Where did all the demons go?

Matthew 8:28-34

If you were reading with me in Matthew 8, you recall the faith of the Centurion and after Jesus goes to Peter’s house and touches his mother-in-law and the fever leaves her, she begins to serve Jesus.  In the evening, people brought those oppressed by demons and He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.  It is no surprise, a great crowd gathered around Jesus and He gave orders to go to the other side of the lake.  And we read about the storm that came up and how frightened his disciples were till they woke Jesus from His sleep and he ordered the wind and the water to be calm.  And they came to the other side of the lake and Jesus has a welcome committee of two people, who would prefer He went elsewhere.

Now if you read verse 28, you will discover these two guys were living in the tombs and they were so violent, no one dared to go that way; that is no one, but Jesus.  Verse 29 gives us a wide screen view of what was taking place.  “And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”  I am always astonished that the demons lived inside of these men and knew Jesus without any introduction, they understood His authority, and also knew their destiny.  

In the letter of James on faith, he makes this statement; “God is one; you do well.  Even the demons believe – and shudder!”  I always feel the need to ask this question, especially to the church in America, where did all the demons go?  I have lived 71 years and been in church most of those years and have yet to see demons cast out of anyone.  But the truth is that in many parts of the world, those who bring the good news of Jesus are confronted with demons and are casting them out in the name and authority of Jesus Christ.  Does that make you wonder if we have given them other names?

Now the demons who lived in these two guys knew that the jig was up, and so they made a request that Jesus granted, and it was can we go into the herd of pigs and Jesus said one word “go” and behold the whole herd rushed down a steep bank into the sea and were drown.  If you believe much has changed from then to now, look what happened, the whole city came out to worship Jesus and see the two men who lived in the tombs, who were now made whole; wrong.  Those in the city came to Jesus and ask him to please leave their region.  They ask God to bug out, to leave, and you wonder why, the answer is they did not need God, much like many in the United States of America. 

 From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice