ONE WORD
Opening Prayer
Glorious God, I praise You for Your awesome power and might!
Read Matthew 8:28–34
28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Reflect on your recent topics of prayer. Are there any situations that you hesitate to bring to God? Why hesitate?Jesus was a Jew, his followers were Jewish, his teachings were all based on Jewish Scripture and he spent his whole life in Israel with the exception of a few forays into Gentile areas surrounding Israel, like Gadara (28), one of the Greek towns of the Decapolis. So is Jesus’ power limited to Jewish borders? Is his authority limited to the human sphere? This passage answers with a resounding “No” on both counts.
Matthew’s Gospel focuses on the demons rather than the poor men inhabited by these dark forces. It is the demons who speak (31), addressing Jesus with a Messianic title. Despite their noise (29) they are fearful (they know their power and their time is limited) and subservient (they acknowledge Jesus’ complete authority over them).Jesus utters one word (32). One word and demons flee.
There is no parity of power, no battle between the forces of good and evil. Jesus has ultimate and complete authority. How does this truth about Jesus give us hope in the face of the destructive forces of evil in our world?
Apply
The name of Jesus is powerful. How often do you speak the name of Jesus out loud over your situations? Try it! If you have difficult or frightening situations today—call out the name of Jesus.
Closing prayer
Pray, trusting in the power of the Sovereign Lord Jesus, for current situations where evil seems to have taken hold.
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