On a Certain Day

21. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 8: 28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 ”What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.  

Our text today has some fascinating facts in it.   For those of you who have been following this Matthew study know that earlier in this chapter when Jesus saw the crowds, he instructed his disciples to get a boat and go to the other side.  During this trip, is when “without warning” a storm came and the winds and waves beat against the small boat to the point where the disciples thought they were going to die and they cried out for Jesus to save them.   Jesus rebukes the winds and the waves and the disciples are amazed and they cry out; “What manner of man is this that even the winds and waves will obey him. 

Our text today picks up when the boat lands on the other side.  Look at who Jesus’ welcoming committee is:  two demon possessed men that were so violent that no one could pass that way.  This is so fascinating to me.  Out of all the places that Jesus could have landed on that shore, He goes to a place where no one dares to travel because there lives two men among the tombs (graveyard) where demons have made their home and society had written them off.   In Luke’s account it tells us that this man met Jesus naked and bound with chains and had been driven into the wilderness by the demon that possessed him.  In Mark’s account it teaches that this man would scream aloud daily cutting himself with stones and no man could tame him.    Both Mark and Luke identified the man’s name as Legion (because many devils were entered into him).   

I love this text because it shows that even if we have love ones or relatives or we ourselves are in situations where we are deemed useless by society and are inwardly tormented by our own demons (which may be many), Jesus still finds us.    Have you ever been in situations or have seen situations where it just seemed hopeless.   

You ever hear people say things like “They will never change, “They will never become anything,  “they are too far gone, “it’s hopeless”.    We don’t see those people as having a heart for God or they are so controlled by their addictions and habits and their traumas from the past that we feel that this is the way it will always be for they are viewed as beyond help. 

God can reach out to us even when our minds are controlled by other things and it seems that we don’t even have the ability to seek him.  These demon possessed men were not seeking after Jesus.  Jesus went to them.   The demons were so many and had such control over them that later in Luke’s account it teaches that Jesus had restored his mind.   His mind ……  He had lost his mind…..    His ability to reason, his ability to function, to be in control, to understand, to get his life back.   For everything starts with the mind.  As long as we have control of our minds, no one can hurt us, no one can make us feel inferior, no one can tell us that we will never be nothing, because in our minds, is the ability to dream, to see ourselves in a different place…..  living the life we’ve imagined and being all that God has designed for us to be.    It all starts with the mind.   Even the scriptures teach that there must first be a “renewing of the mind.”   This man had lost his MIND!!!!!!!!!! 

Even in our daily walk, longevity of time has a way of making us believe that God is not going to answer and God is not going to help, and this is the life that I’m doomed to  but I am hear to announce today that Jesus can find us wherever we are.  As a matter of fact if you read this text from Luke’s account (8:22-39) It says “Now it came to pass on a certain day;”      Oh!!!!!!!!!!!  I have to take a pause here and breathe……….   On a certain day..   That is a biblical term that means it was planned.   There is an end to our issues……  There is an end in sight.   On a certain day, Jesus went into a ship with his disciples and he said to them, “Let us go over unto the other side of the lake.”   

Oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I can’t breathe.     I love God so.   On a certain day.  There is a planned season scheduled for us, and it’s closer than we’ve imagined.   On a certain day.     This was not a coincidence.  Jesus was purposeful and led by God in all his decisions.    In the midst of his busy schedule, when the crowds demanded his attention, when his popularity was at his height, Jesus left it all, to go to a place where he would be met by two naked demon possessed men to let them know that it was their time. 

Okay,  I have to calm down.   I think I’ll stop here and tomorrow we will pick up the story.   On a certain day……    

Be encouraged,   I can’t wait to show you how this story ends.   Soooooooooooooo  Powerful. 

God Bless. 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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