We have seen the perfect Servant sowing the good seed. Now we are invited to observe another form of His service: the engagement with individual souls. In this gracious act, we witness not only the spiritual blessings bestowed upon souls but also the divine power that triumphs over the devil, disease, and death. It becomes clear that in the Person of the Lord, God is present with grace and power to redeem humanity from the effects of sin; yet, even so, mankind often finds the presence of God intolerable.
(Verses 1-5) In the story of the demoniac, we vividly encounter the utter misery of a man under the influence of Satan. This man “had his dwelling among the tombs,” signifying that where people dwell, they eventually die, and nearby, there will always be a burial place, reminding us that this world is overshadowed by death. All of Satan’s efforts aim to drive humanity towards death. As stated in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” He seeks to rob us of every spiritual blessing, kill the body, and destroy the soul.
Secondly, this story illustrates mankind’s utter helplessness to free themselves or others from Satan’s power. All efforts to restrain the violence of this unfortunate man or to tame him were entirely in vain. Today, likewise, every attempt to restrain evil or reform the flesh ultimately fails to liberate the world from its violence and corruption, the power of Satan, or to change human nature.
(Verses 6-13) Thirdly, we learn that although we are ruined and helpless, in the Person of Christ, there is One with the power and grace to free us from all the influences of Satan. The poor man is so completely possessed by the unclean spirit that his body serves as the dwelling place and instrument for the demon, who acts and speaks through him. However, demons must bow before the One they recognize as the Son of God, who possesses the authority to consign them to their deserved doom. While men may be ignorant of Christ’s glory and authority, demons are not. Aware they must depart at Christ’s command, they request to be sent into swine. It seems that evil spirits require a physical body through which to operate. Once granted permission, they enter the swine, which immediately rush to destruction, showcasing the full extent of the demons’ destructive malice.
(Verses 14-17) Fourthly, we learn from this solemn account that if the power of Satan is dreadful for man, the presence of God can feel intolerable, even when it is manifesting grace and power meant to deliver humanity. One observer noted that mankind may be “more afraid of Jesus and His grace than of the devil and his works.” When the townspeople come out “to see what had happened,” they are confronted with the undeniable evidence of Jesus’ grace and power. The man who had troubled the region is found “sitting, clothed, and in his right mind.” This is a beautiful picture of a truly converted soul, released from the harrowing power of Satan and resting peacefully at the feet of Jesus—no longer naked and exposed to judgment but clothed and justified before God, with Christ serving as his righteousness, reconciled and freed from enmity against God.
Yet, we read, “They were afraid.” What a revealing comment on humanity! Despite witnessing the evidence that God had drawn near, they were afraid. Guilty individuals have always been terrified of God; Adam was afraid after the fall, Israel trembled at Sinai, and the people of Gadara were also fearful. It does not matter how God arrives—whether as a visitor in Eden, in majestic glory at Sinai, or in grace at Gadara—guilty man finds the presence of God unbearable. They prefer the demons, the demoniac, and the swine over the Son of God, even when He comes with power and grace to offer salvation. Consequently, they implore Him to leave their region, and their request is granted; He departs.
(Verses 18-20) Finally, we see a striking contrast to the men of this world in the man who has been blessed so richly that he desires to be with Jesus. In time, his wish will be gloriously fulfilled, for we know Christ died for believers, so “we should live together with Him,” and soon we will be forever with the Lord. In the meantime, we have the privilege of serving Him in a world that has rejected Him. Thus, the Lord tells the man, “Go home to your friends and tell them how great things the Lord has done for you and how He has had compassion on you.” What was the result? “All men marveled.” The more we recognize our utter ruin under Satan’s power and what Christ has done for us, along with the compassion He has shown, the more we will marvel.
(Vv. 21-23). Underlying the incidents of this chapter is a clear dispensational teaching that illustrates God’s dealings with Israel and the nations. The herd driven into the sea serves as a lesson about how, as a result of rejecting their Messiah, the Jews were about to be scattered among the nations. In the incident following the dying child, we see a reflection of the nation’s moral condition when the Lord was present. However, just as the Lord raised the child from the dead at the end of the story, He will revive the nation upon His return to earth. In the meantime, the story of the woman reminds us that wherever there are individuals with faith in Christ, they will receive blessings.
(V. 24). In the case of the woman, the Lord clearly distinguishes between true faith and mere outward profession. Even though “much people followed Him and thronged Him,” it may seem that He was surrounded by genuine believers. Today, religious buildings may be filled with professed worshippers of Christ, as people use His name in hymns and prayers and attach it to their works. Many may claim to be Christians, refer to their countries as Christian nations, and describe their governments as Christian. But does this mean that all are truly believers in the Lord Jesus? Do all possess personal faith in Him? Unfortunately, no! There remains a significant crowd of outward profession. The Lord distinguishes those who have personal faith in Himself, for we read, “The Lord knows those who are His.” The crowd may have been sincere, as they observed the miracles and enjoyed the benefits from Christ. However, without a sense of their need for Him, they lacked personal faith. Similarly, today, people may sincerely adhere to what they consider the Christian religion, but this outward profession—simply joining the throng to follow Jesus—will not save their souls or resolve the issues of sin, death, and judgment. It will not break the power of sin or deliver them from the corruptions of the flesh, the world, or the fear of death.
(V. 25). Personal faith in the Lord Jesus is essential for true blessing. The case of the woman beautifully illustrates this point of having personal faith. First, we see that where there is faith, there will always be some sense of the need for a personal Savior. The degree of that sense of need may vary greatly between individuals, but it will be present.
(V. 26). Secondly, not only was she conscious of her need, but she also realized the utter hopelessness of her situation concerning her efforts and the skills of physicians. She had endured many things from various doctors and spent all her resources in vain attempts to meet her needs.
(Vv. 27-29). Thirdly, faith is not only aware of need and our helplessness but also recognizes the excellence of the Person of Jesus. Faith sees that in Him, there is grace and power to meet our needs. Moreover, true faith makes a person humble. The needy soul is willing to take a lowly position, like the woman who said, “If I may but touch the hem of His garment, I shall be whole.” We don’t have to perform great deeds to secure blessings; that would only feed our pride. Instead, we become willing to be nothing and give Christ all the glory. The virtue lies in Christ, not in the faith itself; the touch of faith connects us with the One who has all the merit.
(Vv. 30-34). We also see that the Lord delights in encouraging faith. He does not want the one who has received a blessing to slip away quietly. He brings the believer into His presence to fully reveal the truth. He desires that there should be no distance or reserve between Himself and His followers.
Finally, we see the outcome of being in the presence of the Lord and sharing everything with Him. Like the woman, we can then proceed on our way, not relying on our feelings or some experience—however authentic—but with the assurance of His word. The woman learns from His lips that she has been healed, for He affirms, “Thy faith has made thee whole.”
While the Lord was attending to the case of the woman, someone from the ruler’s house approached and said, “Your daughter is dead; why trouble the Master any further?” This person did not understand the power of His hand or the tender love of His heart. No matter how deep our sorrows or how great our trials, we need not hesitate to bring our burdens to the Lord. He came to share our grief and bear our trials. Understanding the pain of the father, the Lord offered a comforting word: “Do not be afraid; only believe.” While the situation seemed hopeless—since the child was dead—it was not beyond Christ’s reach. After addressing the unbelief around Him, He removed those who laughed at Him and raised the child, attending to her needs afterward.
Chapter 5: The individual blessing of souls
We have seen the perfect Servant sowing the good seed. Now we are invited to observe another form of His service: the engagement with individual souls. In this gracious act, we witness not only the spiritual blessings bestowed upon souls but also the divine power that triumphs over the devil, disease, and death. It becomes clear that in the Person of the Lord, God is present with grace and power to redeem humanity from the effects of sin; yet, even so, mankind often finds the presence of God intolerable.
(Verses 1-5) In the story of the demoniac, we vividly encounter the utter misery of a man under the influence of Satan. This man “had his dwelling among the tombs,” signifying that where people dwell, they eventually die, and nearby, there will always be a burial place, reminding us that this world is overshadowed by death. All of Satan’s efforts aim to drive humanity towards death. As stated in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” He seeks to rob us of every spiritual blessing, kill the body, and destroy the soul.
Secondly, this story illustrates mankind’s utter helplessness to free themselves or others from Satan’s power. All efforts to restrain the violence of this unfortunate man or to tame him were entirely in vain. Today, likewise, every attempt to restrain evil or reform the flesh ultimately fails to liberate the world from its violence and corruption, the power of Satan, or to change human nature.
(Verses 6-13) Thirdly, we learn that although we are ruined and helpless, in the Person of Christ, there is One with the power and grace to free us from all the influences of Satan. The poor man is so completely possessed by the unclean spirit that his body serves as the dwelling place and instrument for the demon, who acts and speaks through him. However, demons must bow before the One they recognize as the Son of God, who possesses the authority to consign them to their deserved doom. While men may be ignorant of Christ’s glory and authority, demons are not. Aware they must depart at Christ’s command, they request to be sent into swine. It seems that evil spirits require a physical body through which to operate. Once granted permission, they enter the swine, which immediately rush to destruction, showcasing the full extent of the demons’ destructive malice.
(Verses 14-17) Fourthly, we learn from this solemn account that if the power of Satan is dreadful for man, the presence of God can feel intolerable, even when it is manifesting grace and power meant to deliver humanity. One observer noted that mankind may be “more afraid of Jesus and His grace than of the devil and his works.” When the townspeople come out “to see what had happened,” they are confronted with the undeniable evidence of Jesus’ grace and power. The man who had troubled the region is found “sitting, clothed, and in his right mind.” This is a beautiful picture of a truly converted soul, released from the harrowing power of Satan and resting peacefully at the feet of Jesus—no longer naked and exposed to judgment but clothed and justified before God, with Christ serving as his righteousness, reconciled and freed from enmity against God.
