Two Possessed with Devils Matthew 8:28

Matthew continued his gospel with the following words concerning Jesus, “when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he said unto them, Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-eight of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus and the disciples met, “two possessed with devils” where we read:

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

The verse reads, “And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “he was come” which means “Jesus arrived and appeared” “to the other side” or “on the other side of the sea upon which He and His disciples were sailing” “into the country” which means “the region and tract of land” “of the Gergesenes” or “belonging to the place located on the eastern shore of Lake Gennesaret which means a stranger drawing near”, “there met him” which means “there encountered Jesus” “two” or “two men who were ” “possessed with devils” which refers to “under the power of demons”. Matthew shared at the time when Jesus and His disciples crossed the sea upon which they were sailing, two men who were demon-possessed “met” them on the other side.

The verse goes on to say, “... coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.” Matthew continued with the words, “coming out” or “proceeding from, forsaking, leaving and escaping from out” “of the tombs” which means “from the sepulchers and memorial burial monuments”, “exceeding fierce” or “greatly and beyond trouble, dangerous, harsh and savage”, “so that no man” which means “insomuch that, so then, therefore and wherefore no person whether male or female” “might pass by that way” or “could have the power, force and ability to go past and move forward through the tombs”. Matthew shared how the “two demon possessed men” were “savagely” “proceeding toward Jesus and His disciples” from the “sepulchers”.

When we think though Matthew's words in this verse, we see how intimidating these two men were who met Jesus and His disciples. No other person even dared to attempt to go by there. Though people could not pass through that way for the “fierceness” of the men, Jesus had no problem approaching them. Jesus was and is more powerful than any “evil force”, and this demonstration of His power only extends a greater invitation to every person to have a relationship with Him. May all who consider this omnipotent God yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and let Him deal with the “demonic forces” within the world.

Next time Matthew shares how the devils say, “what have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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