Tom Mount – December 15, 2024
Scripture reading: Genesis 1:26-28
Jesus stills the storm: His authority over nature
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
- “he fell asleep’ – typical to have a cushion in the boat for this purpose.
- “a squall came down on the lake” – a common occurrence on the lake: steep hills to the east, cold air would mix with warm over lake to create violent storm systems.
- “they were in great danger” – so much that the experienced fishermen said: “We’re going to drown.” The boat was large but not big enough to withstand these conditions.
- “rebuked the wind and the raging waters” – he directly commands the natural forces, underscoring his authority over even natural phenomena.
- “Where is your faith?” – understandable to be alarmed. But their faith was not visible.
- “In fear and amazement” – This is the good kind of fear. The bad kind of fear is in v.37.
- “Who is this? Matt 8:27: “What sort of man is this?” – answered in Lk 9:20 and 35.
Jesus exorcises demons: His authority over the spiritual realm
26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So, he got into the boat and left.
38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
- “region of the Geresenes”– east side of lake. This was Gentile territory: The Decapolis.
- The initial condition of the man: isolated, naked, primitive conditions, has superhuman strength; Mark 5:5: “night and day… he was crying out and cutting himself with stones.”
- Many demons were involved: ”Legion” – 6,000 soldiers made up a Roman legion.
- NB: Charles Taylor, A Secular Age: buffered, boundaried selves vs. porous selves. We can open ourselves to evil spirits through sin, occult, aberrant sex, unforgiveness.
- The demons’ submission to Jesus: “fell at feet” (cf. Phil 2:10); “son of the Most High God” (cf. James 2:19); they beg him not to send them to “the abyss” v.31; cf. Mt 8:29).
- Jesus allows them to inhabit a herd of “pigs” – about 2,000 (Mark 5:13). This was a sneak preview of their final judgment.
- The subsequent condition of the man: freed, clothed, at feet of Jesus, a missionary.
- The response of the people: “overcome with fear,” ask that Jesus leave, which he does: won’t stay where not wanted. In Lk 8:40, he gets the opposite response, “a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.”
Summary
- Jesus’ miracles underscore three things: 1.) His identity, 2.) His authority, 3.) His care for people.
Takeaway
- Are you facing a challenge too big for you to handle? Trust him to do the impossible.