New
International Version (NIV)
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 impure 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.
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 impure 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 impure 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[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
21 When Jesus had again crossed
over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him
while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue
leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him,
“My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she
will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve
years. 26 She had
suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had,
yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she
heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be
healed.” 29 Immediately
her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her
suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned
around in the crowd and asked, “Who
touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered,
“and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched
me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at
his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter,
your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of
Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother
the teacher anymore?”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the
brother of James. 38 When
they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with
people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went
in and said to them, “Why all
this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s
father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the
child was. 41 He took
her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha
koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was
twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told
them to give her something to eat.
Daniel’s Thoughts:
- 1. Jesus and Demons
Jesus interacts with
demons frequently during his ministry. I think we can learn a lot from these
interactions. First the demons come to Jesus sometimes running and fall on
their knees before Jesus. The demons know Jesus for who he really is: the Son
of God with power and authority. Often I think we think that the Devil and evil
have power in this world. We imagine hell to be under the Devils control. But
as I read through this scripture I see that demons bow before Jesus on their
knees begging him not to torture them. Also Jesus in a parable about the
judgement day says, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the
eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” If this place of
eternal fire is hell then it is not where the devil reigns but his place of punishment.
I think we diminish the authority of God by believing that the devil or evil
have any power against the will of God. God is in control of all things. At the
name of Jesus demons tremble in fear and beg. We follow a God who is lord over
all creation and that includes all people and even the devil.
- 2. Jesus calling is different for different people
Not all people are called
to follow Jesus in the same way. Many come to Jesus and ask to follow him, but
he gives them a different calling. For this man who was saved from demons his
calling is to tell his story to the people in the area he is from. Some people
come to Jesus asking to follow him and be his disciples and he discourages them
telling them of the cost (Luke 9:57-62). Yet for disciples Jesus calls
fisherman, a zealot, a tax collector etc. Yet all are called to believe in him
and follow him in some way. We are called to do his work for the kingdom in our
own way with the gifts and opportunities given to us.
- 3. Faith in Jesus has power to do all things.
When people come to Jesus
they are healed scripture often says by their faith. Our faith is powerful and
can do all things. But only when that faith is in Jesus. Jairus came to Jesus
with faith that he could heal his daughter. Yet when his daughter he believes
she is beyond Jesus power. Yet Jesus says to him, “Don’t be afraid, just
believe.” And Jesus calls to this girl and she rises up immediately!
Daniel’s Prayer:
Lord
You are Lord of all creations.
At your name every knee will bow.
All peoples
All creation
The Devil and his angels
All are under your authority.
Reveal your calling to each of us.
Thank you for the gifts and opportunites you give us
Let us serve faithfully
For we find joy in living out your calling to us.
Let us seek first your kingdom and righteousness
Faith can move mountains.
Thank you for the gift of faith.
I believe, help my unbelief.
Through you we can do all things.
I trust you Lord, help me trust you in all things.
Amen
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