T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S p i THE DEMON-POSSESSED MAN, vs. 26-29. “A certain man which had demons a long time.” The picture of, this incident in the life of our Lord is well worth a word painting. He had evidently crossed the Sea of Galilee with the definite purpose of rescuing this demon-possessed man. Mark tells us that the man dwelt among the tombs— the place of the dead— and that no man could bind him, “ no, not with chains.” He plucked the chains asunder and broke the fetters in pieces and night and day he was in the moun tains and tombs, naked, crying and cut ting Jhimself with stones. Here is a picture of the sinner who reaches the depth of sin in his rebel lion against God’s will. There are two great wills operating in the world— the will of God and the will of Satan (Rom. 6 : 16). When he saw Jesus,, the demon-pos sessed man fell down before Him and cried with a loud voice. Matthew says (Matt. 8:29)(: “And behold, they cried out, saying:, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?” They acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God; they acknowledged the purpose of God, and the fact of eternal punish ment that awaited them (Jude 6 ),: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting? chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” (Rev. 20:10:) “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” They recognized His authority in their request that they be allowed to enter into the swine. The demons are better posted than many preachers and teach ers of today who deny the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in whose philos ophy there is no place for eternal tor ment. Another thing is evident: Neither the devil nor his angels are ever found
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asking for mercy or forgiveness, and there is not a shadow of foundation in God’s Word for a second chance for .demons or for unregenerate sinners. Here is also an apt illustration of the heart of the sinner who defies all restraint and all attempts to tame or chain his passions, and who, by his manner of living, destroys his own life. The rich man (Luke 16:19) was in hell, tormented in the flame. He did not ask to be released. He did not ask for forgiveness. He did not con fess his sins, but seemingly did not want his brothers to follow him and taunt him for his unholy example. The demons testify to the fact of the Lordship of Jesus; to the fact that men by the surrender of their wills to Satan may become possessed of not one, but many demons; to the fact of-the cer tainty of a place of eternal confine ment— a place called hell (Matt. ;5:22; 8:29; 25:41); to the fp,ct that men who do thus surrender their wills to Satan are helpless without the help of the Son of God, who was victorious over Satan in the wilderness temptation and who alone has qll power (Matt. 28:18): “ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (2) THE DEMAND OF THE DE MONS, vs. 30-32. “ And they be sought Him.” “What is thy name?” asked our Lord, The answer comes from the man who is so possessed that he answers for them— "Legion.” . Demons were once possessors of bodies—perhaps fallen angels. They are now without bodies and long for such possessions in order that they may more effectually operate in their Satanic mission. The demons request permission to take possession of the herd of swine. Mark says there were two thousand of them (Mark 6 ): 13). Stop a moment and think! Who is this to whom the demons of Satan how and submit?
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