Authority Over Demons – Matthew 8:28-34

I had always believed that Jesus gave believers authority in his name to expel demons, but I had never done it. The first time I was called upon to do so, I was scared. I told the demon to leave in Jesus’ name and he laughed at me. I was confused. Why didn’t he have to obey? I realized eventually that the demon knew I didn’t really believe in my authority in Jesus to command him. When I really believed, he obeyed.

Much of the first world culture does not experience demonic oppression. But most of the rest of the world does. It was certainly a problem in Jesus’ day that plagued so many and for which people found too few solutions. Jesus was the solution.

And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 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?” Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. (Matthew 8:28-34 ESV)

Why would Jesus go to “the other side” of the Sea of Galilee? It was a predominantly Gentile region. Perhaps, as with the Samaritan woman he met at Jacob’s well, Jesus was led by the Spirit to minister to these men. We may presume this is the same account as Mark 5 and the casting out of the legion of demons from one man. Mark does not mention the second man, focusing only on one. Matthew recounts this miracle as a second triad of miracles Jesus performed, this being the second miracle of the second triad.

Demons must submit to Jesus, whom they recognize rightly as the Son of God, and whose judgment they anticipate already.  But they seem to know that this judgment is appointed for a time, recognizing that Jesus can judge them whenever he wants.  Why are we so afraid of them? The people of the town were afraid, according to Mark, because these men had supernatural strength and acted wildly.

These demons had so abused these men that they could not live in the community but lived as homeless men in the graveyard.  The demons yearned to remain embodied and were willing even to dwell in a herd of pigs than be dispossessed of a body.  But the pigs could not handle them either and rushed madly to their deaths.

Instead of being grateful for the redemption of two of their citizens or repentant seeing the nearness of the kingdom in Jesus the King, they begged Jesus to leave.  The loss of this large herd of pigs (evidence that they were not Jews) was a heavy loss. But they couldn’t see that the answer to their greatest needs was standing right in front of them.  If only they had embraced the Lord and learned from him instead of giving in to fear.

We don’t need to fear demons or loss either. Jesus is greater than all and capable of meeting our needs.