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| 1 And they came unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. |
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| 2 And, when he went forth out of the boat, [straightway], there met him, from amongst the tombs, a man, in an impure spirit: |
Immediately – The story of the demons is connected with that of the storm on the sea, intimating that the demons will have considerable to do with stirring up the great "time of trouble." R5059:1
Out of the tombs – As there were no asylums at the time, the maniacs, demonized, were subject to the private care of their friends. R3771:6
An unclean spirit – Obsessed--that is to say, demons, the fallen angels mentioned in Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2:4 had gained access, and were in control of him. R5059:1
We should expect similar possessions today. In our judgment a large proportion of the so-called insane are in just that condition. R3771:3
They could not materialize, so the next best thing was to try to get possession of human bodies. Q671:T
Those who deny the personality of Satan must logically also deny the personality of demons, so frequently referred to in the Scriptures. R3771:3
While mankind are not all possessed of devils, through the spirit of evil they are all more or less possessed with the spirit of demons, the spirit of selfishness and thus, slightly insane, some more so, some less so. R3773:1
Being debarred from all association with God, these fallen angels have no longer any pleasure in things on the spiritual plane, but crave association with depraved mankind and a participation with him in sin. R1678:3
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| 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs, and, not even with a chain, any longer, was anyone able to bind him,– |
Had his dwelling – Having broken his cords and fetters and having left his home. R3771:6
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| 4 because of his having been, many times, with fetters and chains, bound, and the chains having been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters smashed, and no one was mighty enough to tame him; |
Plucked asunder – Manifesting a wonderful strength. R3771:6
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| 5 and, continually, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, was he crying aloud, and cutting himself in pieces with stones. |
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| 6 And, seeing Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him; |
Afar off – He must have seen the boat coming across the lake of Galilee, because he met Jesus immediately upon the landing of the ship. (Verse 2) R3772:1
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| 7 and, crying out with a loud voice, saith–What have in common with thee? O Jesus, Son of God Most High? I adjure thee by God,–Do not torment me! |
To do with thee – The expression "What have I to do with thee?" might be more literally rendered, "What have we in common?" R3772:2
There is nothing in common between the Lord and spirit mediums, hypnotism, mental science, Christian Science, etc.; and none should have anything whatever to do with them. R3772:2
Son of the most high God – The demons, fallen angels, recognized Jesus and spoke through the man's lips. R5059:1
While the Pharisees said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph?" (John 6:42) R1680:1
Torment me not – Apparently Jesus had already begun to command the unclean spirit to come out. R3772:1
Demon's answer to the command of Jesus. R5059:1
The demons apparently understood God had a time appointed which would Mark the limitation of their liberties and opportunities in connection with the tormenting of mankind by obsession. R3772:1
"Art thou come to torment us before the time?" (Matt. 8:29) R3772:1
The demons thus implied that an interference with their tormenting of mankind would be an injury to their rights. R3772:1
There are many amongst men who have similarly perverted notions of what are their rights, to impose upon others, to defraud, mislead, injure, pillage. R3772:2
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| 8 For he was saying to him–Go forth thou impure spirit, out of the man; |
Come out – This miracle was a demonstration of the power of the Lord over evil spirits. A lesson intended more for the Lord's people of the Gospel age. R3772:5
Of the man – This poor man is an extreme example of all out of whom the spirit of evil is cast through the power of the truth. R3773:2
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| 9 and he was questioning him–What is thy name? and he saith to him–Legion, is my name, because we are, many; |
What is thy name? – We may suppose that the Lord knew the man was possessed of a great number of fallen spirits, but brought out the answer for the sake of his disciples and the others crowded about. R3772:2
Legion: for we are many – About 2000, as indicated by the number of swine. R4976:2, 5059:4, 3772:5
So anxious were the demons to possess human bodies that there was a legion of them in one man. Q671:T
Hypnotism, mesmerism, clairaudient power and clairvoyant power are all part and parcel of the same great deception. R5059:5
Anxious in some manner to become associated with humanity, yet unable to assume human form, when they found a man willing, a legion crowded into him, thereby making him a maniac. R1678:4, 3772:3
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| 10 and he was beseeching him much that he would not send them forth outside the country. |
He besought him – The demons realized that they were subject to the commands of Jesus. R5059:2
Not send them away – The evil spirits apparently do not have special pleasure in their own company, and are debarred from all intercourse with the holy angels. R3772:3
