Jesus Over the Spiritual Realm
Matthew: The King and His Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 39:51
0 ratings
· 10 viewsYour confidence in the face of dark spiritual powers now and forever is Christ–our Victor.
Files
Notes
Transcript
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.
Your confidence in the face of dark spiritual powers now and forever is Christ–our Victor.
Your confidence in the face of dark spiritual powers now and forever is Christ–our Victor.
Remember what we’ve been seeing in the section of Matthew.
Jesus is authority and power over disease and sickness, Jesus is power over nature and the cosmos.
But now we will see Jesus’ authority and supremacy over the spiritual realm.
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.
First, let’s begin by examining some assumptions…
Understanding the Demonic – How ought we to view the demonic?
Understanding the Demonic – How ought we to view the demonic?
“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.” —C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
As a materialist with a world devoid of the spiritual realm.
As a materialist with a world devoid of the spiritual realm.
A materialist sees the world as being only made up of physical things.
It sees the world as only consisting of the “hard sciences.”
All the things we can smell, touch, feel, and observe.
Nothing else.
This is a great evil for it refuses to acknowledge that we have an enemy of the soul.
Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
This reality makes the materialist uncomfortable but we must reckon with it.
A second error we can make is equally as destructive.
As a magician with the “devil behind every bush.”
As a magician with the “devil behind every bush.”
A magician is someone who sees the spiritual realm as a every action in this life there is an equal and opposite action in the spiritual realm.
Every mistake was prompted by the devil.
This is the kind of thing that sees every angry outburst as the devils fault.
This kind of a magician like posture goes after every spiritual encounter because Jesus tells us…
…I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
Don’t be deceived, there are many that follow Jesus to try to get power from Him.
But have no real interest in Him.
Similar to the sons of Sceva that use the name of Jesus for their own purposes.
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”
They use the name of Jesus to try to get power from him over the spiritual realm.
14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.
15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”
16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
An unhealthy interest in the spiritual realm seeks to wade into the mysterious reality in our own authority.
Tinkering and trifling in areas that are above our pay grade.
Because in and of yourself, you’re much weaker than the demons.
This should not cause a fear but a sober-mindedness as we consider our interaction with the spiritual realm.
Now which of these two do you bend toward?
A Magician or a Materialist?
Its important to know because it shapes how you see this story!
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes…
This region was generally Gentiles.
This is important to keep in mind because Jesus says again and again that He has come to the Jew first.
But Matthew takes pains to shows us Jesus’ interaction with Gentiles.
Jesus likely withdrew to this region in an effort to get away from the crowds.
But even here we see the forces of darkness continue to be present everywhere.
Matthew records this as taking place in “the country of the Gadarenes” whereas Mark and Luke describe it as “the Gerasenes” (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26).
Now on the surface it looks like they’re describing different locations.
But I would contend that Matthew is focusing on the region, whereas Mark and Luke seem to focus on a particular place.
Why is it important to mention this?
This region was predominately a Gentile region.
Far outside the influence of the Jews does this next miracle take place.
It should also be mentioned that of the 12 times we see exorcisms mentioned in the NT, none of them occur in Jerusalem.
It should not surprise us that within the Gentile world, where Paganism is the rule of the day exists much demonic activity in this manner.
It shouldn’t surprise us that in pagan lands there was more “demonic” activity.
During Jesus’ ministry we see an uptick of sorts in the amount of interaction with the demonic because Jesus has come to destroy the works of the devil.
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.
Second, we will consider the demonized men…
The Demonized Men
The Demonized Men
What were they like?
The word that Matthew uses here translated in the ESV as “demon-possessed” is one word in Greek for “δαιμονίζομαι” which literally means to demonize.
Demonization is to be under the dominion of the demonic.
Demonization is to be under the dominion of the demonic.
We support the Hawe’s family in PNG and they often describe this kind of demonic activity.
Arguably one of the reasons for this this is the pagan nature of the land that they work in.
