“And He said to them, ‘Go.’” – Matthew 8:32
Did you know that about 71% of the planet is composed of ocean waters? Did you know that we’ve only explored about 20% of the ocean? That means 80% of the ocean is unexplored, unknown, mysterious, dark. Interesting. Did you know that the movie Jaws, which came out in theatres June 20, 1975, was the highest grossing movie of all time for two years? It was dethroned by Star Wars. Jaws, if you’re one of the few who’ve never seen it, is a movie about a small New England town closed down by a great ravenous white shark that preys on innocent helpless vacationing swimmers dragging them down in the deep. It was horror par excellence drawing on our primordial fears of the unknown of deep waters.
Many people have seen the movie more than once. There’s something about the fear of deep waters and predator beasts that draws us in, especially in summertime. I saw the movie once with my best friend, and then again with my sister. I just had to see her reaction at certain parts. Like when the diver is shocked by the head that pops out of the bottom of the abandoned boat, at night, in the dark, in the fog. If you’ve seen the movie, you know the scene. This big brother had to bow his head and cover his eyes the second time around with that scene. I laughed nervously as I knew what was coming, and then out loud as my sister, and the rest of the theatre jumped out of their seats at coup de gras. Rotten Tomatoes ranked the movie 48th out of the top three hundred movies of all time with a 97% score. It keeps people out of the ocean waters, lake waters, pond waters, tub waters, sink waters, puddles, to this day. Jaws struck a nerve with us.
Where am I going with all this? Well, there is something about deep dark waters and the threat of unknown predators with deep “lifeless eyes” which terrifies us. What beastly unknown creatures are yet to be discovered in the 80% of the yet to be explored deep dark mysterious ocean world? Such thinking isn’t unique to our day. People have always looked upon deep waters nervously. But this common imagery points to a very real underlying reality. There is something more than what we can only visibly see. There is a tangible world and an intangible world. But there are times when the tangible world is touched by the intangible. When that happens, worlds collide.
In many ways the unseen realm is more real than the seen one. For one thing, the unseen predates and is older than the seen world. The unseen had a beginning. Only the Triune God is Eternal. But there are beings from the unseen world that God created before us. One of these created beings proudly rose up against his Creator and was put down as a result (cf., Isaiah 14:12-19: Ezekiel 28:11-19). This first rebel tempted the first humans to sin (Genesis 3). Other beings from the unseen realm eventually followed the first rebel too. These “sons of God” lusted after the “daughters of men” leading to mutations called Nephilim or giants. In order to protect the people of this world God judged the world through a universal Flood and kept hope alive by grace through a man named “Noah” (Genesis 6-9).
But even after this the fallen one and his minions persisted in trying to corrupt humanity, a second unsuccessful attempt was made. This led to the scattering of humanity throughout the earth (Genesis 11). A redemptive plan was begun by God but has been opposed by the fallen Devil and his fallen demons (Genesis 12 – Revelation 22).
Finally, when humanity exhausted their efforts to redeem themselves, God Himself made a way of redemption (Romans 3:26; 2 Corinthians 5:19). God in Jesus Christ came to redeem the world and defeat the Devil and his demons once for all. It’s to a skirmish in this battle found in Matthew chapter eight that we turn to now. It’s worth your time to know about this because, whether you realize it or not, you are in this war.
28 When He had come to the other side,
Jesus and His disciples crossed from Capernaum on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, stilled a storm with a word, and reached the eastern side of the Sea near a place called Gadara (Matthew 8:23-27). The deep waters of this Sea may not have had a great white in them, but were also seen as mysterious, ominous, scary.
In many ancient religious cultures, the ocean and deep waters represent scary, mysterious, primordial chaos. The Babylonians believed in Tiamat, a great dragon-goddess of the sea, a terrifying, demonic force. The deep for them was literally a monster.
The Hebrew word tehom (תְּהוֹם) — means “the deep” in Genesis 1:2. “Darkness was upon the face of the deep.” There is darkness and a “deep” in the Creation account. “Leviathan” is a great sea creature mentioned in the books of Job, Psalms, and Isaiah (Job 3:8; Psalms 74:13; 104:25; Isaiah 27:1). In 1589 Peter Binsfield in his Treatise on Confessions by Evildoers and Witches associated Leviathan with being one of the seven princes of Hell.
There is a cross-cultural connection between deep waters and dangerous dark forces. The Mesopotamians had their Abzu/Apsu. The Norse had their Jörmungandr. The Greeks had their Charybdis. The Norse and Europeans had their Kraken. Even the Japanese had their Isonade. These dangerous dark creatures expressed their disfavor and rage through storms. The Assyrians and Babylonians had Pazuzu, their king of demons and bringer of storms and droughts and disease. The Egyptians had their god Set, the god of chaos, storms, and everything bad and disorderly. You’ve probably heard of Poseidon or Neptune, they expressed their wrath in storms especially at sea. There were other gods of mayhem, but the sea and dreadful dark demonic things were intricately connected.
In Revelation there is an Abyss (Greek: ábyssos) a bottomless pit where fallen angels and demons are imprisoned (Revelation 9:1 and 11; 20:1). At one point demonic locusts will ascend from this pit led by the Beast (Revelation 11:7). Abaddon rules this deep dark demonic cave. Deep waters and their abyss are pictured as hell’s staging area.
We shouldn’t be surprised that people would make such associations about deep waters and scary storms. All humanity has within them a God-created sense of right and wrong, good and evil, light, and darkness (John 1:1-18; Romans 1:18-20; 2:1-16). At Babel when the people once again rebelled against God and were scattered to the four corners of the earth, the further they got from God, the more God’s truth was embellished with their myths (Genesis 11). Therefore, throughout history when people looked at deep waters and scary storms, in their own vague far-from-God understanding they formed their pagan beliefs. These beliefs though far from God’s revelation truth, strongly influenced how people viewed such things as deep waters and the storms upon them. Thankfully, by God’s grace, the Holy Spirit reaches out to the lost to draw them to the truth that is in Jesus (e.g., John 16:8-11).
But deep waters are mysterious and foreboding to the unenlightened. Darkness creates fear. Seas swallow ships and sailors. Storms strike fear in the most seasoned sea travelers. Deep waters set limits between the known and unknown, between order and disorder. Deep waters are like disorderly demons. But the God of order prevails over it all (Genesis 1; 1 Corinthians 14:33 and 40).
to the country of the Gergesenes,
The country of the Gergesenes was part of the Decapolis, a pagan region, unclean as far as the Jewish community was concerned. It was a loose confederation of Greco-Roman cities filled with Greek culture, pagan temples, and unholy religious practices. This was the unconquered pagan land with a history of Baal, Aherah, Moloch and others. It was a place with a history of ritual prostitution, child sacrifice, divination, necromancy, the occult, and witchcraft. It was a place where pig farms flourished. It was a place “unclean” according to Mosaic law. The Sea of Galilee was a natural boundary between the Jewish “clean” world of the LORD and the pagan “unclean” world of the devil and his demons.
We shouldn’t dismiss the myth and religious practices of unbelievers as inconsequential. Myth and false religious practices serve as the veil of real evil. The devil and his demons devour souls through deception. There is a reason Jesus referred to the devil as the father of lies and a murderer (John 8:44). The devil uses religious ignorance to afflict unbelievers, and undiscipled believers in very real and harmful ways.
there met Him two demon-possessed men,
The parallel account in Mark and Luke only mention one demon possessed man while in Matthew two are mentioned. Perhaps Mark and Luke only mentioned the one man because he became more prominent in the Church (Mark 5:18-20; Luke 8:38-39). Matthew may have included the second man to show the power of Jesus. But the point made here is that upon gaining the shore of this dark place Jesus was immediately met by two men possessed, overcome, controlled, and indwelled by unholy otherworldly demonic beings.
coming out of the tombs,
In ancient Jewish understanding, tombs and burial places were considered spiritually unclean and associated with demonic habitation. The men living among the tombs were dwelling with death and its decay. Tombs were believed to be the dwelling place of demons. They were outcasts living separate from the life of the community. They were in a very real sense, indwelled by death. They were living walking dead men.
In the parallel accounts Jesus asks the demon possessing the man for its name. The demon identifies itself as “Legion.” This name is significant; it alludes to a number of things. It tells us an individual can be possessed or indwelled by multiple demons. But the name may also be significant in a broader way. Roman militaries were divided into legions. That the demons identified themselves in this way points to their influence in armies. When we look at 5he conflict and carnage of war, can there be any doubt that demons are involved? All the more reason to heed the Bible’s exhortation to pray for those in positions of authority (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Pray for their salvation and pray for them to be protected from demonic influences.
The demons identifying themselves in military terms may have been a way of telling Jesus they were ready for war with Him. It was an empty threat for the devil and demons have no chance with the King of Kings and LORD of lords. Jesus is coming soon to rapture His Church-bride out of this world (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Then for seven years there will be tribulation, God’s wrath poured out on this Christ-rejecting world (Revelation 6-18). Then Jesus will return, with us His army to vanquish His enemies and establish His Kingdom (Revelation 19-20). Yes, no “Legion” is much of a match for “Jesus – He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36).
exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.
Though the devil and his demons are no match for Jesus, they can still be intimidating. The parallel account in Mark and Luke describe the possessed man as having supernatural strength. Not even metal chains could keep him under control.
The words “exceedingly” (Greek lian) means beyond measure and fierce.” “Fierce” (Greek chalepos) means furious, fierce, uncontrollable, savage. The strength of this demon possessed man was other worldly and frightening. The man was raging out of control. The presence of this demon possessed man was a constant intimidating reminder of the reality of demonic influence.
But while others may have avoided the territory where this fearsome demonically possessed man ruled, Jesus went directly.
Confronting Darkness Saving Souls
Information on darkness, the devil, and his demons may titillate us, but there is a far more profound and powerful message to grasp her. That Jesus was willing to cross the Sea of Galilee, still a storm, and step on the shores of this forbidden foreboding region, SHOWS US JESUS IS WILLING TO GO WHERE OTHERS ARE AFRAID TO GO. THERE IS NO PLACE SO DARK, NO PERSON SO LOST OR FEARSOME OR FAR FROM GOD, THAT JESUS ISN’T WILLING TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND SAVE THEM. THERE IS NO DARK FORCE BEYOND THE RULE OF JESUS.
And Jesus in us by grace through faith should dissipate fear and make us fearsome to the enemy and his demons. Be a warrior full of courage in our battle with darkness because we are promised:
Romans 16:20 (NKJV) – And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
James 4:7 (NKJV) – Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
1 John 4:4 (NKJV) – You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Yes, be a warrior and courageous in the spiritual war, BUT MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR ARMOR ON! (Ephesians 6:10-18). Don’t go naked into the battle.
29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
Notice the demons have a sense of their eternal destiny, to be judged by Jesus. This speaks to Jesus’ deity and authority. Jesus is the “Son of God”! THE SON OF GOD! Jesus was, is, and always will be IN CONTROL, IN COMMAND. Because of that we have authority in His name in the spiritual war. He is our Commander and we carry His name.
30 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”
The choice of pigs as the receptacle for Legion is intentional and purposeful. Pigs were at the top of the unclean food chain. They were physically unclean and spiritually unclean. They were evidence of unclean territory.
32 And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.
The demons being given permission by Jesus to enter the pigs and then their running into the Sea, was like demons returning to their abode. It was like Pharoah’s army being swallowed in the Red Sea all over again. It was a vivid life picture of what baptism illustrates, the burial and removal of the sin of the flesh. In Christ, we plunge beneath the water and rise leaving behind our demons, death sentence for our sins, and all that separated us from the love of God and His gift of eternal life. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward reality, an illustration of God’s blessing to us, a free gift of His grace received by faith. And remember, the disciples with Jesus were seeing all of this. I wonder if when they were going out fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission, their memories ventured back to their Galilee experiences.
33 Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.
Some people, even though Jesus acts supernaturally to solve a supernatural problem, may come to see what happened, but still refuse to give their heart to Jesus.
Gergesene was the darkest, most spiritually compromised place accessible: Gentile land, pagan culture, tomb-dwelling men possessed by demonic spirits, unclean animals, and the deep waters of a sea already associated with a demon abode. It is one of the strongest demonstrations of Jesus’ power over dark demonic forces.
What Should We Conclude from this Account?
So what can we conclude from this passage? There is a lot to be gleaned here about demons, the demon possessed, those observing the demon possessed, and Jesus. The following is a summary regarding these areas.
Concerning demons. Demons can travel in pairs (8:28a). They were preoccupied with death (e.g., tombs – 8:28b). They can be “exceedingly fierce,” violent, raging out of control (8:28c). They are antisocial so that “no one could pass by that way” (8:28d). They know who Jesus is and sense His presence (8:29a). They operate as a group – “they cried out. . .what have we. . . Have You come here to torment us. . .” (8:29b). They are theologically and eschatologically aware of their destiny – “Have you come here to torment us before the time?” (8:29c). They seek to avoid judgment – They begged to be allowed to go into the pigs” (8:30-31). They know it is better to enter pigs than to face the judgment of Jesus (8:31). They know about prayer – “the demons begged Him. . ..” (8:31). They knew Jesus has power over them – “So the demons begged Him, saying ‘If you cast us out. . .’” (8:31). They know to submit to the authority of Jesus – “permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” (8:31a). They can go in and go out of people and animals – “So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine.” (8:32b). And when demons enter animals (or people) they create violent self-destructive behavior – “. . . Swine ran violently the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.” (8:32c).
Demons don’t die. The pigs perished, but it doesn’t say the demons did. Demons are believed to be immortal spiritual beings. They can be bound, imprisoned, cast out, confined but they are not destroyed or annihilated by God. They will ultimately be punished eternally in the Lake of Fire (8:32d).
Concerning those Demon-possessed. Demon possession can take place in individuals or more than one person (8:28a). They are preoccupied with death as we see they were staying in “the tombs,” or caves used in the mountainsides to place the dead (8:28b). They were “exceedingly fierce” or ragingly violent (8:28c). They restricted people’s freedoms – “so that no one could pass that way” (8:28d). They attacked people, waited to prey on people – “so that no one could pass that way” (8:28d). They are territorial – “. . .no one could pass that way” (8:28d).
Those demon possessed are under the control of demons inside them who speak through them using their physical vocal cords – “And suddenly they cried out saying. . .” (8:29a). They know who Jesus is – “. . .Jesus, You Son of God. . .” (8:29b). They know about Jesus’ authority – “Have You come to torment us. . .” (8:29c). They know about judgment – “. . .before the time?” (8:29d). They submit to the command of Jesus to “Go” (8:32a). And most importantly, they can be delivered or dispossessed of the demons inside them – “when they had come out. . .” (8:32b). In Luke’s account the man delivered is said to have been “healed” (Luke 8:36). The term “healed” is translated from the Greek term sodzo which is translated to save, deliver, protect, preserved, healed. This man was saved by Jesus.
Concerning those who are affected by the deliverance of people from demons. They may tell others what happened but aren’t necessarily personally impacted or saved from their sin as a result (8:33-34). They might be more fearful than faithful in their reaction (8:33-34). If you play with unclean things (like pigs) you’re exposing yourself to that which houses demons (8:32-34).
Concerning Jesus. Jesus was on a mission to reach a lost soul. He valued a soul so much that He was willing to put His life at risk, put His disciples’ lives at risk to cross a boundary evil had erected to imprison that lost soul (8:23-27). Jesus was following through on His refusal to bow to the devil made in the wilderness (8:28; Matthew 4). Jesus was unmistakably announcing to the devil and his minions that He was there to redeem those the demons had taken possession of (8:28-32). Jesus was there to remind the demons their judgment and sentence was sure. Jesus was there, with His disciples, to show them they needn’t fear the devil and his demons but should vanquish them and retrieve lost souls. Jesus was acting in a way that declared His arrival, superiority, and power over the god of this world.
What Can the Devil and Demons Do to Born Again Christians?
What can the devil and demons do to born again authentic real Christians? The Bible answers that question as follows.
- Tempt and Deceive
The Bible consistently shows that demons can tempt and deceive believers. Peter was warned by Jesus that “Satan has asked to sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31), and Paul cautions believers against the “schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). This suggests Christians are not immune from satanic/demonic targeting. The devil and his demons don’t want anyone to know how good, how great, how HOLY God is and how much He loves you.
- Physically Afflict
This is the most debated area. In Job 1–2, Satan, after receiving permission from God as well as God setting limits on him (I.e., Satan could not kill Job), afflicts Job (a righteous man) with physical suffering. In Luke 13:16, Jesus describes a believing woman as one “whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen years” with a physical ailment, yet she is called a “daughter of Abraham. “Some physical ailments, therefore, could have a satanic aspect to them.
- Mental and Emotional Oppression
Saul (1 Samuel 16:14–16), while king, was tormented by an evil spirit. Paul speaks of a “thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan” that caused him ongoing suffering (2 Corinthians 12:7). This thorn could be psychological warfare from the devil. Therefore, anxiety, depression, worry, fear, anger/hate/rage, and other psychological experiences could be a part of spiritual warfare.
- Infiltration of the Church
The Old Testament associates idolatry with the spirits of demons (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 18:2; 32:17; Psalm 106:37). The New Testament says that in Latter Days some would depart from the Faith by giving heed to “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1-2). The Apostle John advised believers to “test the spirits” because of the influx of “false prophets” (1 John 4:1). The false church of the end times will be influenced by demons (Revelation 16:13-14; 18:2).
- Demonic Behavioral Influence
Ananias and Sapphira are told by Peter that “Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit” (Acts 5:3). They were members of the early church, but their sinful behavior attributed to Satan’s influence. Paul warns believers not to “give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27), implying that sinful behavior can open doors to demonic influence.
What Can’t the Devil and Demons Do to Born Again Christians?
The devil is not equal with Jesus. The devil is a created, Jesus is not. The devil is limited; Jesus is not. The devil must seek permission for anything he does (E.g., Job 1-2). The Devil and his demons will one day be judged and condemned and sentenced to an eternity in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20). The Devil and his demons are limited; there are things they can do to Christians.
Before I summarize what the Devil and demons cannot do to real born-again Christians, you need to know that all people who reject the God of the Bible or who are playing religious games, are under the influence of the devil (1 John 5:19). Unbelievers are blinded to the truth by the Devil (2 Corinthians 4:4). The devil is on the prowl looking for people and their souls to devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). Sinfulness causes the pain and horrors of this world, but the Devil and his demons disguise it as precious, palatable, powerful, and worth pursuing rather than eternal life and a personal saving relationship with God in Christ. The Devil and his demons deceive people into seeing the things that cause death as something worth living for (Romans 6:23). And if people do not take God’s outstretched gracious hand and turn from their sins to God, they will end up with the Devil and his demons in the Lake of Fire (Isaiah 59:1-2; Revelation 20).
Because God loves us, He didn’t leave us to the mercy of the predator Devil and his demons. He sent Jesus to pay our debt of death on the cross. He made Jesus who was sinless, sin, so that whoever trusts Him as Savior could have the righteousness of Jesus put to their account (2 Corinthians 5:21). Then He gave us spiritual life by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-7). He transformed us giving us a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17). He poured out His love into our heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 13). He empowered us to obey Him (John 14:15 and 21). The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth (John 16:13). And all of this offered as a gift of His grace received by faith in Jesus. A tremendous gospel or good news message for those suffering the ravages of the devil and his demons. So, it would be an eternally wise decision to turn from your sins and rejection of God and trust Jesus, the only way, truth, and life way to get right with God, be spared eternal damnation with the demons in the Lake of Fire, and spend eternity with the Creator who gave His all to redeem you justly from that dark destiny (cf., John 14:6; Romans 1-6; Ephesians 2:1-9).
Now, what can’t the Devil and demons do to Christians?
- The Devil and Demons CAN’T Possess Christians in the fullest sense.
We should distinguish between oppression (external influence) and possession (internal control/indwelling). Since the Holy Spirit indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:19), full demonic possession is impossible for a Christian.
- The Devil and Demons CAN’T Separate Christians from God’s love —
Romans 8:38–39 explicitly states that neither “angels nor demons” can separate a believer from the love of God.
- The Devil and Demons CAN’T Ultimately destroy Christians —
1 John 4:4 promises: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
These are three things the Devil and demons CANNOT do to Christians. But having said that, when Christian’s sin, they “give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). This “place” (Greek topos) refers to a spot, location, position. The idea is giving the devil a beachhead from which he can then launch further attacks. When we sin, we open the door to demonic influences. It is significant that mention of the armor of God and giving a place to the devil is written to a church in Ephesus which was a city steeped in occult practices where the devil and demons were no doubt enjoying major influence. Yes, there are limits to what the devil and demons can do to Christians, but they can do a lot of damage when given a place in our lives because of sinning. The devil can wreck relationships, ruin reputations, and ravage otherwise fruitful ministry. Remember that.
How Can We Defend and Protect Ourselves from Demonic Influences?
We are in a war with legions of demons led by the Devil. God doesn’t send His soldiers into battle naked. The Devil and demons strip people to weak vulnerable, shameful nakedness, but God cloths us in heavenly armor. How can we defend ourselves and our loved ones in this war? I suggest the following.
- PUT YOUR GOD-GIVEN SPIRITUAL ARMOR ON – Ephesians 6:10-18 – Truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, Scripture, prayer.
- RESIST – “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
- BE SOBER – Don’t do anything that would limit or make you less alert to the devil’s and demonic influences — “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks (prowls) around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
- RELY ON YOUR AUTHORITY IN CHRIST – Believers are given authority over evil spirits – “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (Luke 10:17–20).
Demons can make life miserable and messy for the Christian. They can tempt us, they can harass us, they can upset us. They can even oppress us and hurt us. They can make us feel condemned, but they can’t condemn us. They can make us feel lonely and forgotten, but nothing, not the Devil or his demons can ever separate us from the love of Jesus. THE GREATEST PROTECTION AGAINST THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS IS TO TRUST JESUS AS SAVIOR, KNOW JESUS, STAY CLOSE TO JESUS, RELY ON JESUS, AND LIVE BY THE TRUTH OF JESUS. ALL OF THIS BY FAITH IN THE POWER AND SUPPORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Father we come to You in Jesus’ name. Please help us to be alert to the influences of the Devil and his demons. Holy Spirit give us discernment and power over the Devil’s devices. Jesus, use us to bring victories and to save souls of those enslaved by dark forces. Make us brace, courageous, strong in You. Please make us what we need to be, to do what You call us to do, for Your glory, until Jesus returns. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Devil, and your demons, in the name of Jesus, “Go from us!”