A Storm and Demons

So they set out in a boat. Jesus, tired from his day's teaching, went to sleep on a mat in the stern of the boat. After they had sailed a while a violent storm suddenly came up. The wind and waves washed so much water into the boat they were in danger of sinking.

The disciples woke Jesus, saying to Him, "Master, save us or we're all going to drown!"

Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and the waves, "Silence! Be quiet!" and there was suddenly a great calm.

He turned to His disciples and asked, "Why are you so afraid? Why do you have so little faith?"

And the fear the disciples had of the sea now turned to fear of Jesus and they said among themselves, "Who is this man? When He commands, even the wind and waves obey Him!" They still didn't understand deep in their hearts who He really was.

The next day, when they got to the other side of the lake, the land of the Gadarenes, they were met by two men who were possessed by demons. One in particular had been possessed for a long time; he was naked and lived in the tombs in the graveyard. No one had ever been able to confine him. If they were able to subdue him and bind him in chains he would break the chains and the shackles, the demons giving him superhuman strength. He would wander about the tombs screaming and crying and mutilating himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus arrive he ran to Him and fell down to worship Him. Jesus told the unclean demon to come out of him and he yelled, "What do we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come to torment us before the appointed time?"

Jesus ask him what his name was and he said "Legion" because many demons had entered him. He pleaded that they not be sent away to the abyss but be allowed to enter a herd of about two thousand swine feeding on the mountainside, and He allowed it. They entered the swine and the herd charged down the mountain into the sea and were drowned.

When the swineherds saw what happened they ran to the nearby town and told the people everything that had happened. Everyone rushed out to see for themselves and the found the man who had been demon possessed clothed, in his right mind and sitting at Jesus' feet. They were terrified and spread the word of what had happened around the country. They asked Jesus to leave so they boarded the boat. The man pleaded to go with Jesus but Jesus told him, "Go back to your own home and tell the people what God has done for you and how He has had compassion and mercy on you."

So the man went all about the whole region telling the people what Jesus had done for him and the people were amazed.

Life of Christ Part Eighteen - Disciples Instructed and Sent Out

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