Meeting Evil

Matthew 8:28-34

Have you ever met something that is truly evil? The actions by terrorists in destroying the World Trade Center Towers and the thousands of lives lost there and in Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania gives us a hint at what true evil is - but there is nothing quite so purely evil as a demon.

Demons once were angels - beautiful and powerful beings created by God. 1/3 of all the angels decided to follow Lucifer in his rebellion against God - and thus became his subjects. They lost much - but are still very powerful beings - and are pure evil.

Jesus says in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy"

Earlier of Lucifer, Jesus says:

John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

As with Lucifer, then, demons are beings who only want to steal, kill, and destroy - creatures who speak a language of lies.

Interestingly, when Jesus meets a whole legion of demons - they try to use truth to throw Jesus off His game - just as they will do to us - if we let them.

If you remember - Jesus has crossed the Sea of Galilee with His disciples - they've just experienced Jesus authority over nature and are rebuked for not trusting Him. Now watch what happens:

28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.

First of all - there is some disagreement about where Jesus really landed. That's really not all that important - but if we take the view that it is near the town of Gadara - a Roman independent town located on the Southeast side of the lake.

The town was gentile controlled - this is important because this is Jesus' first foray into gentile territory.

So what happens - two guys come running at him out of the tombs. Luke and Mark mention only one man - perhaps he was the one that did the talking.

Apparently they were famous for being demon possessed. Often people who were too sick or possessed to live in town were relegated to the graveyard. Folks in those days dug sometimes several rooms in the hillsides to serve as family burial plots. Not all the rooms were occupied so people actually lived in them with the dead. Ughh!

Anyway - Matthew tells us that they were "violent," so violent in fact that "no could pass that way." Its true that often when a demon takes control of a human body they possess great strength.

We don't know exactly why demons want to possess people but they certainly have a great negative effect when they do.

The guys come running to meet Jesus. Now, perhaps they were coming to plead for mercy - most likely with the demons in control, they were coming to confront Jesus and scare Him away from their territory, as they did to everyone else who came by.

Then they speak to Jesus:

29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"

A more accurate rendering of the first phrase is: "what to you and to me" or in other words: "what have you and I got in common?"

They were trying to get Jesus to leave - saying they are as far apart from Him as is possible in their rebellion against God. But Jesus wasn't interested in the demons, who came to kill - but in the men, whom He came to give life.

They call Jesus the Son of God. Using Jesus true nature may have been a way to throw Him off guard and control Him - revealing a truth that was not really known about Him. In fact, people in that day felt that if you knew someone's full name it gave you power over them.

In some way they might have been trying to embarrass Him - letting out a secret too soon. Oddly - they recognized Him for what He truly was - yet they also knew the truth of their own destruction. They believed in Him, yet were destined for death.

This brings up an important point - just knowing who God is doesn't mean you are saved. You must put your trust in Him - rely on Him to be your Lord and Savior - you must have a relationship with Him.

They use the word "torture" - its both accurate and graphic. The book of Revelation reveals to us that demons will be thrown into a lake of fire - a place of absolute torment for all of eternity.

The demons didn't argue about their destiny - only the timing. They thought Jesus would send them to the lake of fire right then. But Jesus didn't. We'll get to why in a moment.

We find out there is some dialogue that takes place between Jesus and one of the demon possessed men. In Mark's gospel Jesus says:

Mark 5:8-10
Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil 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.

How horrible to be possessed by not one, but many demons.
Matthew continues:

30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."

Now some people have said - why were they raising pigs, which was an unclean animal for the Jews? Remember, though, that this is gentile country - they had no qualms about raising and eating pigs.

The demons apparently were so bent on inhabiting something that they would rather go into an animal, then be bodiless. Strange.

32 He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.

Look at Jesus' authority. He doesn't command them to go, He simply gives them permission to do what they wanted with one word. The pigs couldn't handle it, of course, and turn into a wild out of control herd that ran right into the lake and drowned.

I've always wondered if somehow the demons became trapped in the pigs - lying there, belly-up on the water.

It is interesting because one hallmark of demon possession or demon influence - is a lack of control.

Jesus said in John 8: "anyone who sins is a slave to sin." Sinning means we are controlled by something that by its nature is out of control.

Don't make the mistake some people make thinking you can sin a little here and there and be all right - that you have it all under control. You don't. Sin, like yeast, will eventually permeate your entire being if not dealt with by repentance and the blood of Christ.

One of the fruits of a relationship with Christ is "self control." The question for us is: who will be our master - sin or the Savior?

So the guys tending the pigs are pretty upset - most likely because this was their livelihood.

33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

Let's talk about the enemy for a few minutes - and see from this story how he comes to us to steal, kill, and destroy.

o The enemy will come to you using partial truth to control you

Be aware that you are in a battle - you are opposed as you seek to trust Jesus.

Satan can use "God talk" to fool you into thinking he's right and he uses enough truth to make you unaware of the lie.

o Satan is powerful - don't underestimate him

If you come at him without preparation and without knowledge and without covering you will get wumped. Remember Acts 19 - the 7 sons of Sceva? They tried to attack Satan without the covering of a relationship with Jesus.

You can't fight the enemy - his temptations or his attacks - on your own, you can't.

I want to go back to the idea of self control - because it ties into the conclusions about this story.

Some of this comes from John Eldridge, author of the book "Wild at Heart".

1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

If we are "out of control" by giving ourselves into sin - we cannot be "self controlled" enough to recognize when the enemy is attacking.

Eldridge says Satan has three attack modes:

1. Invisibility

I'm not here - its just you.

The men at first approach Jesus and on their own reputation try to force Him to leave - and Satan will do just the same - he'll give you or someone else an idea, and make them think it is their own. The dirty deed gets done, but Satan isn't blamed.

So tip #1: Be alert and so Unmask the enemy - the true source of lies and destruction.

He doesn't want you to trust Jesus so he'll use any means to get you away from Him.


2. Intimidation

If it doesn't work when we unmask him - identifying that he is "legion" - not just some guy from the tombs - then he will attack - show himself as the bully.

"What have we in common with you," they said to Jesus. "Get out of here, this is our territory and we're going to defend it," is the idea.

In our lives when we realize the enemy is behind the accusation or the fight or the situation - and we unmask him and say "I'm not going to let you win by Jesus' name!" then he takes the gloves off.

Tip #2: Be unwavering in your faith.

"Stand firm" Peter writes - don't let his hot air blow you over. He roars - and if you've ever heard a lion roar it is supposed to intimidate - and it does. But he is like a roaring lion - and he is mostly bark, unless we fool ourselves into thinking he can bite.

3. Negotiation

If he can't fool you or force you - he'll cut you a deal: "leave me alone and I'll leave you alone."

With Jesus he said: "Don't torture me, but send me into the pigs and I'll be happy."

Satan says to us: don't fight me and the battle will be easier. Don't be fooled by this -

Tip #3: Be Unwilling to compromise with him.

Jesus let the demons go into the swine because it wasn't time to punish them. That time will come. Jesus didn't compromise - and the demons went into the water and the pig-hosts died.

Satan tries to kill our heart or seduce our heart. Don't let the battle go - don't sell out to get out of a fight.