081. LUK 8:35. THE DEMONIAC
Luk_8:35. The Demoniac
"Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind."’97Luk_8:35.
Christ Jesus came into the world to accomplish a threefold object. He came to glorify his heavenly Father’97to save sinners’97and to destroy the works of the devil. These three are inseparably connected. It is by destroying the works of the devil, that souls are saved, and God glorified. During his ministry, Christ made several attacks on the empire of Satan. He did so in the case of the child he delivered, Mar_9:17, Mary Magdalene, and the instance in the text.
Observe, I. His Miserable Condition II. His Restoration And, III. The Effects Produced.
I. His miserable Condition.
See from ver. 27.
1. He was possessed with devils.
Under the complete influence of malignant spirits. Satan seems to have had very great and general influence about the time of Christ’s appearance on earth. "But this is your hour, and the power of darkness;" Luk_22:53. Here we see an emblem of the misery of the sinner. Satan’s slaves. He rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience, &c.
2. He dwelt among the tombs.
Deserted the habitations of the living, and wandered among the sepulchres of the dead. Sinner said to "sit in darkness, and shadow of death;" Luk_1:79. The unrenewed soul, far from the favor and enjoyment of the living God.
3. He was mentally deranged.
Did not act as a rational being. When he was restored, it is said, he was in his "right mind;" therefore, not so before Sin is insanity’97the essence of folly’97the veries madness’97perversion of the judg-ment’97prostitution of all the faculties of the mind. Ecc_7:25; Ecc_9:3.
4. He was in a state of utter wretchedness.
Naked’97homeless’97wandering abroad in a state of pain and distraction. A true picture of the sinner. See the prodigal; also, Rev_3:17. "Way of transgressors is hard."
5. He was his own tormentor.
"He was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying and cutting himself with stones;" Mar_5:5. "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself." Sinner ruins his reputation’97destroys his health’97embitters his life’97and murders his soul.
6. He was dangerous to others.
"Exceeding fierce;" Mat_8:28. "One sinner destroyeth much good." It is sin and Satanic influence that fills men with anger, wrath, maliciousness, revenge, &c.; "from whence come wars and fightings," &c. Jam_4:1, &c.
7. No man could tame him.
See Mar_5:4. They had "bound him with chains and in fetters," &c.; ver. 29. So, the sinner is beyond recovery by any human device or power. Philosophy has tried and failed; legislators have tried and failed; civilization and education have failed. The power of the Son of God is, alone, sufficient to deliver from sin, and to save from the wrath to come. It cannot be effected by "might or power;" but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts.
Notice,
II. His Restoration.
Here, several things must be observed:
1. He was found of Christ.
Christ landed on the coast, and discovered him in his misery. So, Jesus has come expressly into our world to save sinners’97to seek and to save that which is lost. And Christ had compassion on him. He beheld his wretchedness, and contemplated his deliverance.
2. The instrumental means was Christ’s voice.
He spake, "and said, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit;" Mar_5:8. What a powerful word! He tried it on the deaf, and they heard; on the dumb, and they spoke; on the blind, and they saw; on lepers, and they were cleansed; on the winds and storms, and they were calmed; on the dead, and they lived; and now, on devils, and they trembled and fled before him! He also speaks pardon to be guilty, and peace to the distracted, breast.
Observe,
3. The efficient means was the divine power.
"The voice of the Lord is powerful;" Psa_104:7. His word, too, is omnipotent. "He spake, and all things were made; he commanded, and they stood fast." Gospel is the power of God to salvation. Christ has power on earth to forgive sins. Able to save to the uttermost &c.
4. The perfection of his cure He was found,
(1) Quiescent; "sitting." No longer wandering abroad’97no longer driven by the foul spirits’97calm and composed. Soul found of Christ, and restored by him, finds rest, &c.
(2) Clothed. Sensible of his shame’97garments obtained. So, the soul clothed with the best robe’97the garment of salvation.
(3) "In his right mind." Eye, no longer wild, but beaming with intelligence’97tongue, no longer raving, but speaking words of soberness’97feet, ceased to wander’97hands, no longer maimed himself’97an entire and complete change. So, the grace of God produces a new creation, erases the image of Satan, and engraves upon the soul the image of God. Eze_18:31; 2Co_5:17.
Observe,
III. The Effects produced.
1. He desired to abide with Christ.
Perhaps from fear of his old adversaries. Very proper. Soul’s safety is to be near Christ. The believer feels the force of the lines of the poet:
"Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storms of life are passed;
Safe into the haven guide,
O, receive my soul at last."
Or he might desire this from gratitude and love to Christ; attachment to his benefactor and deliverer. But Christ forbade him and commanded him to go to his own house, &c. Ver. 39.
2. He was obedient to Christ.
His will was lost in Christ’s. With joy and gladness he went forth and published abroad what Christ had done for him Pardoned souls are called to show forth Christ’s power and grace, and to testify what great things he hath done for them
Application
Here is a true picture, (1) Of the state and misery of sinners. (2) Of Christ’s willingness and ability to save. And, (3) Of the duty of those who have been brought out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS