The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Jesus set out from his homeland eastward to the country of the idolaters, where the people lived without the law of God, ate swine’s flesh, and contacted unclean spirits, which possessed some of them. Those demon-possessed lived among the tombs as dead rather than alive. Woe to our earth if men moved away from the Spirit of God, contacted philosophers and scientists, and called upon the spirits of the dead! Then they would become evil, powerful in destruction, without humanity, and even dead spiritually.
Jesus came to this region which was affected by hell, and the spirits soon raced as mosquitoes meet together around a shining lamp at night, for the power of Christ is known in all inferior places. While his presence brings peace and rejoicing to his believers, the unclean spirits become desperate and afraid. As Jesus did not fear the roaring storm, so he feared neither demons, nor the demon-possessed, from whom the people fled fearfully as they saw them, and heard how they roared with iron chains, showering the passers by with big stones, wounding many and hitting themselves too.
Yet, Jesus spoke to them kindly with great glory, for he was certain that no spirit could hurt him. The demon-possessed fell down before Jesus’ feet, knowing that God himself dwelt in this Man Jesus.
Jesus knew the malice of hell, and showed his disciples that thousands of unclean devils dwelt in that poor suffering man, for the spirits sought a dwelling body as an instrument to carry out their destructive designs. They were not helpful to the demon-possessed, but they exhausted him, tore his soul, and made him a hellish thief.
Jesus cast an unclean army out of this suffering man with the word of his power. He considered the healing of a man more important than a herd of two thousand swine, which rushed down into the sea and was drowned.
Thus, we find that unclean spirits cannot keep quiet even in animals. In their running violently the herd was destroyed.
Then, we see the picture of paradise. He who became free from the power of unclean spirits sat before Jesus’ feet clothed and with his right mind thanking and praising. This is the end of Jesus’ salvation that whoever comes to him is neatly dressed, in his right mind, having peace in God, working hard, and becoming a new creation. The love of Christ prompts and edifies man. It makes him a messenger of order, a seeker of the truth, and an image of the divine love in the world of fear, lying, and prostitution.
The people of that medium felt the power of heaven with the spirits of hell, and they were greatly afraid. They did not worship to Christ, but asked him fearfully to go away, preferring their properties and pigs rather than the living Christ.
He who was healed and freed wanted to accompany Jesus and follow him under his protection, but Jesus commanded him to be his witness in his country. His comforting Spirit accompanied him, and his salvation became the hope of that region which was darkened with death. This man obeyed Christ and testified to his divine power in all the eastern cities and towns of Jordan.
Are you in your right mind sitting at Jesus’ feet, and bearing witness to his name and his power in public?