Basic HTML Version
54
The Ministry of Health and Healing
tempest and calmed the troubled sea spoke peace to minds distracted
and dominated by Satan.
A Demon Rebuked
In the synagogue at Capernaum, while Jesus was speaking of
His mission to set free the slaves of sin, He was interrupted by a
shriek of terror. A madman rushed forward from among the people,
crying out, “‘Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of
Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who You are—the
Holy One of God!’”
Mark 1:24
.
Jesus rebuked the demon, saying, “‘Be quiet, and come out of
him!’ And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came
out of him and did not hurt him.”
Luke 4:35
.
The cause of this man’s affliction was in his own life. He had
been fascinated with the pleasures of sin and had thought to make
life a grand carnival. Intemperance and frivolity perverted the noble
attributes of his nature, and Satan took entire control of him. Re-
morse came too late. When he would have sacrificed wealth and
pleasure to regain control of his life, he had become helpless in the
grasp of the evil one.
In the Savior’s presence he was roused to long for freedom, but
the demon resisted the power of Christ. When the man tried to appeal
to Jesus for help, the evil spirit put words into his mouth, and he
cried out in an agony of fear. The demoniac partially comprehended
that he was in the presence of One who could set him free, but when
he tried to come within reach of that mighty hand, another’s will
held him, another’s words were spoken through him.
The conflict between the power of Satan and his own desire for
[42]
freedom was terrible. It seemed that the tortured man must die in
the struggle with the foe that had been the ruin of his life. But the
Savior spoke with authority and set the captive free. The man who
had been demon possessed stood before the wondering people in the
freedom of self-possession.
With glad voice he praised God for deliverance. The eye that had
so lately glared with the fire of insanity now beamed with intelligence
and overflowed with grateful tears. The people were dumb with
amazement. As soon as they recovered speech they exclaimed one