Out of the country – To the abyss--to the second death, to utter destruction. R3772:4
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| 11 Now there was there, near the mountain, a large herd of swine, feeding; |
Swine feeding – Swine were condemned under the Jewish Law, and may therefore have been considered contraband. R3772:4
While the Jews did not eat swine's flesh, the foreigners did, especially the Roman soldiers, and the swine industry must have been a very lucrative one. R3772:4
The Jews of the vicinity were probably favorable to the industry, being interested in its prosperity; in the same manner farmers are interested in the prosperity of breweries, because through them they find a Market for their crops. R3772:4
Scholars are of the opinion that this part of the country was largely inhabited by foreigners, the owners of large herds of swine. R3772:4
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| 12 and they besought him, saying–Send us into the swine, that, into them, we may enter; |
And all the devils – They did not attempt to deny their identity, but admitted Jesus' lordship and power over them. F626
Obviously spirit beings. Those who deny obsession must account for the transfer of a disease of the mind from a man to a herd of two thousand hogs. R3772:5
Besought him – Apparently evil spirits cannot impose themselves, even upon dumb animals, until granted some sort of permission. R2173:3, 4976:3
Demonstrating that they cannot trouble us except as we permit them, or tamper with, or allow our minds to come under their hypnotic or obsessing influence. R4976:3
Into the swine – Rather than have no animal body at all, they prefer to have the bodies of swine. R4976:3
May enter into them – To obsess them. R5059:2
The entertainment of evil thoughts, the practice of vicious habits, seems to break down the will and give admittance to these evil spirits to have control of it. R3772:3
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| 13 and he suffered them. And the impure spirits, going out, entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down the cliff into the sea, about two thousand, and were choked in the sea. |
Jesus gave them leave – Demonstrating evil spirits cannot trouble us except as we permit them. R4876:3
The herd ran violently – Swine are not easily stampeded; if you want them to move you must whip everyone of them. R4976:2
They were crazed by the strange outside influence which took possession of their brains. R5059:4
Man, with his higher organism, is able apparently to stand much more mental torment than the brute creation. R3772:5
Two thousand – This part of the country may have been largely inhabited by foreigners, the owners of large herds of swine. R3772:4
There were enough demons to enter the whole herd. R4976:2
Were choked – Swine were condemned under the Jewish Law, and may therefore have been considered contraband and their destruction authorized. R3772:4
Because unwilling to cooperate for their own deliverance, mankind's help must come in another way--by the fall of present institutions. R3772:6
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| 14 And, they who had been feeding them, fled, and bare tidings into the city and into the fields,–and they came to see what it was that had happened. |
And told it – To clear themselves of responsibility and to tell them that the man who caused the difficulty was still near the spot. R3772:5
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| 15 And they come unto Jesus, and view the demonized man, clothed and of sound mind, him who had had the legion,–and they were struck with fear. |
Clothed – In his insanity he had torn off clothing and everything, but now peace and serenity reigned. R3772:6
Thank God for the clothing which we have in Christ's robe of righteousness, covering our blemishes and imperfections, the bruises of sin and the injury which we did to ourselves. R3773:2
In his right mind – Released from his obsession. R5059:4
Sane enough, when rid of the evil influence. R4976:3
Thank God that we can now see things from the better standpoint, from the only true standpoint. R3773:2
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| 16 And the beholders narrated to them, how it happened to the demonized man, and concerning the swine. |
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| 17 And they began to beseech him, to depart from their bounds. |
To depart out – Disregarding the healing of the man, selfishness reigned. If Jesus remained their hog business might be wrecked. R3772:6
This is exactly the reasoning of many in respect to the liquor traffic. R3772:6
They loved better the ways of sin than the promised ways of righteousness. R3773:1
Instead of desiring others to be similarly helped, they reasoned on the selfish side of the question, that his continued presence might wreck the business and economy of this prosperous country. R3772:6
Wherever the truth goes it creates a division and an uproar. R1633:3
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| 18 And, as he was entering into the boat, he who had been demonized was beseeching him, that, with him, he might be. |
Might be with him – "To you, who believe, he is precious." (1 Pet. 5:7) R3773:2
Perhaps fearful of being repossessed by the demons, perhaps ashamed of his previous course of life and old associates; but more probably to be a witness to the Lord. R3773:2
He wanted to preach to others of the great deliverance which he had experienced and to tell them of this further proof that Jesus was the Messiah. R5059:4
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| 19 And he suffered him not, but saith unto him–Withdraw into thy house, unto thine own, and bear tidings unto them, how many things the Lord for thee hath done, and hath had mercy on thee. |
