Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-05-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
NTERNATIoNAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 10.

| Mark W, 1-2O-Golden Text, Mark v.
19-Memory Verse, 15-Topic: Grea,
Facts Respecting Salvation.
1. The fierce demoniac Tvs. 1-5). l..
"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. "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 the fiercer of the two, with.
| out denying that two were healed.
"Unclean spirit" Called unclean be.
cause the spirit defiled both body and
soul, the outward filth being a type of
the inward defilement.
3. "Could bind him." Attempts had
been made to bind him because he was
exceedingly fierce Matt. S:2S). Luke
tells us that he was naked. d. "Fet-
ters and chains" Fetters We're for the
feet; chains for any other part of the
body. "Tame him." 1t was impossi-
bic to bring his wild, savage nature I'M
der restraint.
5. Might and day" He was de-
prived of sleep. Mountains-tOmbs."
Here the demoniac had his home; for
all maniacs We're outcast as soon as
they became violent. for that age had
no provision for taking care of them.
Institutions of pity for the unfortunate
are among the gifts of Christ; an
tiquity knew nothing Of them, or Of
the spirit that would produce them.
Crying" Probably with hideous yclls.
"Cutting himself" Here Is an impress
sive picture of what all men would
become under the absolute dominion of
Satan.
II. The demoniac goes 10 Christ and
IS delivered Tvs. GLIB. 6. Ran and
worshiped." AS man he is attracted
toward Christ. but when under the
influence Of the demons he desires to
withdraw from Christ. 7. "And
cried" etc. 1t is impossible to account
for his strange consciousness Of
wonderful power in Jesus, or for the
utterance of language which comes, as
it We're, from being within the man
on any other hypothesis than the ex-
iJteIce of beings superinduced 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"
Rerein the true devilish spirit speaks
out. which counts it a torment not to
be suffered to torment others, and an
injury done to itself when it is no more
permitted tc be injurious to others.
8. What is thy name" Christ asked
the man mot the demon) his name in
order to get his attention and bring
him to consciousness Of his own per-
sonality. Legion" The demon an
swered, speaking through the man.
The Roman legion consisted of about
six thousand men. The word has come
to mean any 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 into the Deep" that is, the abyss
of hell, into the bottomless pit Uev.
20:3). Send us anywhere, anywhere
but to perdtion. 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 may have been kept to
supply their wants. II. Into the
swine" How could 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 our Lord with
wrong doing in sending the demons
into the 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 man and then
permit them to go where they wished.
III. The effect of the cure Tvs. HID. |
II. Filed" Their occupation was
gone. ''In the city" Gergesa, near
the sea. went out" The quickness |
with which intelligence flies in the
East. Matthew says, Behold. the !
whole city came out to 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 one
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 place there
is either deadly fear or great rejoicing.
16. "1'hey 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. H. "To depart" They no
doubt feared greater losses. They pre-
ferred swine to Christ.
~. The saved man at work fot
Christ Tvs. 1920. 1S. "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.
10. "Go home-tell" We owe our
first duty to our home and friends. 20.
{ IN,a ItrD Nrny 1nIr 41,>