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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 52 : THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Text: Matthew 8:28-34
29 January 2023

 

THE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

 

28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.
29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
30 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.
31 So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”
32 And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.
33 Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

Matthew 8:28-34

1. The Decapolis

a) This was the name of 10 small cities East of the Sea of Galilee
b) These cities were made up of Non-Jewish people
c) Gadara and Gerasa were two of these cities
d) Gergesa was a little distance away from the Decapolis
e) It was commonly called “the country of the Gergesenes” Matthew 8:28
d) It was also called “the country of the Gadarenes” Mark 5:1

2. The fear of the Disciples

a) Their fear surfaced in the storm
b) This fear must be fought and overcome
c) If the Disciples were gripped by fear, they would not be able to be effective apostles

3. The faith of the Disciples

a) This had to grow further
b) The Lord had to teach them how to exercise that faith

4. The demon-possessed men of Gergesenes or Gadarenes (Mark 5:1)

a) The Disciples saw for themselves how the demons feared the Lord Jesus
b) The demons recognised His power and authority
c) They knew Him to be the Son of God

5. The Lord Jesus cast out the demons from the two men

6. This story was also recorded in Mark 5:1-20

a) One of them was called Legion Mark 5:9
b) He was the more prominent of the two possessed men

7. The Lord Jesus was asked to depart from the Decapolis region by the people

a) The Gentiles were afraid of the Lord Jesus
b) They saw His power over the demons
c) They saw also how the demons possessed their pigs and that they were drowned
d) They rejected the Lord Jesus because of their ignorance and their sense of fear

8. Lessons of Faith for the Disciples

a) They needed to know more about the Lord Jesus Christ
b) Even powerful demons knew and feared Him
c) They needed to increase their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
d) They must not be like the Gentiles who were overcome by fear