Yet, we read, “They were afraid.” What a revealing comment on humanity! Despite witnessing the evidence that God had drawn near, they were afraid. Guilty individuals have always been terrified of God; Adam was afraid after the fall, Israel trembled at Sinai, and the people of Gadara were also fearful. It does not matter how God arrives—whether as a visitor in Eden, in majestic glory at Sinai, or in grace at Gadara—guilty man finds the presence of God unbearable. They prefer the demons, the demoniac, and the swine over the Son of God, even when He comes with power and grace to offer salvation. Consequently, they implore Him to leave their region, and their request is granted; He departs.
(Verses 18-20) Finally, we see a striking contrast to the men of this world in the man who has been blessed so richly that he desires to be with Jesus. In time, his wish will be gloriously fulfilled, for we know Christ died for believers, so “we should live together with Him,” and soon we will be forever with the Lord. In the meantime, we have the privilege of serving Him in a world that has rejected Him. Thus, the Lord tells the man, “Go home to your friends and tell them how great things the Lord has done for you and how He has had compassion on you.” What was the result? “All men marveled.” The more we recognize our utter ruin under Satan’s power and what Christ has done for us, along with the compassion He has shown, the more we will marvel.
(Vv. 21-23). Underlying the incidents of this chapter is a clear dispensational teaching that illustrates God’s dealings with Israel and the nations. The herd driven into the sea serves as a lesson about how, as a result of rejecting their Messiah, the Jews were about to be scattered among the nations. In the incident following the dying child, we see a reflection of the nation’s moral condition when the Lord was present. However, just as the Lord raised the child from the dead at the end of the story, He will revive the nation upon His return to earth. In the meantime, the story of the woman reminds us that wherever there are individuals with faith in Christ, they will receive blessings.
(V. 24). In the case of the woman, the Lord clearly distinguishes between true faith and mere outward profession. Even though “much people followed Him and thronged Him,” it may seem that He was surrounded by genuine believers. Today, religious buildings may be filled with professed worshippers of Christ, as people use His name in hymns and prayers and attach it to their works. Many may claim to be Christians, refer to their countries as Christian nations, and describe their governments as Christian. But does this mean that all are truly believers in the Lord Jesus? Do all possess personal faith in Him? Unfortunately, no! There remains a significant crowd of outward profession. The Lord distinguishes those who have personal faith in Himself, for we read, “The Lord knows those who are His.” The crowd may have been sincere, as they observed the miracles and enjoyed the benefits from Christ. However, without a sense of their need for Him, they lacked personal faith. Similarly, today, people may sincerely adhere to what they consider the Christian religion, but this outward profession—simply joining the throng to follow Jesus—will not save their souls or resolve the issues of sin, death, and judgment. It will not break the power of sin or deliver them from the corruptions of the flesh, the world, or the fear of death.
(V. 25). Personal faith in the Lord Jesus is essential for true blessing. The case of the woman beautifully illustrates this point of having personal faith. First, we see that where there is faith, there will always be some sense of the need for a personal Savior. The degree of that sense of need may vary greatly between individuals, but it will be present.
(V. 26). Secondly, not only was she conscious of her need, but she also realized the utter hopelessness of her situation concerning her efforts and the skills of physicians. She had endured many things from various doctors and spent all her resources in vain attempts to meet her needs.
(Vv. 27-29). Thirdly, faith is not only aware of need and our helplessness but also recognizes the excellence of the Person of Jesus. Faith sees that in Him, there is grace and power to meet our needs. Moreover, true faith makes a person humble. The needy soul is willing to take a lowly position, like the woman who said, “If I may but touch the hem of His garment, I shall be whole.” We don’t have to perform great deeds to secure blessings; that would only feed our pride. Instead, we become willing to be nothing and give Christ all the glory. The virtue lies in Christ, not in the faith itself; the touch of faith connects us with the One who has all the merit.
(Vv. 30-34). We also see that the Lord delights in encouraging faith. He does not want the one who has received a blessing to slip away quietly. He brings the believer into His presence to fully reveal the truth. He desires that there should be no distance or reserve between Himself and His followers.
Finally, we see the outcome of being in the presence of the Lord and sharing everything with Him. Like the woman, we can then proceed on our way, not relying on our feelings or some experience—however authentic—but with the assurance of His word. The woman learns from His lips that she has been healed, for He affirms, “Thy faith has made thee whole.”
While the Lord was attending to the case of the woman, someone from the ruler’s house approached and said, “Your daughter is dead; why trouble the Master any further?” This person did not understand the power of His hand or the tender love of His heart. No matter how deep our sorrows or how great our trials, we need not hesitate to bring our burdens to the Lord. He came to share our grief and bear our trials. Understanding the pain of the father, the Lord offered a comforting word: “Do not be afraid; only believe.” While the situation seemed hopeless—since the child was dead—it was not beyond Christ’s reach. After addressing the unbelief around Him, He removed those who laughed at Him and raised the child, attending to her needs afterward.
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