耶穌在加大拉，從兩個被鬼附的人身上趕鬼的故事一直有許多人加以評論，因為這件事充滿了戲劇性。你應該也熟悉這個故事。耶穌將鬼趕到豬群中，隨後豬群就投入加利利海淹死了。但在這個記載中有兩件事特別突出。

         首先是魔鬼的反應，牠們說：「上帝的兒子，我們與你有什麼相干？」你不會期待猶太人承認耶穌是上帝的兒子，當然更不會期待邪靈承認祂了。但魔鬼確知發生了什麼事。牠們知道耶穌是誰，並且，某件驚人的事出現在歷史中，那就是上帝成為肉身住在人中間。魔鬼毫不掩飾的道出了耶穌真實的身分。耶穌是上帝的兒子。這並不是邪靈唯一一次直接道出耶穌真實的身分。牠們住在靈界裡，能看見我們在三度空間和時間裡所看不見的事。所以我們應該留心牠們的洞察力，即使牠們因曉得耶穌是誰而恐懼戰兢。

         這個故事第二個突出的地方是，當那裡的人知道所發生的事，全城的人都跑出來見耶穌。你可能期待他們是因著耶穌所做的事來求祂拯救。不，令人驚訝的是，他們對耶穌說：「請你離開這裡。」他們懇求耶穌離開他們的境界。在這裡我們沒有看到一場大佈道會或多人歸向上帝。他們只想快快將耶穌趕走。所以，我們看到邪靈承認耶穌是上帝的兒子，耶穌將牠們趕走；人卻想要趕走耶穌。

         你能解釋這麼奇怪的事嗎？

         我們讚美您，親愛的主。即使魔鬼在您的面前也要承認牠們的無能。因為您住在我們裡面，我們也有同樣的權柄能勝過牠們。

English

         The driving out of the demons from the two demon possessed men in the region of the Gadarenes has always received a lot of comment, because it’s so spectacular. You know the story well. Jesus casts the demons into a local herd of pigs who then rush down into Sea of Galilee and drown. But there two things which stand out in this account.

         First, the response of the demoniacs was, “What do you want with us, Son of God?” You wouldn’t expect Jewish people to be confessing that Jesus is the Son of God. And yet they knew exactly what was going on. They knew who Jesus was and that something remarkable had happened in history, in God becoming flesh and dwelling among men. They don’t pull any punches. They know exactly who Jesus is and they tell it like it is. Jesus is the Son of God. This is not the last instance where demonic spirit realm and they have eyes to see what we here in space and time do not see. So we should take note of their insight, even though they tremble at the very thought of who Jesus is.

         The second thing about the story is that the whole town, when they found out what had happened, went out to meet Jesus. You’d expect that they’d be so impressed with what He’d done that they would call on Him for salvation. No, rather surprisingly, they said, ‘get out of here, please’. They pleaded with Him to leave their region. We have no account here of great evangelism or a turning to God. They just wanted to get Jesus out of there, fast. So here you have demonic spirits confessing that Jesus is the Son of God, and Jesus getting rid of them. And you have human spirits trying to get rid of Jesus.

         Figure that one out!

         We praise You, Lord, that even the demons recognize their powerlessness in Your presence, and because you live in us, we have the same authority over them.