Sovereign: Even over Spirits

Last Sunday, in our sermon series “More Than A Show”, we saw Jesus turn water in to wine.

But the miracle He performed was not about a particular beverage, but about His ability to meet our need.

It was about the ability of Christ, the Bridegroom, to stand in the gap whether or not we even realize there is one.

We will pick up today at the end of Chapter 8 of Matthew’s Gospel.

We will see more than a show, but let’s grab the context:

In vs. 1-4 Jesus heals a leper

In vs. 5-13 Jesus heals the centurion’s servant

In vs. 14-17 He heals Peter’s mother-in-law

Then we flow to Sovereign control over the world around us.

And in our focal passage today we see He has power of the Spiritual as well.

Let’s read Matthew 8:28-34:

Matthew 8:28–34 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. 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?” 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. 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.

Jesus: More Than A Man

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.

(let’s answer a question you may have about the passage before we go further)

Mark 5:1-21 & Luke 8:26-40 also tell this story with one major difference.

Matthew says two demon possessed men and the others say “a man”.

Answering this variant is to say that the others do not say only one, but do mention one.

Matthew does this on two other occasions (9:27; 20:30) and many scholars believe Matthew is following closely the thought behind Deut19:15

Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV

15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

The location of these men is the tombs…a place that most Jewish men avoided to remain clean “ceremonially”. But one might think an unclean place is a place that devils would hang out.

Back to our text:

Matthew tells us that Jesus is met these two “coming our of the tombs” and gives the description of them as “fierce”.

Mark describes them as violent, even towards themselves: Mark5:5

Mark 5:5 ESV

5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

But Matthew simply says:

“no one could pass that way...”

Yet, it is not Jesus’ willingness to go where none other was willing that makes Him more than just a man.

It is the significance of what these spirits within the men say:

Matthew 8:29 (ESV)

29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God?...”

Even the demons recognize the personage of Christ.

They recognize the capacity of Christ, the person of Christ, and the position of Christ.

Jesus: Sovereign over the Spiritual

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?”

There are three questions the demons ask:

What have you to do with us?

Have you come here to torment us?

Before the time?

Notice that in question one: the demons recognize “Who” Christ is. Just like in Luke 4:34

Luke 4:34 ESV

34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

It is par for the course for the demonic to have a belief that causes their fear.

James 2:19 ESV

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

But in question 2, they recognize the authority/capacity of Jesus.

“Have you come here to torment us?”

Why else would the question be asked.

But look at the third or second part of the second question:

“before the time?”

The demons recognize and are certain of what is coming in God’s particular plan:

Revelation 12:12 (ESV)

12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Romans 16:20 (ESV)

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Matthew 25:41 ESV

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

They know there is a coming time for their judgement.

They know God has a particular plan.

They don’t want it to be too quick, because they know the outcome.

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.

There is no question amongst the demons to the power and person of the Christ.

The only question they have is will you give us a chance.

Jesus is more than a man.

He is fully God and Man…The God Man.

I call Him the eternal God Man, for He being fully God - took on flesh, lived perfectly, died horrendously, was buried, and rose again victoriously in a full bodily resurrection and has now ascended unto Glory.

Jesus: The Issue

You see…what we say about Jesus…what we believe about Jesus…what we do with Jesus is the Issue.

Matthew 8:32–34 (ESV)

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.

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.

The herd rushed into the sea and died

The herdsmen fled—they feared Jesus

The whole city begged Him to leave.

The demons believed but feared — they ran for their lives and it ended in demise.

The herdsmen believed and feared — for they were concerned with their loss of possession— In the Greek vs 34 says, “The herdsmen fled and went into the city and reported all things and the demonized man.”

It’s like the demon possessed men were no big deal.

“Oh yeah! and those guys with demons have been healed.”

The herdsmen were concerned with their livelihood, not their eternity.

The whole city believed and feared— their fear was unto death, not faith.

What you do with “The Issue”?

Walking Away, But In...

Recognize Him.

Believe Him.

Walk with Him.