THE ALL POWERFUL CHRIST

To show the power of Christ to help the needy souls.

To show the effects of sin.

To show the importance of witnessing of our Salvation.

To impress upon pupils the importance of Baptism.

To teach the privilege of church attendance.

To exalt Christ.

To show that He is the one to whom we should go for the solution of every problem.

Introduction: As we finished our study last week, we saw Jesus and His disciples in a ship on the Sea of Galilee. While Jesus slept, a storm arose and the disciples being greatly frightened, awoke Him and said, "Carest Thou not that we perish?" Imagine them saying that to Him who as God cared enough to come to earth and die for them. He spoke and the sea became suddenly calm. In this, Jesus exhibited His power over nature. Even the sea and the winds obey God.

In our lesson today, we further see His power. We'll see His power over the satanic world, over disease and over death itself.

Vs. 1 - The region causes this demon possessed man to be often referred to as the Maniac of Gadara.

Vs 2-7 - This demon possessed man had five outstanding characteristics.

Abnormal strength

Self-destruction

Fierce - Matthew 8:28

Wild - "neither could any man tame him"

Shameless - "and wore no clothes" - Luke 8:27

Also note that he had a dual personality. He ran and worshiped Jesus and then in the next verse he said, "what have I to do with thee".

Vs. 8 - Jesus informed the demons that possessed this man that they would have to come out of him.

Vs. 9 - Then He asked the man his name. "I am legion". A Roman Legion was 6,000 men. So many demons possessed this man that they could enter into 2,000 hogs. The man was saying, "I am a multitude of men; I am a commotion; I am an insurrection: I am a civil war within a single soul."

What a picture of the unsaved who have no inner peace and who cannot control themselves. Ephesians 2:1,2.

Vs. 10 - This verse continues to show the man's mixed up thinking.

Vs. 11-13 - Demons desire to be in a body of some sort. We don't know much about them as to their origin but we know the fruit of their work. Note that the swine couldn't stand to have in them what this man had possessed for years. They chose suicide.

In this man we see the fruit of sin.

Sin is suicide - "Had his dwelling among the tombs". He was literally living in the place of death, as are all the unsaved. John 3:36.

Sin is insanity - "Neither could any man tame him".

Sin is unbindable - You can bind it in one place and it will break out in another.

Sin is untamable - Only God can conquer it.

Sin is self-destructive.

What a sordid sight. But no more than a sinner who slashes his soul. The sins of the flesh take their toll such as drinking. But so do the sins of the soul such as anger, hate, jealousy, pride, etc.

Vs. 14-16 - Christ completely conquered the satanic world that had controlled this man and now he was a new creature. II Corinthians 5:17.

Vs. 17 - Some people value their material possessions more than the welfare and well being of the souls of men.

Vs. 18-20 -The man wanted to go with Jesus but Jesus had another job for him to do. He was to stay in the area where he had dwelled and tell people there about Jesus. God wants some to be foreign missionaries but He wants some to be home missionaries. "Decapolis" was an area of ten cities. Ten is the number of responsibility and reminds us of our responsibility in telling the Gospel far and near. This changed man's testimony prepared the area for Jesus to be accepted when He returned at a later date. Mark 7:31.

Vs. 21- 24 - Jesus on His way to raise up Jairus' daughter, after leaving Gadara and coming back to the East side of Galilee healed a diseased woman.

Vs. 25 - The life is in the blood. Leviticus 17:11. When one's blood is constantly flowing, life and strength are ebbing away. So she is a picture of sinners diseased by sin and on their way to death (eternal death).

Vs. 26 - The doctors of the day could not help her but only aggravated her condition. She had spent all trying to find a cure with earthly treasures and by earthly means. What a picture of sinners who are hoping and trying to be saved by earthly means.

Vs. 27-28 - She finally came to the place where she turned from all earthly hopes and turned to hope and trust in the eternal Christ.

Vs. 29 - With such faith and dependency as she had in Christ she was instantly healed. How like a sinner who puts his trust in Him for salvation and forgiveness of sins. John 3:16 and Acts 13:38,39.

Vs. 30-32 - Jesus knowing all things (John 18:4) knew someone was changed. He knows when every sinner trusts Him. He wanted her to 'stand forth' and acknowledge what had been done, for this would strengthen and benefit her. He wants all the saved to witness of Him and to follow Him in Baptism. Matthew 10:32,33; Romans 10:9-11; Matthew 28:18-20.

Vs. 33-34 - She went away a new person. No longer afflicted by disease. No longer under the condemnation of sin, Romans 8:1; nor are they any longer an outcast but are heirs of God, Romans 8:17, Children of God, Galatians 3:27 and possessors of eternal life. John 3:16.

Vs. 21-22 - Jairus was the lay president of the synagogue and a very prominent official in the ecclesiastical life of his city.

Vs. 23 - When his daughter was near death, he realized the futility of mere religion and he needed someone who could do for him what religion could not do. Jairus showed his faith by his statement and showed also his denouncement of those things he had formerly relied on.

Vs. 24 - Jesus was willing to help such manifest faith. This outward show of faith in Christ who was opposed by the scribes and pharisees meant a loss of prestige and power in his religion and probably a loss of many friends. But he had gained a greater friend.

Vs. 35-36 - Jesus comforted Jairus at the time of distressing news. He is the God of all comfort and consolation. II Corinthians 1:2-7; John 11:21-27.

Vs. 37-39 - It's a privilege to see Jesus work and He allowed only certain ones to see Him raise one from the dead. It is a privilege to go to church where people are saved and those are especially blessed who have that opportunity. At the death of this prominent official's daughter, the professional wailers and mourners were fulfilling their tasks vigorously.

Vs. 40 - Many laugh at Christ's words but they are truth. John 14:6.

Vs. 41-42 - Again He did the impossible. He conquered death. The words He spoke were Aramaic and may have been the words the mother normally spoke each morning when she went to get her out of bed. Note, all were astonished. The Savior is still astonishing people as He brings to life the Spiritually dead. John 3:1-16 and Ephesians 2:1.

Vs. 43 - He had no desire to be hailed simply as a wonder worker. He didn't want at this time to have this story spread by these eyewitnesses. He looked after every need. She needed feeding. He knows our every need and will never fail us. Matthew 6:25-34.

CONCLUSION: In our lesson we have seen the all-powerful, all-conquering Christ at work. He did what the civil authorities couldn't do in the case of the demoniac. He did what the medical authorities couldn't do in the case of the woman with the issue of blood. He did what the ecclesiastical or religious authorities could not do in the case of Jairus' daughter. Have you turned your case over to Him for the keeping and well being of your soul?