something be given her to eat.” The record indicates the
supreme thoughtfulness and tenderness of the Master. He took with him only
three disciples for he would not have the awakened child terrified by the
sight of more strangers. When the miracle had been performed he requested
that the little girl should be given food; this was for her own comfort
but also to break for the parents the spell of awe and terror which had
been cast upon them by the presence of death, and also as a proof not only
that life had returned but also that complete recovery from disease had
been secured. One other command is recorded, “He charged them to tell no
man what had been done.” The three disciples would be competent witnesses
of the miracle but a widespread report by the parents and their friends
might arouse such an outburst of excitement as to interrupt his work and
precipitate a crisis before the earthly ministry of our Lord was complete.