Following the Messiah(Part 14): Miracles in the North

Wayne Galloway
05/20/20 - Sunday Morning Bible Class

Wayne T. Galloway

www.fortloganchurchofchrist.com

1 Following the Messiah Episode 6 (00:00 – 13:41)  Miracles In the North

Opening:

1.  You have viewed the video “Following the Messiah Episode 6” at www.appianmedia.org and have worked through the study guide Lesson One available at www.appianmedia.org/free-download.  Note that this is Lesson One in the second group of worksheets.

2.  This study considers three miracles performed in the northern region of Israel:  The casting out of the demons into the swine in the country of the Gerasenes; the feeding of the 5,000; the woman in Capernaum healed from her hemorrhage.

Into the Text:

1.  The casting out of the demons into the swine in the country of the Gerasenes is recorded in Matt. 8:28-34; Mk. 5:1-20; Lk. 8:26-37.

2.  This account is shocking to most modern 21^st century minds.  Possession by demons may be intriguing to us as we watch a television show on the History Channel and we wonder how much of it is real.  In reading this account Bible believers accept this as a historical occurrence, but still have many questions about demon possession.  It is not our purpose to address those issues here.  We will address the description of the events and try to understand what Matthew, Mark and Luke are trying to convey in recording this event.

3.  Matthew indicates that there were two men demon possessed.  Mark and Luke only address one of them.  Perhaps because he is the spokesman?  He lives among the tombs.  He demonstrates extraordinary strength.  He screams day and night and gashes himself with stones.  He cries out to Jesus, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God?   Have you come here to torment us before the time?”  See Matthew’s account. 

It is interesting that he identifies Jesus as the Son of God and perhaps even more incredible that he asks, “Have you come here to torment us before the time?”  He knows who Jesus is and he is expecting a time when there will be a confrontation.  In Matt. 12:22-29 the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.  Jesus said, “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”  Perhaps this is what the Geresene demonic is recognizing.  Namely, that there is a time of confrontation with the kingdom of God.  Note that the demons (Legion) see themselves in opposition to the Son of God.  Note also that they recognize that He has power over them.  They request to be sent into the herd of swine (about 2,000).  Jesus gives permission and they rush down the bank and into the sea.

The man who was demon-possessed is now found to be in his right mind.  The people are afraid and ask Jesus to leave their region.  The one formerly demon possessed became an evangelist proclaiming what great things the Lord had done for him.

The study sheet calls attention to Jesus’ interest in the individual.  There are many examples of this.  As you think about your own relationship with the Lord is it a personal matter to you?  He has come to you to bring deliverance.  Oh, yes, Jesus came to save the world, but it is not a faceless world.  Do not allow yourself to get lost in the many.  Jesus did not allow this man to be lost to the powerful forces that overwhelmed him.  When you consider that the Kingdom of God has come upon you what impact does that have on you?  Does it bring you into a right mind?  Make you want to accompany Jesus?  Motive you to report what great things the Lord has done for you?  Or maybe you are like the people who were frightened and asked Jesus to leave their region.

4.  The feeding of the 5,000, not counting women and children, is recorded in Matt. 14:13-21; Mk. 6:30-44; Lk. 9:10-17; and John 6:1-14.

5.  John the Baptist has been beheaded and Jesus withdrew to a secluded place, but the people followed Him.  He had crossed the Sea of Galilee in a boat, but that walked around on land and assembled in anticipation of his arrival.  “He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.”  Luke says they were near Bethsaida (9:10), the birthplace of Andrew, Peter and Philip (Jn. 1:44).

While our tendency may be to look at these miracles as a series of, well just individual miracles, we probably need to see them from a broader perspective, in light of the confrontation of the Kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of darkness.  Whether we are discussing casting out demons, or healing the sick, or feeding people, all of this evidences the stark contrast between these two kingdoms.   While the one kingdom is destructive, the other is in the business of giving life.

Notice what Mark says,  “He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things” (6:34).  Usually we associate His compassion with providing them with food or healing the sick, but there is more to it than that.  The food comes after an extensive period of teaching.  Remember what He said to the tempter in Matt. 4:4?  “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”  Their being like sheep without a shepherd led to His teaching them.  I am reminded of what He said in Matt. 6:31ff.  “Do not worry then saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

It is not compassionate to withhold food from people who are in need when we have it to give (James 2:14-17).  But neither is it compassionate to withhold teaching from those who are like sheep without a shepherd.  Jesus came to give life.  That’s what His kingdom is about.  As citizens in His kingdom that’s what we are about too.  The war is on between the kingdoms.  Whose side are you on?   God provides for His people.  Whether that be food, healing from sickness, or demons, or freedom from some other element of the kingdom of destruction.  Interesting that Jesus “blessed” or thanked God for the food and that there were twelve baskets let over from five loaves and two fish.  The Lord seems to always bring an abundance of life to the situation.

6.  Matt. 9:20-22; Mk. 5:25-34; Lk. 8:43-48 records another miracle in Capernaum.  A woman suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years touched Jesus’ garment and immediately she was healed.  She was among the crowd and tried to remain inconspicuous, but Jesus called attention to the situation.  She confessed that she had done it and that she had been immediately healed.  Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” (Lk. 8:43ff).  There was a need for healing.  There was an acknowledgement of the source of healing.  There was an acknowledgement that faith had produced the healing.  Do you recognize a need?  Do you acknowledge the source of life?  Do you exercise faith in the healer?

7.  We often classify things into the two categories of physical and spiritual.  When reviewing these miracles we may call attention to the fact that there was physical healing, physical food, and provision for physical life.   Then we contrast this with the spiritual healing that Jesus provides through His teaching.   While some might focus on the physical benefits of the miracles, others might focus on the spiritual benefits.  Maybe we need to see it all through the single lens of God’s provision of life for his people.  Maybe the provision of food, health, freedom from control of demons is more spiritual than we realize and maybe the teaching that gives direction to sheep without a shepherd is more valuable that food.

Applications:

1.  When Jesus comes “into your region” what are you more likely to do?  Recognize Him as the Son of God as the demons did?  Ask Him to leave your region as the people did?  Find yourself in your right mind and go and tell others about the one who healed you?

2.  If Jesus were trying to find some seclusion would you seek Him out anyway?  Make a long walk around the Lake to be with Him?  Listen carefully to His teaching? 

3.  Had you been one like the woman with the hemorrhage for 12 years would you have had the faith to touch His garment?

4.  What do your responses say about you?  Your faith?  Your perception of Jesus?

5.  What is the difference between the demon who confessed Jesus as the Son of God and the woman who had the faith to be healed?  Cf. James 2:19.

6.  What evidences your thankfulness to God for the provisions for life that He has made for you?