Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-12

THE OPPORTUNE MOMENT. The
ministry of Jesus was Incidental. Moving
about the country from place to place, he
came in contact with humanity on all Its
sides and taught and wrought In promo
tior of his cause as occasion offered. In this
way he displayed his wisdom and power
always adequate to every circumstance.
He was ever self-sufficient, whether in the
city or the country among the learned and
influential or the ignorant and obscure.
There may have been a purpose In all this,
either to manifest his glory q John, i:D or
to bless men. Our lesson presents Him In
a section of the country where the people
were greatly depraved. Gadara, on the
northeast coast of the Sea of Galilee, was
inhabitated by a mongrel race sunken to
the depths of animalism far below the
jewellers In our slums. Their chief occu-
patton, that OF feeding swine. aDhorred by
Jews (LuRe, xv:l6), indicated their despic-
able condition. rare opportunity was
offered when Jesus appeared among them.
THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT. (Verses 1
to % AS Jesus stepped from the boat in
which he had crossed the sea he was met
by a wretched being in the form of a man
from whom nearly every human trait had
departed. He had companion Matt.
viii:2S. not mentioned by Mark or Luke.
He made his home in the tombs and wore
no apparel duke, viii:2T. Day and night
he uttered loud cries and cut himself with
stones He was beyond the control of any
who would befriend him. resisting every
effort to bind him and breaking chains
that might be placed upon him He was
exceeding fierce. SO that after awhile men
summed him, not even passing along the
way where he was known to be. The Sc
cret of this unhappy condition Is stated TO
be that he was possessed with devils. The
fact is recorded with which people
were familiar duke, viii;36). What a
history lay back Of that possession no one
knows.
THE DEMONS oUTCRY. Oversees 6
and ID There is some evidence OF the
double personality. each part asserting
itself, as Jesus appeared. The remainder
of the manly nature. not yet utterly crush
ed, caused him to run to worship the Sa
vior. Doubtless. like many vile man now,
he hoped to find relief from his cruel mas
ter 1t was a frantic rush for liberty and
life, prompted by a lingering hope that
was nourished by the memory of better
days But this very proper approach soon
lost its purposes. The evil spirit regained
control and forced the man to speak for
him. The help that had been desired and
sought was quickly rejected. even before
1T was bestowed The dual nature repu-
dated the mighty Christ declaring Il had
no need of divine assistance. that there
could be no proper intercourse with the
Son Of God and imploring that no punish
ment be inflicted
THE MASTERS QUESTION. Verses
8, Q, 10) Who Is this that holds a man in
abject slavery, preventing what the better
Judgment would prompt? Who Is this that
recognizes the Son of God. rejects his au-
thority, knows his power and pleads for IA
vor? Jesus knew, but He would make a
disclosure for the benefit of His followers.
those then present and those who should
afterward believe. Hence came the ques-
ton, What Is Thy manner" The answer
was promptly given, opening up the spirit
world in a most interesting way, MY name
is Legion, for We are many" A whole col
ony of devils, under the acknowledged lead
ership Of one. had made their abode in the
man. The leader was able to speak for
all who owned him as their master. This
revelation was an excellent commentary on
the words Of Jesus, recorded elsewhere
Matt. xii:45.) This colony of evil spirits
were content with their habitation in the
man and earnestly desired to be let alone
at any rate not to be sent out of the coun-
try.
THE SUDDEN EXORCIsM Oversees
IL, -. 49, The voices of all the devils now
united In a request Seeing that they were
not to be left where they were, and anx-
ious not to be sent far away, they pleaded
that Jesus would send them into a herd of
swine that was feeding near by. The rea-
son for this petition cannot be given with
certainty. 1t may have been prompted by
a desire to inf1ict injury upon the owner of
the herd, true to the nature of evil spirits
At any rate that result followed. for the
swine ran violently down steep place into
the sea and were drowned AS the num-
Der was about 1900 1t is evident that the
colony was broken up and that each devil
found entrance into hog There may have
been another motive for the petition. This
catastrophe may not have been anticipated
The devils may have expected permanent
residence. It was the undoubted character
istc desire of each that he should be In
carnated. An evil spirit is carnalized, and
on that account unclean. (Rom., viii:7)
THE KEEPERS PETITION. Werses
IA. 10, 16, ~ The man was free; his old
master with his infamous crowd was cast
out; and the 1900 swine told the story of
the terrible consequences Of the new pos
session. Now the scene is changed. The
owner on learning from his hirelings what
had occurred, with his fel1ow-citi-
zens to the wonderful Jesus. who had done
by His word such a mighty act. They
looked upon the fishermen disciples who
gathered about the Master They looked