Matthew 8-28-34
The royal rumble
Prayer for illumination:
Sermon introduction:
I will never forget how terrified I was on that fateful Sunday evening in the late 80s. I was roughly 11
years old. There were several hundred people in attendance at the Sunday evening church service. We met at
Fort Wright, currently on SFCC’s campus. It was a very normal church service. The pastor preached a very
normal sermon. When he finished preaching nothing was normal. Here is what happened. He encouraged any
one who wanted prayer for anything to come forward.
I was 11 so I remember being bored out of my mind at this point. But then all hell broke lost, literally.
Some of the People (men, women, children) who were being prayed for began shrieking and screaming. These
were not “I’m in pain shrieks” but “I’m demon possessed” shrieks. They were blood curdling, terrifying
shrieks. Some writhed on the floor uncontrollably. One young lady went forward for prayer. She confessed
that she had an eating disorder. While the elders prayed for her a deep inhuman voice spoke out of her saying,
“I am starvation and I own this body.”
This went on for hours (writhing, screaming, shaking, etc…). I never saw this kind of thing happen
before and I have only seen it happen a few times since.
As you can imagine I was totally freaked out for months (no years).
Maybe you have encountered something similar. Make no mistake demons are real, Satan is real, and
spiritual warfare is real.
This brings us to Matthew 8:28-34
The context of this story is important. In the last few weeks we have seen that…
King Jesus rules over sickness
King Jesus rules over nature
King Jesus rules over Satan and his demons
The king has arrived, he has inaugurated his kingdom, and his rule extends to every square inch of the
cosmos. It even extends to the demonic realm. Here is the main point of the passageSince Jesus rules the demons we don’t need to fear!
We will look at three things…
The oppression of men
The rule of Jesus
The response of the people
First, the oppression of men
Who oppresses these men? The demons
Matthew 8:28 (ESV) — 28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two
demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.
There is only one man mentioned in the Mark and Luke accounts of this story. But the one man
mentioned in Mark does not mean one and only one. It is likely that Mark mentions the one because he was
probably the prominent or the vocal one.
The two men in this story were (in the Greek) demonized, that is controlled by demons. Demons can
attack humans spiritually, mentally, or physically. Demons are very real and mentioned frequently in the NT.
They are portrayed as powerful and capable of great destruction. Many pastors, including this one, have
encountered demon-possessed people in their ministries.
But Dave why don’t we see this kind of thing more? Several reasons…
I have a hunch that some, though not all of the mental illness, in our culture is demonic.
Illustration: My Friend in college with Turrets. He was very tormented.
The two demon possessed men in this story were seriously tormented. The parallel account describes
their torment.
Mark 5:3–5 (ESV) — 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with
a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke
the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the
mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
He lived by himself alone in a place of death.
Everyone feared him.
No one wanted to pass “that way” (Matt 8:28) Logan neighborhood!
No one could restrain him, not even with chains.
He was given super human strength to tear the chains apart.
He cried out and gashed himself with sharp rocks.
His behavior was irrational and incredibly destructive.
He wore no clothes (Luke 8:27)
Demons are determined to kill and destroy.
Application:
Demonic torment is real. Demons still destroy people. Although in 21st century America Satan’s ways
of destroying people have changed. Instead of people slashing themselves with rocks they destroy their bodies
with meth, cocaine, alcohol, and STD’s.
Satan’s best strategy in the developed world is to get us to doubt his existence or be obsessed with his
reality.
C.S. Lewis writes, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the
devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy
interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with
the same delight.” (introduction to the Screw tape letters)
Demons still oppress men but in the west they do it in subtle ways.
First, the oppression of men!
Second, the rule of Jesus
Who rules the demons? The Son of God!
Matthew 8:29 (ESV) — 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
The demons are more orthodox than most. They know whom they are dealing with. They are in the
presence of Deity. Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Listen to what John writes in the book of 1st John.
1 John 3:8 (ESV) — 8b... The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
The Son of God is the one who spoke the universe into existence. This includes the good angels and the
bad angels.
Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV) — 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in
him all things hold together.
Since he spoke them into existence he has power to rule over them.
The Devil and his minions have no chance against the Son of God.
Illustration: militarytoday.com recently ran an article on the top ten fighter aircraft in the world.
“The F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter is almost invisible to radars. This aircraft carries a powerful
array of weaponry. It is the most advanced and most expensive production fighter aircraft to date (143 Million).
Many of sensors and avionics of this plane remain classified.
Engines of the raptor allow the aircraft to supercruise over long ranges, while thrust-vectoring nozzles,
combined with a triplex fly-by-wire flight control system, make it exceptionally maneuverable… It has a
breathtaking maximum speed of 1,500 mph.
The F-22 started life as a straightforward air superiority fighter. However since its introduction this
aircraft lacks a formidable air threat from other countries fighters. Later it evolved towards the multi-role
fighter, as strike capability was added.
No aircraft can match the F-22 Raptor and it is regarded as the most outstanding fighter plane ever
built.”
The F-22 Raptor is an amazing machine. No one can compete with it. It is like Lebron James playing
one on one with a 3 year old. Lebron is going to win.
But imagine taking this plane back in time to WWI. One plane could have destroyed all the bad guys
who fought in WWI single handedly.
This analogy breaks down…
When we are talking about Jesus verses the Devil…
This is not David vs. Goliath.
This is not even a nuclear warhead vs. an ant!
Why??? Both nuclear warheads and ants are finite.
