And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
The verse pictures two demon-possessed men living night and day in prolonged isolation among the mountains and tombs and caves near Gadara. Continually they cried out and cut and bruised themselves with sharp stones till their flesh was torn and bleeding, and they were fierce and unsafe to approach, a terror to the country and a danger to travelers. Their wasted, violent condition was caused by the cruel power of a legion of demons as mediums of the prince of darkness, which human power alone cannot overcome. Jesus did not flee but with authority bade the unclean spirits come out, and their madness left so that they became calm, clear in mind, clothed, and quiet at His feet. Their deliverance is visible evidence of Christ's power and mercy to break Satan's bondage, and as the first messengers to Decapolis they told throughout the region how great things the Lord had done for them and prepared thousands to hear Him.
Torment Among the Tombs
The verse describes two demon-possessed men, not one, living night and day in prolonged isolation among the mountains and tombs and caves near Gadara, close to the traveled road. Their dwelling among the graves was continual, withdrawn from society in long separation, withdrawing to the mountains and tombs in furious madness. The healing at Gadara took place just before the return across the water to meet Jairus.
Continually, night and day, they cried out and cut and bruised themselves with sharp stones and whatever missiles they could lay hands on. Their flesh was torn and bleeding where they had injured themselves, disfigured and distressed in body and mind. Their wandering among the mountains and tombs with constant crying revealed severe torment and the danger they posed to others.
They had broken away from confinement, with parts of broken chains still hanging about them from breaking free. Their eyes glared out from long matted hair, with gnashing of teeth and foaming at the mouth, more terrible to see than the fury of the tempest. The likeness of humanity was blotted out, their countenances deformed into the image of Satan, so that they looked more like wild beasts than men.
They were fierce and unsafe to approach, a terror to the country and a danger to people traveling the road. Though withdrawn to the mountains and tombs, they rushed out as if to tear in pieces, rushing at travelers with demonic fury as if to kill them if they could. No one could pass safely, for their violence threatened destruction to others as well as to themselves.
Their wandering, self-harm, distressed minds, wasted lives and violent behavior were caused by the destructive control, cruel power and malignity of demons. A legion held them as mediums of the prince of darkness, tormenting their lives and wasting their manhood. That cruelty harmed both people and animals, and human wisdom and power alone could not overcome it.
Christ's Power to Restore
When the possessed men rushed forward, Jesus did not flee before them but lifted the hand that had calmed the waves, stopping them so they could come no nearer, and with authority commanded the unclean spirits to come out. His words penetrated their darkened minds, and they dimly understood that One was near who could save them from the tormenting demons. When they obeyed Him their madness left them and they fell at His feet to worship.
After the evil spirits were driven out their condition was changed from torment to calm. Their minds were made clear and restored to reason, so they were in their right mind, mild, intelligent and quiet. Their hands were stilled from self-injury, they were clothed, they could sit calmly at Jesus' feet and listen to Him, and praise God.
Their deliverance is visible evidence of Christ's power and mercy to break Satan's bondage, save men from Satan's control, and overcome the Prince of Darkness. Even the power of demons is under Christ's control, and its working is overruled for good. Those who witnessed the restoration nevertheless rejected Jesus because they feared financial loss. The healing at Gadara took place just before He returned across the sea and met Jairus. Its concluding lesson is that through Jesus rest begins in this life and leads on to the fuller joy of life with God in heaven.
Gospel Witness and Warning
The men who had lived among the tombs and mountains crying out and wounding themselves with stones were, after healing, made channels of light and messengers of truth sent to declare throughout Decapolis how great things the Lord had done for them and had compassion on them. They were commanded to tell it to their households and neighbors and to the people throughout the region, becoming the first missionaries to Decapolis though they had suffered prolonged isolation and severe torment under demonic power. Their testimony roused the whole country as nothing else could have done, directed attention to Christ, opened a door to the gospel throughout that region, and prepared thousands to hear the message of salvation when He returned.
Though they had been degraded into instruments most offensive to God as mediums of darkness, they were freely accepted when they repented and received the divine Spirit and were transformed by Christ's power into messengers of righteousness sent forth into the camp of the disloyal to proclaim His mercy. They had listened to His words only a short time, had never heard a sermon from His lips, and could not instruct as those who were daily with Him, yet they could tell what they knew and what they themselves had seen and heard and felt of saving power. That personal testimony is the living witness every heart touched by grace can bear, a living force to change the life.
The same demon possession occurs when a person gives soul, body, and spirit to Satan in order to rule another in mind and body. Such control turns married life into a reign of terror and constant warfare, as illustrated by one described as similarly possessed who tore and cut himself until Jesus cast out the devils. The man constantly in the mountains and tombs crying out and cutting himself with stones stands as the comparison for Sister Craig, who is described as similarly possessed under severe demonic control.