Jesus suffered him not – Because it was not in harmony with the Lord's judgment of the Father's will. R5059:4
While Jesus refused the request, he did not spurn the consecration. R3773:3
Go home – If we cannot be the apostles to follow his footsteps, we can go to our own homes and to our friends and there confess the Lord and his mighty power in us. R3773:4
And tell them – Our Lord's journey on this occasion seems to have resulted in the conversion of but one person, the demoniac, his subsequent work there being done through him. R3773:4
How great things – We should not only witness with our lips, but in all the departments of our life, testifying that we are now sane, that we now have the "spirit of a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7) R3773:5
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| 20 And he departed, and began proclaiming, in the Decapolis, how many things Jesus had done for him,–and, all, were marveling. |
And he departed – Our Lord did not force himself upon them. R3773:1
Had done for him – Our Lord's journey seems to have resulted in the conversion of but one person, the demoniac, his subsequent work there being done through him. R3773:4
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| 21 And, Jesus crossing over in the boat again unto the other side, there was gathered a large multitude unto him, and he was by the lake. |
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| 22 And there cometh one of the synagogue-rulers, by name Jairus, and, seeing him, falleth at his feet, |
There cometh – While Jesus was enjoying the banquet at the house of Matthew. (Matt. 9:18) R2617:2
Rulers of the synagogue – In charge of its affairs, inviting readers, managing its schools, etc. R2617:1
According to the custom of that time he was, therefore, a member of the local Sanhedrin, the court which tried certain classes of offenders. R2617:1
Jairus – As a man of high station, no doubt he was acquainted with the noblemen of the same city whose son Jesus had healed. (John 4:46-53) R2617:1
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| 23 and beseecheth him much, saying–My little daughter is at her last!–that, coming, thou wouldest lay thy hands upon her, that she may be made well, and live; |
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| 24 and he departed with him. And there was following him a large multitude, and they were pressing upon him. |
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| 25 And, a woman, who had had a flow of blood twelve years, |
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| 26 and suffered much from many physicians, and spent all her means, and profited, nothing,–but had, rather, become worse, |
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| 27 hearing the things about Jesus, came in the crowd from behind, and touched his mantle; |
Touched his garment – The methods of restitution will doubtless be as varied as were the methods employed by Jesus in healing diseases at his first advent. One touched the hem of his garment, another stretched forth his withered hand, for another he prayed. R759:3
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| 28 for she was saying–If I can touch so much as his mantle, I shall be made well; |
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| 29 and, straightway, the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she knew, in her body, that she was healed from the plague. |
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| 30 And, straightway, Jesus, taking note in himself of the power which, out of him, went forth, turning round in the crowd, was saying–Who hath touched my garments? |
Virtue had gone out of him – Life, vitality, vigor. "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses" (Isa. 53:4; Matt. 8:17), a prophecy that has had its fulfillment. R2028:5, 3885:6, 1359:3, 133:1; A230; E125; F633
The Master was not merely using a divine power, but was using up his own physical power for man's relief. R5104:1, 454:3
Vitality, strength. During his ministry he was continually imparting his vitality to the suffering ones around him, thus impoverishing himself. R1359:4,3; E125; SM651:2
He did not partake of sin, nor did he share in imperfection, except as he voluntarily shared the sorrows and pains of some during his ministry, taking their pains and infirmities as he imparted to them his vitality, health and strength. A230
Jesus experienced the woes and sufferings of humanity without sharing in the imperfections and sins. He suffered for those around him, and made use of his own vitality in healing their diseases. R454:3
It is a fact coming daily to be more recognized among scientific men, that some persons possess greater vitality than others, and possessing more can communicate it to others who have less. R574:4
The greater the number healed, the greater was our Lord's loss of vitality and strength. E124
No wonder he was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." (Isa. 53:3) R574:5
"Touched with the feeling of our infirmities." (Heb. 4:15) R1359:4, 2028:6; E126
To bless and heal in mind and body the sinners about him was part of his dying. SM645:1
Turned him about – We can imagine the feelings of Jairus in consequence of this delay; while it added to his faith in the power of Jesus, it at the same time tested his faith in respect to the recovery of his child. R2617:2
Similarly, he gives us a ground for faith, and then, as we exercise that faith and act in harmony with it, he gives fresh corroboration; meanwhile testing it by permitting fresh difficulties, contrary suggestions, doubts, fears, etc. R2617:3
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| 31 and his disciples were saying to him–Thou seest the crowd pressing upon thee,–and sayest thou–Who hath touched me? |