We are talking about the finite verses the infinite.
Who rules the demons? The Son of God
How does the Son of God rule? With a word!
Matthew 8:30–32 (ESV) — 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31
And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to
them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank
into the sea and drowned in the waters.
The demons beg Jesus… they don’t beg him for mercy they beg him to delay their judgment. They
know their hour of judgment is coming but they want a little bit longer to bring destruction to God’s creation.
Jesus says one word, “Go” and they instantly obey. They come out of the men and they go into the
pigs. Mark 5:13 tells us there were 2000 pigs (probably several herds combined).
We are not exactly sure why they ask to go into the pigs. They may have wanted to kill the pigs to turn
the people against Jesus. But we don’t really know what they were thinking…. They probably weren’t.
By the way this story shows that people are more important than animals. Of course the pigs are
valuable but human beings are more valuable. But this is not the main lesson.
Here is the important thing to seeSince Jesus is the Son of God he has the power to control the demons with a word. He tells them to go
and they have no choice but to instantly obey.
He only says one word because he only has to say one word. He does not use and elaborate formula or
an incantation. And he does not have to ask twice (like some parents). He speaks and they instantly obey.
Hopefully you are picking up on a pattern…
Jesus spoke the universe into existence with a word (Col 1, John 1, Gen 1)
Jesus healed the centurion’s servant with a word
Jesus calmed the storm with a word
Jesus defeats the demons with a word
(A Might Fortress is our God verse 3)
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
Who rules the demons? The Son of God!
How does the Son of God rule? With a word
How else does the Son of God rule the demons? He will judge them!
Matthew 8:29 (ESV) — 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
The demons proclaim that it is not the time for them to be tormented. This implies that they know there
is a time coming when they will be tormented.
This of course is a reference to final judgment when the demons and the devil will be thrown into the
lake of fire.
Revelation 20:10 (ESV) —10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and
sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The demons time of final destruction has been brought forward into the present. They are cast out of the
men and into the pigs and the pigs cast themselves into the lake.
This is a foreshadowing of what will happen at the final destruction when the demons will be thrown
into the lake of fire.
Who rules the demons? The Son of God!
How does the Son of God rule the demons? With a word
How else does the Son of God rule the demons? He will judge them
What is the result of the Son of God’s rule? Our freedom!
In Matthew 8:28-34 Jesus defeats the demons so that the men can go free. We were all prisoners of the
Devil before conversion (Eph. 2:1-3). He is called the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2) He is the one
who encouraged the first sin in the garden and he encourages people to sin every day.
The Devil power over us is based on his ability to accuse and condemn us.
Jesus defeat of the demons in this story foreshadows what Jesus would do on the cross.
1 John 3:8 (ESV) — 8b... The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Colossians 2:13–15 (ESV) — 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of
your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record
of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the
rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Hebrews 2:14–15 (ESV) — 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself
likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death,
that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Satan has no power to condemn us or judge us if we are in Christ. Christ has defanged the beast. A pit
bull can’t do much to you if his teeth have been knocked out. When Jesus died he destroyed Satan’s ability to
condemn us and control us because his death ensured our forgiveness.
Yes Satan is still alive and active but he has been dealt a mortal wound. He is like a giant dragon that
has been stabbed in the chest. This makes the dragon angry so he lashes out but his days are numbered.
Who rules the demons? The Son of God!
How does the Son of God rule the demons? With words
How else does the Son of God rule the demons? He will judge them
What is the result of the Son of God’s rule? Our freedom!
Application:
Not only does Jesus bind Satan with his life, death, and resurrection he also gives this authority to his
subjects.
Matthew 10:1 (ESV) — 1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
We don’t have to use elaborate formulas, find out the name of the demon, or which territory it is from…
all we need is the name of Jesus Acts 3:6, 16; 16:18 (and sometimes pray and fasting).
Since Jesus rules the demons with his words we don’t have to fear demonic or satanic oppression.
Romans 8:28-30. Satan is on a leash because he is a created finite being who has been defanged at the cross.
The oppression of men
The rule of Jesus
Third, the response of the people
How do the locals respond to Jesus rule? They are terrified!
Matthew 8:33–34 (ESV) — 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything,
especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus,
and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Luke 8:37 (ESV) — 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to
depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.
You would think the people from the village who looked at the formally demon possessed men now
clothed and in their right minds and rejoice.
Instead they are terrified of Jesus. Why? Some say they are afraid because the just lost their wealth
when the pigs went crazy. But this text says nothing about the owners of the pigs so this is probably not the
primary reason why they are terrified.
They are terrified because they are standing in the presence of someone much more powerful and holy
then the demons. They are standing in the presence of the Son of God. His power and authority are a threat to
them so they ask him to leave.
Unfortunately many today feel threatened by the power, the authority, and the holiness of Jesus so they
ask him to leave.
I don’t want to change my way of living!
I don’t want to rock the boat!
I don’t want to submit to King Jesus!
These people just wanted to be left alone by Jesus. Maybe that is you this morning.
But let me encourage you to think again.
You will be ruled by someone, both now and for all eternity.
In the words of that great theologian Robert Zimmerman (Bob Dylan). “You gotta serve somebody, yes
indeed you gotta serve somebody. It may be the devil or it may be the lord but you gotta serve somebody”
It will either be the Son of God or the devil. Yes the Son of God, the king of kings and lord of lords
will demand much from you but he gives you himself. On the other hand Satan and his demons are out to do
two things kill and destroy. You decide. Lets pray…