See Satan often works in more or less sophisticated ways.
In a place like PNG, paganism creates great fear within the people.
These demons manifest themselves in different ways than they may look in our own context.
To demonize is merely to be under the control of the demonic.
A person is mute from demons (Matthew 9:32)
A person physically blinded (Matthew 12:22)
A physical deformity (Luke 13:11)
They can afflict the physical. (2 Corinthians 12:7)
They can attack the spiritual.
They can attack the mental.
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…
Unclean as they lived among “the dead”
Unclean as they lived among “the dead”
3 He lived among the tombs.
These men lived among the “dead.”
The most unclean thing for a Jew would be touching a dead body.
These men dwelt among the tombs.
A place not only of isolation, it was a place of uncleaness.
The men are described as naked in Luke 8:27
For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.
These men were shamelessly exposed.
Shamelessly grotesque.
This is the life of the demonized.
Shameless and isolated.
coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.
Violent toward the surrounding area.
Violent toward the surrounding area.
Mark gives a fuller of the picture of the situation.
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.
The demonized are also violent toward others.
They are said to be “crying out” or “κράζω” or to “shriek.”
These men came running to the Lord Jesus…
You can just picture them running down to meet the boat that freshly arrive to land.
Notice what these demonized men cry out.
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?”
Their question is essentially, “What do you have to do with us, Jesus?” or “What are you concerned with us, Jesus?”
Isn’t it utterly ironic that immediately getting off the still as stone water with disciples asking, “What sort of man is this?”
That we get men running to meet Him that know exactly who He is.
The demons knew exactly who He is.
They knew exactly who He is.
“While the men in the boat are doubting what manner of man this is, that even the winds and the sea obey him, the demons come to tell them”
The term “Son of God” is equivalent with the term used “Messiah” or the Hebrew equivalent of “Anointed One.”
These terms are used to describe Jesus.
All the while Jesus has been describing Himself as the Son of Man who will come to suffer and die.
Matthew has already told us…
“Out of Egypt I called my son.”
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Here these demons recognize Him for exactly who He is.
Jesus’ authority over the spiritual realm.
Jesus’ authority over the spiritual realm.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.”
These demons come and worship Him because they know who He is.
They come and worship Him because they recognize Him.
As James even says…
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
These demons do more than shudder here, they come and FALL DOWN before our Lord.
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
These demon’s preemptively do what they will eventually do at the end of time.
This is also one of the reasons they are surprised.
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?”
Commanding the spiritual realm on the earth.
Commanding the spiritual realm on the earth.
They’re not surprised when they fall down before Him.
They’re not surprised when they honor Him with the praise that is DUE to Him.
They’re surprised at the sequence and place.
Notice that word “Have you come HERE…”
They are surprised to see the Son of God in power come to earth.
They were not prepared to see God the Son show up in this way and in this place.
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?”
All fallen angels wait for the day of final judgment.
They wait for the day when God will finally and decisively deal with Satan and all the fallen angels.
But here we see their surprise because it has come already.
The timing is what has surprised them.
Jesus has already started the “end-times ‘cleanup’ of the forces of evil” (France).
The cleanup job has started.
…the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
When we send out missionaries to where the gospel is yet to be believed.
Countries where people are still bound in darkness.
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.
Commanding the spiritual realm with ease.
Commanding the spiritual realm with ease.
The authority of Jesus commands the spiritual realm with ease.
This is why the Jews we see later in Matthew 12 accuse Jesus of being in league with the devil.
“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
Jesus would speak a word and the spiritual realms would obey.
25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
It’s not that the Jews did not have experience with exorcisms because we see examples of exorcist in places like Acts 19.
It’s with great ease that the Lord Jesus commands the spiritual realm to obey.
We’ve already witnessed the Lord Jesus resist satan in his temptations.
He resisted, temptations and overcame the evil one.
No, that would be incredible on its own.
During a period of church history referred to as the monastic period.
There was a monk that sought to do war with demons.
He wrote of his endeavor in Talking Back: A Monastic Handbook for Combating Demons.
Now we may stand back from this monk and be extremely impressed.
Let’s just pretend for a second that a monk or a very spiritual person have the ability to resist the power of the spiritual realm over their lives.
It may be impressive to us.
But it’s not helpful.
For one person to resist temptation is not enough for all of us.
We need something much more than merely to be impressed by the resistance of the spiritual elite.
You and I need power over the spiritual realm.
But with Matthew demands us to see is the power of the Lord Jesus over the spiritual realm.
Not only does Jesus resist the power of the evil one, he subjugates it.
He commands spiritual realm and it obeys.
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.
Commanding the spiritual realm with power to destroy the works of the devil.
Commanding the spiritual realm with power to destroy the works of the devil.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Why didn’t Jesus just destroy them in that moment?
We’re not entirely sure.
But what we know for sure is their defeat is sure.
Now keep in mind when Jesus spoke these words to these demon possessed men, the war was still raging.
I would argue that this is why she why we see such an uptick in demonic oppression in the ministry of Jesus.
Christ’s Victor Over the Principalities and Powers
This is a view that many have held throughout the course of church history.
A view that describes the victory that Christ won as being over the principalities and powers.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
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,
Notice how He does it…
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Notice the result nailing our sins to the cross…
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Jesus has “disarmed the rulers and authorities” by taking the penalty that we deserve thus the accusations of the enemy are no longer valid.
The rulers and authorities can no longer condemn the Christian.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Christ triumphed over his enemies by making a public spectacle of them by defeating God’s plan of salvation in Jesus.
Your confidence in the face of dark spiritual powers now and forever is Christ–our Victor.
Your confidence in the face of dark spiritual powers now and forever is Christ–our Victor.
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 Rejecting Crowds–Choosing swine over the Savior
The Rejecting Crowds–Choosing swine over the Savior
Now in Mark‘s gospel, he focuses, particularly on the man’s response to Jesus and Jesus‘s declaration to that man.
“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
But Matthew is different and we need to pay attention to what Matthew is saying particularly.
Matthew doesn’t focus in on one man.
Rather, he focuses on the crowds response to Jesus.
The crowds response to Jesus is one of rejection.
The crowds may have been viewing Jesus as destroying their profession.
But more than that, if you pay attention to what they say here and in Mark and Luke, we see that these men are actually afraid of Jesus.
Last week we saw the fisherman in the boat, trembling in fear at first at the waves, and then at the Lord Jesus himself.
34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
It’s no different here though first these crowds were trembling in fear at the demonic influence on these men, and now they’re trembling in fear at the Lord Jesus himself.
But it’s not a fear that leads to life.
It’s a fear that leads to rejection.
It’s the fear of unbelief.
The fear of unbelief that says,
“We are afraid that you might destroy all that we trust in!”
These men preferred their swine to the savior.
They preferred their pigs to the prince of peace.
And may I just say this is what all idolatry does to us.
There’s a serious warning here.
In C.S. Lewis’s book, The Great Divorce, he describes a place called “the Grayland” and in it ghosts can wander around.
He describes an interaction with a man that has a demon on his shoulder attached to him.
And the demon will whisper all sorts of rebel lusts into his ear.
That is until one of the shining ones comes and tells the man that he can remove the whispering lust.
You are surprised the man is not overjoyed to have it removed from him, but trembles in fear.
“Get back! You’re burning me. How can I tell you to kill it? You’d kill me if you did. . . . Oh, I know. You think I am a coward. But it isn’t that. Really it isn’t. Let me run back by to-night’s bus and get an opinion from my own doctor. I’ll come again the first moment I can.”
“Sinners prefer their darkness and their chains to the light and freedom of heaven, and so they dread its holiness.” —Michael Reeves
Your confidence in the face of dark spiritual powers now and forever is Christ–our Victor.
Your confidence in the face of dark spiritual powers now and forever is Christ–our Victor.
