"The Monster’s Ball" (MP3 Audio)

"The Monster’s Ball" (Matthew 8:28-34)

This passage is the only known account of Jesus dealing with "two possessed with devils" at the very same time. All the accounts of Jesus’ dealings with demons involve one possessed person, though that one person may have been possessed by multiple demons.

Such was the case with Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus cast seven demons (Luke 8:2; Mark 16:9). Then, of course, there was the demoniac who was possessed of a "legion" of demons in Mark 5:9.

In the passage under our consideration, there are two men, both possessed, who have occupied a piece of territory, through which they allowed no one to pass "by that way." Evidently, this area was near a cemetery, because whenever anyone attempted to pass they would come rushing "out of the tombs" (Matthew 8:28).

Now the modern-day reader is presented with two apparent anachronisms from which he must be released in order to receive the message from the Word of God. The first is the whole notion of demonic possession.

Matthew, the most Jewish in approach of the four gospel writers, chooses to focus on the overwhelming uncleanliness of the men. His account of these men is laced with facts that the Jewish mind would readily comprehend.

For instance, the men lived in the "country of the Gergesenes" (Matthew 8:28). This meant that the populace did not live according to the Word of God or rather the Law of Moses. They were what Paul would call "lawless" (Romans 2:12; Ephesians 2:12). The people did not have a common standard for decency and morality.

Within this region known for its immorality, these two men lived among the tombs. The Jewish mind would understand this to mean that they were dead spiritually, of course, but that they also did not mind living in and among dead things, which to the Jewish mind was unconscionable.

Then finally, to highlight the total depravity of the region (and these two men in particular), they are presented as being "exceeding fierce." This term in New Testament Greek is chalepoi lian which means "exceedingly violent."

This description is meant to underscore their propensity to confront, and, if necessary, assault anyone who entered their territory. Apparently, they were known for this, so that not many passed that way. Consider the following three points:

1. Monsters are made from things that are unclean.

If your father (who represents discipline and authority — Genesis 2:15-17) and/or your mother (who represents unconditional love — Isaiah 49:15) are not a part of your early upbringing, in a healthy, positive, life-affirming manner, you are missing something.

Both here (Matthew 8:28) and in Mark 5:1, the writers use the term "the other side." The Jewish side of the sea of Galilee was marked by morality and the covenant people of God — all this right about humanity. The other side is total depravity. It is evil without even a source of good.

1. Stay away from the other side.

• The two sides were in conflict from the beginning (Genesis 3:15) and will forever be in conflict (James 4:4).
• We were formerly monsters, living "on the other side" in the "country of the Gergesenes" "among the tombs" and we could be violently angry, and even accost you if you came on our territory.
• Jesus came for us, saved us, and took us to His side (Matthew 9:1).
• When you are born again, God commands you, in the words of 2 Corinthians 6:17 in the ESV: "Go out from their midst and be separate from them... touch no unclean thing, then I will welcome you."
• You can’t marry from that side (2 Corinthians 6:14).
• You can’t have close friends from the other side (1 Corinthians 10:20-21).
• The other side is home to the "ungodly," the "sinners" and those who are "scornful" of our faith (Psalm 1:1).
• They would accost newcomers violently (Matthew 8:28).
• But they couldn’t accost Jesus. In fact, they were afraid of Him because Hell and the Lake of Fire were created for their torment (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10). This is why they asked Him, "Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" in Matthew 8:29.

1. Jesus saves monsters.

• Jesus healed and delivered the men (Matthew 8:31-32).
• Jesus was asked to leave by those in authority (Matthew 8:34).

"Christ First, Christ Only, Christ Always"