The verse pictures two demon-possessed men living night and day in prolonged isolation among the mountains and tombs and caves near Gadara. Continually they cried out and cut and bruised themselves with sharp stones till their flesh was torn and bleeding, and they were fierce and unsafe to approach, a terror to the country and a danger to travelers. Their wasted, violent condition was caused by the cruel power of a legion of demons as mediums of the prince of darkness, which human power alone cannot overcome. Jesus did not flee but with authority bade the unclean spirits come out, and their madness left so that they became calm, clear in mind, clothed, and quiet at His feet. Their deliverance is visible evidence of Christ's power and mercy to break Satan's bondage, and as the first messengers to Decapolis they told throughout the region how great things the Lord had done for them and prepared thousands to hear Him.
Torment Among the Tombs
The verse describes two demon-possessed men, not one, living night and day in prolonged isolation among the mountains and tombs and caves near Gadara, close to the traveled road. Their dwelling among the graves was continual, withdrawn from society in long separation, withdrawing to the mountains and tombs in furious madness. The healing at Gadara took place just before the return across the water to meet Jairus.
Continually, night and day, they cried out and cut and bruised themselves with sharp stones and whatever missiles they could lay hands on. Their flesh was torn and bleeding where they had injured themselves, disfigured and distressed in body and mind. Their wandering among the mountains and tombs with constant crying revealed severe torment and the danger they posed to others.
They had broken away from confinement, with parts of broken chains still hanging about them from breaking free. Their eyes glared out from long matted hair, with gnashing of teeth and foaming at the mouth, more terrible to see than the fury of the tempest. The likeness of humanity was blotted out, their countenances deformed into the image of Satan, so that they looked more like wild beasts than men.
They were fierce and unsafe to approach, a terror to the country and a danger to people traveling the road. Though withdrawn to the mountains and tombs, they rushed out as if to tear in pieces, rushing at travelers with demonic fury as if to kill them if they could. No one could pass safely, for their violence threatened destruction to others as well as to themselves.
Their wandering, self-harm, distressed minds, wasted lives and violent behavior were caused by the destructive control, cruel power and malignity of demons. A legion held them as mediums of the prince of darkness, tormenting their lives and wasting their manhood. That cruelty harmed both people and animals, and human wisdom and power alone could not overcome it.
Christ's Power to Restore
When the possessed men rushed forward, Jesus did not flee before them but lifted the hand that had calmed the waves, stopping them so they could come no nearer, and with authority commanded the unclean spirits to come out. His words penetrated their darkened minds, and they dimly understood that One was near who could save them from the tormenting demons. When they obeyed Him their madness left them and they fell at His feet to worship.
After the evil spirits were driven out their condition was changed from torment to calm. Their minds were made clear and restored to reason, so they were in their right mind, mild, intelligent and quiet. Their hands were stilled from self-injury, they were clothed, they could sit calmly at Jesus' feet and listen to Him, and praise God.
Their deliverance is visible evidence of Christ's power and mercy to break Satan's bondage, save men from Satan's control, and overcome the Prince of Darkness. Even the power of demons is under Christ's control, and its working is overruled for good. Those who witnessed the restoration nevertheless rejected Jesus because they feared financial loss. The healing at Gadara took place just before He returned across the sea and met Jairus. Its concluding lesson is that through Jesus rest begins in this life and leads on to the fuller joy of life with God in heaven.
Gospel Witness and Warning
The men who had lived among the tombs and mountains crying out and wounding themselves with stones were, after healing, made channels of light and messengers of truth sent to declare throughout Decapolis how great things the Lord had done for them and had compassion on them. They were commanded to tell it to their households and neighbors and to the people throughout the region, becoming the first missionaries to Decapolis though they had suffered prolonged isolation and severe torment under demonic power. Their testimony roused the whole country as nothing else could have done, directed attention to Christ, opened a door to the gospel throughout that region, and prepared thousands to hear the message of salvation when He returned.
Though they had been degraded into instruments most offensive to God as mediums of darkness, they were freely accepted when they repented and received the divine Spirit and were transformed by Christ's power into messengers of righteousness sent forth into the camp of the disloyal to proclaim His mercy. They had listened to His words only a short time, had never heard a sermon from His lips, and could not instruct as those who were daily with Him, yet they could tell what they knew and what they themselves had seen and heard and felt of saving power. That personal testimony is the living witness every heart touched by grace can bear, a living force to change the life.
The same demon possession occurs when a person gives soul, body, and spirit to Satan in order to rule another in mind and body. Such control turns married life into a reign of terror and constant warfare, as illustrated by one described as similarly possessed who tore and cut himself until Jesus cast out the devils. The man constantly in the mountains and tombs crying out and cutting himself with stones stands as the comparison for Sister Craig, who is described as similarly possessed under severe demonic control.