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| 32 and he was looking round to see her who, this thing had done. |
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| 33 And, the woman, overcome with fear, and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came, and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. |
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| 34 And, he, said to her–Daughter! thy faith hath made thee well; withdraw into peace, and be whole from thy plague. |
Thy faith – Some were healed in answer to their own faith and some in answer to the faith of another. (Verses 23, 42) R759:3
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| 35 While yet he is speaking, they come from the synagogue-ruler's, saying–Thy daughter, is dead! Why, further, annoy the teacher? |
Why troublest thou – Hope is gone, submit to the inevitable. R2617:3
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| 36 But, Jesus, overhearing the word being spoken, saith unto the synagogue-ruler–Do not fear, only have faith! |
Only believe – Divine promises and blessings are to the faithful only--both as respects the present and the eternal life. R2617:4
Faith, not credulity, is the prime essential of an "overcomer." R2617:3
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| 37 And he suffered no one to follow with him, save Peter and James and John the brother of James. |
Peter, and James, and John – The Lord evidently loves fervency (warmth) of spirit or disposition. R2617:4
Not a selfish partiality, but rather as an indication that these three, specially zealous amongst the apostles, were further advanced in spiritual things, and best able to appreciate the privileges granted them. R2617:4
Noting our Lord's appreciation of zeal should lead all who are his followers today to strive after greater fervency of spirit. R2617:4
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| 38 And they come into the house of the synagogue-ruler, and he observeth a tumult, and persons weeping and wailing greatly; |
Seeth the tumult – The preparations for the burial were far advanced at the time of our Lord's arrival, for it was the Jewish custom to have a speedy burial after death. R2617:5
Them that wept – Matthew designates them as "minstrels." R2617:5
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| 39 and, entering, he saith unto them–Why are ye making a tumult, and weeping? The child, is, not dead, but, is sleeping; |
But sleepeth – A common word for death in both the Old and the New Testaments. (1 Kings 2:10; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor. 15:51; 1 Thes. 4:14) R2617:5, 2197:6
Since there is to be an awakening of the dead, Jesus spoke of death as sleep, a period of rest, of quiet, of unconsciousness. R5059:6, 2617:6, 1939:4
He spoke in the same manner of the death of Lazarus. R5059:3, 5611:5, 2617:5
He did not say she was in heaven or in purgatory or in hell. R5611:5
Our word cemetery means "sleeping place." R2617:5
Heaven is not a sleeping place, but a place of joyful activity and life. Neither could we imagine mankind sleeping in a Catholic purgatory, nor in a Protestant hell of eternal torture. R5060:1
Dr. Trench: "Thereby the reality of death is not denied, but only the fact implicitly assumed that death will be followed by a resurrection, as sleep is followed by an awakening." R2617:5
The Talmud contains the expression "when he slept" hundreds of times, as signifying the time of death. R2617:5
The second death is never called "sleep." R1939:4
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| 40 and they were deriding him. But, he, thrusting all forth, taketh with him the father of the child, and the mother, and them who were with him,–and entereth where the child was; |
Laughed him to scorn – Not appreciating what he meant, even as the disciples did not appreciate the word "sleep" when used in connection with Lazarus. R2617:5
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| 41 and, grasping the hand of the child, he saith unto her–Talitha, koum! which is, when translated–O damsel! to thee, I say, Arise! |
Talitha cumi – In the ordinary Aramaic dialect of the people, a term of endearment to a young maiden. The words are equivalent to, "Rise, my child." --Alford R2618:2
Greek, egeiro, meaning "to awaken, arouse, stir: (Liddell and Scott); a word used in speaking of the temporary awakenings of our Lord's miracles. R1512:2
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| 42 And, straightway, the damsel arose, and was walking about; for she was twelve years of age. And they were beside themselves, straightway, with a great transport; |
The damsel arose – Awakened temporarily, not counted as a resurrection. OV352:1; R360:2
A foreshadowing, typifying or illustrating the resurrection. R4603:4
Jesus was "the first fruits of them that slept." (1 Cor. 15:20) Christ should be the "first that should rise from the dead." (Acts 26:23) R2618:4
He merely awakened her, leaving her upon the same plane of death on which she had been born, and had thus far lived for twelve years. R2617:6
Nowhere is this designated a resurrection. R2617:1, 2618:2, 360:2
She did not come back from heaven or from hell; was not resurrected, but merely awakened out of the sleep of death. R2618:2
Our Lord's miracles were merely illustrations of the great work which he will do on a world-wide, gigantic scale by and by--through the power and influence of his kingdom. R5060:4
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| 43 and he commanded them, again and again, that, no one, should get to know this thing,–and bade that food should be given her to eat. |
Given her to eat – Indicating that the revived ones (in the Millennium) will require clothing, nourishment, and assistance, and will acquire strength gradually. R734:2
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