Matthew continued his gospel with these words concerning Jesus, “when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 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 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”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-nine of his book, Matthew shared how the devils asked Jesus, “what have we to do with you” where we read:
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, Jesus,
you Son of God? Are you come here to torment us before the time?
The verse reads, “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God?” Matthew began with the words, “and, behold” or “and lo and see”, “they cried out” which means “the demon possessed men spoke with a loud voice and vociferated”, “saying” or “uttering, proclaiming, declaring and questioning”, “what have we to do” which means “what even and indeed do the two demon possessed men have to do” “with you” or “with Jesus”, “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”. Matthew shared how these “demon possessed men” not only recognized Jesus as the Son of God, but were greatly concerned why Jesus came to them.
The verse continues, “Are you come here to torment us before the time?” Matthew added the words, “are you come here” or “have you appeared and become know in this place” “to torment us” which means “to torture, vex with grievous pains of body or mind, harass or distress the demons” “before the time” or “in advance and in front of the due measure, fixed, definite, opportune and seasonable time”. Matthew shared how the demons wanted to know if Jesus appeared to them to “torture” them in advance of the preset time for doing so.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we learn how the “demons” not only recognize Jesus for who He is, the Son of God, but they were greatly concerned that He was approaching them to “torture and distress” them before the time set to act in this manner. God has a plan, and He is always going to work it out, and even if there are “demonic” forces at work, none of them are more powerful than He. In fact, they fear Him. This Almighty God desires to have a relationship with every person who will yield their life to His Son Jesus, and when they do, no power in hell shall be able to conquer because Jesus is at their side.
Next time Matthew shares how there, “was a good way off from them a herd of many swine feeding”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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