The Gadarene

Jesus and His followers went by a small boat to the country of the Gadarenes. As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit saw Him. This man did not live in a house, but in the place where they bury the dead people. He didn't wear any clothes and he was very wild. The village people were frightened to go near him. Some men had tried to tame this man by putting chains around his arms and feet, but he would break them apart. No man could tame him. All the time, day and night, he would make terrible cries as he cut and beat himself with stones. This man was truly ruled by Satan's evil spirits.

When Jesus was on this earth He came to the country of the Gadarenes to help this man. When the possessed man saw Jesus from afar he ran and knelt down before Him. Just as Jesus was to cast out the spirits from this man, a spirit inside him shouted out very strongly, "What are you going to do to us? We know you! You are Jesus, the Son of the great God! Promise us by God that you will not send us to the place of torment yet."

Jesus asked the spirit, "What is your name?" He answered, "Other people call me `many' (legion) because we are many. Then Jesus spoke and made the spirits go from the man. They entered into a large herd of pigs. The pigs were frightened and ran into a lake and were drowned.

After this the man in whom the unclean spirits had lived sat down and talked to Jesus. He clothed his body, and his thoughts were straight. Then Jesus returned to the boat to go away. This man begged Jesus to let him go, too, so that he could be with Him. But Jesus did not permit this. He said, "You return to your people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you. Tell them how He has had pity on you." The man returned to where he lived. There were ten villages there and he told the people what Jesus had done for him. The people listened quietly and were greatly amazed. (pause 2 sec.)

In our country, too, there are many evil spirits. Satan is like a poisonous snake on the trail who waits to strike (harm) you. Jesus came to this world to destroy the works of Satan. Although there are many evil spirits in the land, Jesus is not frightened of them. Jesus is powerful. He came to free us from the hand of Satan. The evil spirits know who Jesus is and are frightened of Him. They know that Jesus will punish them severely. Satan and his helping spirits are afraid of Jesus.

You beware of (watch out, flee) the ways of Satan and evil spirits. Ask Jesus to help you. Jesus has defeated Satan and all his works. Pray to Jesus and ask Him to take away your sins. He has power to do this and to deliver you from Satan. He will make you His son or daughter. He will never leave you if you always trust in Him.