Steve Ngai (危 志 荣)

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man
1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil[b] spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!”

9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[c] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Note:
Demon is real. It was real in Jesus’ days and it is still real in today’s day. As I reflect upon myself, I see that many a times I hurt myself in many ways just like the passage above. While I don’t really hurt myself just like this demon-possessed man, but I do hurt myself in some other ways. Example, I hurt myself emotionally, example doing certain things while pursuing someone I like. While there is nothing wrong to pursue someone I like, and nothing wrong if I still pursue her even she doesn’t like me or rejected me, but when I over-do this pursuit deeds, I am just being folly because it is like I am keep hurting myself in a folly manner.

Other than that, I also see myself many a times have some kind of evil and wicked thoughts. This too is just like me being demon-possessed. Another way I see myself like being demon-possessed is my craving, obsession or addiction. It could be in games (Facebook games), share-market monitoring, emails, online-chat, negative or unspiritual thoughts and etc. All these craving, obsession or addiction hurt myself, my heart too.

Another way to look at demon-possess is when we sin, it is as if we were demon-possessed. Visualize an angry man, full of rage, like Incredible Hulk, who throw everything near him, who scold every single person who try to help him. Isn’t him just like this demon-possessed man?

What I need to do is not to continue to allow demon to continue to possessed me. I believe if demon will not possess me if I choose not to allow so. I should allow the Holy Spirit to possess me. At times we can be a little confused whether we are demon-possessed or Holy Spirit possessed. This passage can help to clear up this confusion, Galatians 5:19-25

19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

I need to think of every way and decision to control myself, my obsessive habits and alike. I have started to make such decision. Last month’s goal or decision is I can only facebooking during weekend which I managed achieved. This month is to bring forward last month’s goal but added that I only have an hour facebooking for each Saturday and Sunday. Also, no Astro during weekday at home. Hopefully, I can achieve this month’s goal too.

We should also avoid any curiosity about or involvement with demonic forces or the occult. (Deu 18:10-12). If we resist the devil and his influences, he will flee from us (James 4:7).

v5: 17 – Jesus told this man to tell his friends about the miraculous healing. Most of the time, Jesus urged those he healed to keep quiet. Why the difference? Here are the possible answers: (1) The demon-possessed man had been alone and unable to speak. Telling others what Jesus did for him would prove that he was healed. (2) This was mainly a Gentile and pagan area, so Jesus was not expecting great crowds to follow him or religious leaders to hinder him. (2) By sending the man away with this good news, Jesus was expanding his ministry to people who were not Jews. (Source: Tyndale Life Application Study Bible)

v19-20 – One of my struggles in sharing my testimony is I can’t really re-call who am I before I become a Christian which is 12-13 years ago. I only remember a bit. Also I feel that my changes seems little. Another struggles is I feel that there are some areas of life I have become worse after I become Christian. That also makes me feel struggle to share my testimony to others. I think I have gave some thought about this. Maybe there are indeed much area I have grown in after I become Christian, just that I didn’t notice or my defectiveness hinders me or I need some assurance from people to assure that I am indeed have grown or change in certain area. Perhaps I should also get some perspective into what I thought in regards to this.

v20 – Decapolis, or the Ten Cities, was located southeast of the Sea of Gallilee. Ten Cities, each with its own independent government, formed an alliance for protection and for increased trade opportunities. Although Jews also lived in the area, they were not the majority. Many people from the Decapolis followed Jesus (Matthew 4:25). (Source: Tyndale Life Application Study Bible)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Note:
v40 – Now I know why Jesus said so, because Jesus already said “Let us go over to the other side.” (v35). If Jesus said so, they shouldn’t be so afraid.

This event happened in the Sea of Galilee.

v38 – “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion”: Jesus’ true humanity is shown by His sleep on the boat. He became weary, and sometimes caught a bit of sleep wherever He could.

i. Think of all the worries that might have kept Jesus awake. He could worry about the religious and political leaders who plotted against Him. He could worry about His family who thought He was crazy. He could worry about the overwhelming crowds with their overwhelming needs. He could worry about the disciples He chose. He could worry about the future, because He knew what His destiny was. With all these things to worry about, Jesus wasn’t worried. He slept in a rocking boat.

This passage also reminds me the point from the book “Mind Change”, ” … but God ” mindset. Here is we put the right and spiritual perspective like “There is a violent storm here. It is terrifying but Jesus is here. He will protect us or work out something.”. We shall not ignore the real problem (violent storm which can turn the boat) and yet do not worry or anxious because Jesus is here, with us in the same boat.

v39 – “The disciples woke him”: The wind didn’t wake Him, and water splashing over the boat didn’t wake Him. But at the cry of His disciples, He instantly awoke. Jesus is like the mother who sleeps through all kinds of racket, but at the slightest noise from her little baby, she instantly awakes.

f. “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Notice the “we.” Their idea was, “Hey Jesus, You’re in trouble here too. Maybe You had better wake up, get a bucket and start bailing along with us, because we are perishing!”

i. “It was not a request to Him to do anything; but a protest against His apparent indifference.” (Morgan)

ii. The disciples were afraid, but at the same time there were several experienced fishermen among them. They knew they were in jeopardy (Luke 8:23), but probably felt they knew what to do. They worked hard at bailing out the water, at rowing in a certain rhythm, at piloting the boat in a certain direction. They were annoyed that Jesus didn’t help them.

Jesus sleeps, but he never oversleeps. We sleep and easily oversleep.
Jesus sleeps, but not dead.

a. Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? Jesus didn’t say, “Wow, what a storm!” Instead, He asked, “Why is it that you have no faith?” The storm could not disturb Jesus, but the unbelief of His disciples disturbed Him.

i. It was not their fear of the storm that made Jesus say they had no faith. A small boat in a big storm is a scary place, and the initial fear itself isn’t wrong. What the disciples chose to do with the fear made all the difference.

ii. Jesus could say they had no faith because they did not believe His word. They each heard Jesus say, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake” (Mark 4:22). Jesus did not say, “Let’s do the best we can and maybe we’ll all drown.” He promised a safe arrival, and the disciples could have chosen to trust in that promise, but they didn’t. In this sense they had no faith.

iii. Jesus could say they had no faith because they accused Jesus of a lack of care towards them. When they woke Him, they said, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38) When we think Jesus doesn’t care about us, it shows we have no faith, because we don’t believe the truth about Jesus. It takes great faith to trust the sleeping Jesus, to know that He cares and works for us even when it does not seem like it. But this is the kind of trust God wants to build in us.

iv. Jesus could say they had no faith because they forgot the big picture. The disciples should have known that God would not allow the Messiah to perish in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee. Could the story of Jesus possibly end with Him drowning in a boat accident on the Sea of Galilee? “Was it reasonable for these men to think that he, who could foresee the future, would take them on board a ship when he foreknew that a storm would wreck them? Would so kind a leader have taken them to sea to drown them? Was it reasonable to think that he who was so favored of God would be left to perish? Would he have gone to sleep if they had really been in danger? Was it reasonable to believe that the King of Israel was about to be drowned, even he whom they knew to be the light of the world? Our unbelief, my brethren, seldom deserves to be reasoned with. Our fears are often intensely silly, and when we get over them, and ourselves look back upon them, we are full of shame that we should have been so foolish. Our Lord kindly censured their unbelief because it was unreasonable.” (Spurgeon)

v. We could put the emphasis: How is it that you have no faith? Of all people, Jesus’ own disciples should have had faith. Would Jesus put the same question to us? “After all I have done in you and for you, how is it that you have no faith?”

c. Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him! The disciples ask a good question: Who can this be? It can only be the Lord, Jehovah, who only has this power and authority. O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; when waves rise, You still them. (Psalm 89:8-9)

i. In the span of a few moments, the disciples saw both the complete humanity of Jesus and the fullness of His deity. They saw Jesus for who He is: truly man and truly God.

d. All this shows the abiding care Jesus has for His people. “There are many Christians today who seem to think the boat is going down! I am tired of the wailing of some of my friends who take that view. The boat cannot go down. Jesus is on board.” (Morgan)

v38-40 – The disciples panicked because the storm threatened to destroy them all, and Jesus seemed unaware and unconcerned. Theirs was a physical storm, but storms come in other forms. Think about the storms in your life – the situations that cause you great anxiety. Whatever your difficulty, you have two options: You can worry and assume that Jesus no longer cares, or you can resist fear, putting your trust in him. When you feel like panicking, confess your need for God and then trust him to care for you.