THE history of the healing of the demon-possessed man is full of instruction, and rewards time spent on it in meditation, study and prayer. In this study paper I will simply outline the many instructive things that are revealed here.

Devil possession was very common during the time of Jesus' ministry, no doubt because Satan was fighting back when he saw the redeemer and deliverer had arrived. This man was under a particularly foul and powerful manifestation of devil possession. From the condition of the man while possessed we can view something of the evil malice and destruction of Satan. This is what Satan seeks to do to humankind. Here is a foretaste of the misery of Hell. Satan desires only to kill, wound, destroy, spread misery, and do and inflict evil. This is the tyranny everyone born into this world is born into. The devil is exceedingly clever at hiding his intentions. For this reason people will go through life never seeking to be free of this tyranny, and ending at last in hell. The devil's rule over humanity is seen in the fact that Jesus tells us in John 3:19 - "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil". The truth concerning all humanity that does not known the redeeming power and love of Christ in their lives is expressed by Paul in Ephesians 2:12b They are "without hope and without God in the world." The condition of the demon possessed man is a powerful illustration of the misery that every human being is travelling towards if they do not receive the salvation in Christ. Satan's malice is further illustrated in the fact that if he is prevented from harming humanity, he will seek to harm some part of God's creation, so the devil's requested to be allowed to enter the pigs.

The next thing revealed in this incident is the fact that the devil's recognised Jesus, and knew who he was, and knew his dominion and power over them. They did not love Jesus, but they did fear him. We can notice also that the devil's feared being cast back into hell. They do not want to submit to God, but they fear the misery their rebellion brings upon them. So the devil's made their request to Jesus (v.10,11).

We see also in this incident that Satan and his devil's can only work their evil by permission of God and of Christ. When Jesus came the devil's knew they could not withstand the power and command of Christ.

This raises the very difficult question why God allows Satan to work his evil in the world. We shall not be able to find the answer to this, this side of heaven. However there is one thought that helps. When Adam sinned he committed the whole of humanity to be under the dominion of Satan and his darkness. If God had judged and punished Satan and cast him into Hell at that time, Adam and all his posterity would have suffered everlasting death in Hell. When Christ returns and judges all, then the time of redemption ends. Satan is allowed to go on working his evil so that there is opportunity for people to receive the deliverance and salvation Christ won in his life and death.

The Ministry of Jesus, why he came into the world, is illustrated clearly here. He came to overthrow the works of the devil, and deliver sinners from Satan's kingdom of darkness. The devil's plainly knew this, and so feared Jesus. Let us notice and trust in the omnipotent power of Christ over Satan and his company. If we, by God's grace, have been delivered from Satan's kingdom, and by faith in Jesus we are children of God, then Christ's power and wisdom will keep us in this deliverance and in the love of God. In the midst of our many sins and failings, we must never allow the devil to shake this truth from us. We must hold on to this glorious truth that God saves to the uttermost those who come to him in Christ.

Let us notice also the willingness of Christ to save. Jesus took pity on this poor demon possessed man, and loved him, and worked salvation for him. He calls people to come to him and be saved, and promises that all who come to him will receive rest.

Let us note with sorrow the condition of the people in the world. This is the condition of all unless Christ claims them in love. The keepers of the pigs told what had happened. The population of the village came to see what they had been told. They saw the demoniac in his right mind, totally delivered and free. They did not rejoice in this. All they saw was a threat to their worldly ambitions, and so wanted to get rid of Jesus as quickly as possible. Such is the mind and heart of everyone unless God in mercy reaches down to them, and draws them to himself.

Lastly, let us see the commission every Christian is given by Christ. This delivered man wanted so much to stay with Jesus, and go with him. Jesus told him to remain where he was living; to go back to his family and community and tell them what wonderful things God had done for him.