The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-05-11
A Fierce
DemoniaCHealed

Specially Prepared for This Paper


trends and tell them how great things thu
| ord hath done for thee. MARK 5:l9.
TiME.-Autumn, A. ID. q, the morning
following the events OF last lesson.
| PLACE-Coast of Lake OF Galilee, across
from Tiberas
| SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. - Other
| recorded cures of demoniacs: Matt 1882,
30; Mark 1926 duke 4SS-S5); Matt. 1922
| Luke ll:14); Matt. 17;l4-lS mark sl7-29'
| Luke s:3S-42). References 10 Satan:
| Chron 2l:l: Job 1:6; Psa. 1896; Iech. 81.
| New Testament references TO Satan: Matt
10; 1926; Is :2S: Mark 4:l5; Luke l0lS; 22:5'
John 1927; Acts $50; 26:1S; Rom. 1920; Tim
5:l5; Rom. 1893. etc. Demoss: Mark s;Ss
Luke 4:4l: s:1 1917; 1882; Cor. 1920, q +;
| Jas. 2:19; Rev. 1872, etc.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. 1. They" Jesus and the Twelve
The other side" Across the Sea OF
Galilee from Capernaum; hence to
ward its southeast extremity.
V. 2. "Out of the tombs" Which
were not far from the shore. "A man. y
Matthew mentions two demoniacs,
We may presume that the one Mark
tells of was so peculiarly fierce that
! the other was scarcely considered,
though we have no doubt Jesus healed
| thus afflicted was prone to haunt
places and follow practices regarded
by LEWIS as ceremonially unclean.
V. 3. Had his dwelling among the
tombs." Natural and artificial caves,
often very large, are found in this
region.
V. 4. Bound with letters" Chains
| fastening the feet Matthew tells us
that people were afraid TO pass that
way, because of this fierce man
"Plucked asunder." Like many an
other frenzied person, he seemed TO
have superhuman strength. Broken
| in pieces" Or torn asunder, if they
were Of rope
" 5. Might and day noun
tains and tombs" Roaming the hill
sides or hiding among the tombs
Crying and cutting himself" He
was in misery, and gave vent probably
10 fierce shrieks. He also had a pro
pensity to injure himself. The devil
is a hard paymaster (Rom. 6:23).
V. g. "saw afar off. He
must have discerned him when he was
yet out at sea "Worshiped Him
Fell PROSTATE before Jesus, as in
! worship.
V. 7. Cried with a loud voice 3"
An inarticulate Shrek. What have
-" etc. Literally What is there TO
me and thee" That is, What have
we in common" Son of the most
high God" title for Jesus that
was used by Gentiles rather than
Jews" Torment me not" Trench
says: THE true devilish spirit counts
il torment not to be suffered to tor.
ment others"
V. s. He said" Rather, was say
ing" Already, by word or manner.
Jesus had indicated his purpose to
release the demonized man.
V. g. What is thy name?" 1t is
said nothing goes farther toward
bringing a frenzied person to com.
posture than getting him to tell his
name. Legion" division of the
Roman army consisting nominally of
5000 soldiers, was called legion.
Here the term merely means many.
" 1G out of the country Luke
says into the deep" or the abyss"
that is, to Gehenna, the place Of evil
spirits.
" II. "A great herd of swine"
The region was largely inhabited by
Gentiles, or by religiously careless
Jews, since strict Jews deemed swine
unclean. and would have nothing to
do with the animal save under di.
rect necessity luke 15:15).
" 80 Jesus gave them leave"
Demons can do nothing among men
save as permitted by God; and this
assures us that he purposes to over
rule their work for our good. and
will enable us TO escape being harmed
by them q Cor. 1913. The herd
ran (rushed) into the sea"
The frenzied animals rushed down the
steep bank Thus the demons were
outwitted and we may presume could
only return TO their own place
V. IA. They fed" The keepers
were dismayed, perhaps feared for
their own lives, and hurried home
ward, spreading the news of the event
in the country and the city as they
went. They" Many of those who
heard the story of the swineherds
Matthew says the whole city"
V. Is. See him" Better in Rev
Yer, Behold" as the original
means TO look earnestly and intently
Doubtless many of them had known
this man in the past only to fear
him Sitting clothed, in his right
mind" Whereas before he had been
ever on the move. naked and dement,
ed. Were afraid" They felt an awe
Of both the man and his Healer
V. 16. They that saw it," The
| swineherds who returned with the
crowd. Told how il befell." They
fully reported both parts of the story;
but alas the loss Of the pigs impressed
the people more than the rescue of the
afflicted man.
Practical Points.
V. l. Jesus would seek and save
people Of every land.-John 1915.
V. 3. Many whom chains of iron
copnot hind NAV no hound nv tbo