The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 10.

Subject: a Fierce Demoniac Healed,
Mark ", 1.2O-Golden Text, Marx ".
1o-Memory Verse, 15-Topic: Grea,
Facts Respecting Salvation.
/. The fierce demoniac Tvs. 1-J). 1.
"They." Jesus and the disciples. THE
other side" They crossed the Sea Of
Galilee from Capernaum to the Eastern
shore. "Gadarenes." This name in
Matthew is Gergesenes. and in the Re-
vised Version is Gerasenes.
2. 1.-THE tombs." These tombs were
either natural caves or recesses hewn
out of the rock, with cells upon their
sides for the reception of the dead.
"A man." Matthew mentions two men.
Mark and Luke speak only Of one,
probably tie fercer Of the two, with
out denying that two were healed.
"Unclean spirit" Called unclean be-
cause the spirit defled both body and
soul, the outward filth being q type of
the inward deflement.
8. Gould bind him." Attempts had
been made to bind him because he was
exceedingly fierce Matt. 1925. Luke
tells us that he was naked. 4. FEET
tiers and chains" Fetters were for the
feet; chains for any other part Of the
body. Tame him" It was impossi-
BILE to bring his wild, savage nature un-
der restraint.
5. might and day" He was de-
prived of sleep. Observation-Disclosures"
Here the demoniac had his home; for
all maniacs were cutcast as soon as
they became violent, for that age had
no provision for taking care Of them.
Institutions of pity for the unfortunate
ere among the gifts Of Christ; an
tiquity knew nothing of them, or Of
the spirit that would produce them.
Crying" Probably with hideous yells.
Cutting himself" Here is an impress
sive picture of what all men would
become under the absolute dominion Of
Satan.
II. The demoniac goes to Christ and
Is delivered Tvs. GLIB. G. IRAN and
worshiped." AS a man he is attracted
tcIard Christ. but when under the
influence of the demons lie desires to
withdraw from Christ. Z. "And
cried" etc. 1t is impossible to account
lUl LIS olldHSC OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Va
wonderful power in Jesus, or for the
utterance of language which comes, as
it were, from a being within the man
OH any other hypothesis than the ex-
i-tence of beings s~uperinduced upon
men. "To do with Thee" Literally,
What is there between Thee and me?
What have We in common? Why in.
terferest Thou with us? The devils
at once recognize their great enemy
with divine power. Torment me not"
Herein the true deviIish spirit speaks
out. which counts it a torment net to
be suffered to torment others, and an
injury done to itself when it is no more
permitted to be injurious to others.
0. What is thy name" Christ asked
the man (rot the demon) his name in
order to get his attention and bring
him to e consciousness Of his own per-
sonality. Legion" The demon an
swered, speaking through the a
The Roman legion consisted Of about
six thousand men. The word has come
to mean aay large number-a host.
10. "Besought." The demon knew
who was in authority over him. "Out
of the country" This is explained in
Luke S:31. They did not wish to be
sent Unto the Deep" that is, the abyss
Of hell, into the bottomless pit (Rev.
2O:3). Send us anywhere, anywhere
but to perdition. Send US to the most
shattered man; send us to the lowest
creature, into man or beast, bird or
reptile; anywhere but into hell. II.
Great herd" Though the Jews did
not eat pork the Roman soldiers did
and the swine ny have been kept to
supply their Wa % IL. Into the
swine" How C. IL demons enter
swine? We do not know. But we see
many things quite as difficult to under
stand. The connection Of mind and
body in US is an equally great mystery.
IS. "Gave them leave" The devil
cannot so much as trouble swine with
out leave from God. Were choked."
Cavilers have charged Lord with
wrong doing in sending" the demons
into tie swine and thus causing such a
great loss to the owners; but it should
be noted that what Jesus did was to
drive them out of the nan and then
permit them to 60 where they wished.
III. The effect of the cure Tvs. AID.
II. Fled" Their occupation was
gone. I'm the CITY," Gergesa, near
the sea. "Wen out" The %quickness
with which intelligence flies in the
East. Matthew says, Behold, the
whole city came out tc meet Jesus
Is. See him-sitting." There is q
marvellous contrast between the mans
former and his present condition. In
stead Of wandering among tombs. in
~nakedness, and filling the people with
terror by his wild, maniacal rawlings,
he is now sitting at the feet of Jesus,
clothed and in his right mind. Those
who come to Christ and take Him as
their Savior always come into their
right mind. Were afraid" They
knew they were in the presence of n
who had great power, and perhaps
they feared Jesus might send upon
them the punishment they knew they
deserved on. account of their sins.
When Christ comes into a place there
is either deadly fear or great rejoicing.
1G. They saw it." Those who fed
the swine and others who may have
been there when Jesus landed. Then,
too, the disciples may have told the
story. II. nc depart" They no
doubt feared greater losses. They pre-
ferred swine to Christ.
". The saved 1nan at work for
Christ Tvs. 1920. IS. "Be with Him."
How different is this grateful man
from what he was before he met the
Savior. He loved Jesus now and de-
sired to Join himself to Christ.
1a. go home-tell." We owe our
first duty to our home and friends. 20.
"Decapolis." From deka-ten, and