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. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

One of Jesus’ rare forays into a Gentile context was on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which was really just a large lake about 13 miles long and 7.5 miles wide (approx). The place was near a town called Gadara. His ostensible reason for coming here was to avoid the crowds (vs. 18), but as one writer points out, “There can be no rest as long as the hosts of darkness oppose Him.” As with all His activities there were various levels of motivations, but one could argue that He had a pre-determined appointment with two violent, demon-possessed men. The staging of this event was poignantly near a graveyard where these men resided.

Whereas Mark and Luke mention only one demon-possessed man in their parallel accounts of this story, Matthew observes two. This is not a problem or contradiction, but reflects a common phenomenon when different people relate the same incident. One might say, “I saw John today” but leave out the fact that John was with Mary at the time. Another might give a fuller account, “I saw John and Mary today.” Both are correct.

While those in the boat wrestled with what kind of man Jesus might be, the demon possessed men had no doubt. By outward perception the men appeared to be insane, being violent and living in a graveyard. But they had the perspicuity to recognize who Jesus really was, namely “The Son of God!”

The demons spoke through the men and their concern had more to do with their own well being. Obviously, they didn’t care about the men they possessed and they didn’t care to worship the Son of God. They were completely surprised and maybe even offended by Jesus’ intrusion into what seemed to be their claim on humanity. At the least they appealed to a notion that it was not yet time for the judgment (see Jude 6). They also knew Jesus to be their ultimate Judge and Sovereign who would assign them to everlasting torment (see Matt 25:41). There is coming a time when Satan himself and all his demons will be banished forever into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:10) never to haunt mankind again. Until then the demonic world is limited by God’s permissive will, as we are about to see in this passage.

Father, thank You that Your power and authority reign over all that is evil in the world. I rest in Your ultimate control of my circumstances.