Matthew 8:28, commentary and pictures

After a night crossing in which He slept through a furious storm and then stilled the sea with a word, Jesus landed in the early morning on the eastern shore of the sea in the country of the Gergesenes, also called Gadara, in the region of Decapolis. There met Him two men possessed by demons, living among graves and caves and coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce and violent so that no traveler could pass by that way. They were the terror of the country, having broken chains with fragments still clinging to them, cutting themselves with stones until bleeding, with glaring eyes and matted hair so that the likeness of humanity was blotted out and they seemed more like wild beasts than men. Though the disciples fled, Jesus did not flee but stood calmly, raised His hand and stopped them from coming closer, so that they stood before Him raging but helpless. The meeting was an open meeting of the Prince of Light with the Prince of Darkness, revealing His absolute supremacy over Satan and His power to deliver, so that even those controlled by many unclean spirits and able only to speak Satan's words could dimly realize One was near who could save them and be made whole, clothed and in their right mind.

Arrival and Encounter

This meeting came after an eventful day beside the Sea of Galilee when the first parables of the kingdom were spoken to explain its nature and manner of establishment by familiar illustrations. His own work was likened to that of the sower, the development of His kingdom to the growth of the mustard seed and to the effect of leaven in the measure of meal, and the great final separation of righteous and wicked to the wheat and tares and to the fishing-net. The exceeding preciousness of the truths taught was illustrated by the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, while by the householder the disciples were taught how they were to labor as His representatives.

In the evening after that day of teaching and healing, utterly wearied from ministering day after day with scarcely food or rest under constant malicious criticism and misrepresentation, the multitude was dismissed to seek retirement in a solitary desert place removed from dwellings. The disciples were bidden to accompany Him thither, He was taken just as He was into the fishermen's boat and set off hastily, while other fishing boats lying near were quickly crowded with people eager still to see and hear and followed across. After a night crossing in which He slept, a furious storm threatened to sink the boat until He arose and stilled the angry sea with Peace, be still. He then rebuked the disciples for fear and lack of faith, while those in the accompanying boats marveled that even wind and sea obey Him.

He came to the other eastern shore of the sea into the country of the Gergesenes, also called Gadara, in the region of Decapolis. That shore was not uninhabited but had towns here and there, yet it was desolate compared with the western side, with a population more heathen than Jewish and little communication with Galilee, and thus offered the seclusion sought. He landed there in the early morning in the rising sun touching sea and land, with His disciples and those who had followed across the sea. The same crossing and encounter told in Matthew 8:23-34 is also told in Mark and Luke.

There met Him two men possessed by demons, coming out of the tombs where they lived among graves and caves. They were exceeding fierce and violent, so that no man or traveler could pass by that way and the road was nearly impassable. They were the terror of the country, rushing fiercely as if to tear men in pieces and to kill with demonic fury. They had broken away from confinement with parts of broken chains still clinging and hanging about them, and they cut and bruised themselves with sharp stones and missiles until flesh was torn and bleeding. With glaring eyes out of long matted hair, gnashing teeth and foaming at the mouth, the likeness of humanity was blotted out so they looked more like wild beasts than men, a condition fitting severe madness in that region and showing how completely the demons had tormented and degraded them.

They rushed from hiding among the tombs upon Jesus and the company. The rush made the disciples and the others with them flee in terror. But Jesus, who stilled the tempest and had met and conquered Satan, did not flee; He stood calmly where they left Him. He raised the hand that beckoned the waves to rest, stopped them from coming closer, and they stood before Him raging but helpless.

Deliverance and Aftermath

The meeting on the shore was an open confrontation of the Prince of Light with the prince of darkness, in which all present could see Christ's supremacy over Satan. The two men were driven by Satan and controlled by many powerful, malicious unclean spirits who used them as mediums and spoke through them, so that they could utter only Satan's words. Yet His power bound them more strongly than the chains they had broken, demonstrating His absolute power over those possessed to heal physical and spiritual disease.

With authority He bade the unclean spirits come out of them. His words penetrated their darkened minds, so that they dimly realized One was near who could save them from the tormenting demons. Though able only to speak Satan's words, their unspoken appeal for mercy was heard as they fell at His feet to worship and entreat Him. No one has fallen so low or become so vile as to be beyond deliverance in Christ.

His command forced the evil spirits to release their victims and drove them out. When He asked the name the answer was Legion, for they were many, and they begged not to be sent out of the country. At His permission they entered a great herd of swine feeding on a mountainside not far distant, panic seized the herd, they rushed madly down the cliff, could not check themselves on the shore, plunged into the lake and perished. The destruction displayed Satan's cruelty toward people and animals, while Christ's restraint preserved the keepers and owners from greater harm, and even demonic power was shown under the Saviour's control with the working of evil overruled for good.

At the same moment a complete change came over the men. Light and intelligence shone into their minds, their eyes beamed, their countenances long deformed into the image of Satan became suddenly mild and gentle, their blood-stained hands grew quiet. They were made whole, clothed and in their right mind, sitting at Jesus' feet listening to His words, feeling secure from the demons in His presence, and with glad voices praising God for their deliverance. The scene reveals both the misery of demonic torment and Christ's mercy and power to free captives.

The keepers published the news and the whole population came to see. Though the occurrence awakened that worldly people who cared only for worldly advantage and brought Jesus directly before public notice as nothing else could have, they felt no joy. With eyes blinded by worldliness they saw only the permitted destruction of property, counted the loss of the swine of greater moment than the deliverance of Satan's captives, and feared additional pecuniary loss. In terror they constrained Him as an unwelcome invader to depart from their coast, though they had not heard His words and did not know what they were rejecting, refusing One who could control the elements by the lifting of His finger, cast out demons and heal the diseased by word or touch. Satan had caused the loss to turn them from the Saviour and prevent preaching there, yet Jesus complied and took ship for the opposite shore, because He never urges His presence where unwelcome.

The restored men desired His companionship, kept close to Him, knelt and begged to remain near Him, but He bade them go home and tell what great things the Lord had done for them. Their freedom led them obediently to serve others by sharing the good news that Christ can save from Satan's bondage. Though they had heard little of His teaching, they could testify to what they had seen, heard and experienced of His power. Changed from mediums of the prince of darkness into channels of light and messengers of truth, they remained as living evidences and the first missionaries sent to teach the gospel in Decapolis, wielding powerful influence to convince the region that Jesus was the Son of God. Their testimony prepared the region, so that when He returned thousands flocked about Him from all the surrounding country and heard the message of salvation for three days with gladness, and their story shows that anyone whose heart has been touched by grace can witness.

Their healing yet rejection warns that people still turn the Gift of Heaven from their doors, turn Jesus from their hearts and drive His Spirit away. They refuse to follow His teachings when following seems likely to cost worldly interests and material wealth, valuing property above human restoration. To them applies that no one can serve God and mammon.