It was a magnificent display of the power of Christ that by his voice not one devil but a great multitude of devils were suddenly driven out. It is a display of that power. It is a manifestation or a declaration of that ability to save. such that you ought to come you ought to believe you ought to look and live you might say well i'm not demon possessed i don't dwell amongst the tombs i'm not quite that bad you're bad and you need jesus to save you from your sins as well they were saved from the power of the devil i mentioned colossians 1 31 he has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of his love we see that in john 12.
The Power of Jesus
Watch onSermonAudio
Summary
ExpositoryThe exorcism of the Gadarene demoniacs is a public demonstration of Christ's sovereign power to deliver sinners from the dominion of darkness, and is therefore a summons to faith.
The exorcism of the Gadarene demoniacs in Matthew 8:28–34 is not merely a historical episode but a public declaration of Christ's power to save. The casting out of a multitude of demons by Christ's voice alone demonstrates his sovereign authority over darkness, and this authority extends to the deliverance of every sinner from the dominion of sin and the devil. The sermon presses the listener to look to Christ and believe, for the same power that expelled the legion delivers souls from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son.
Key quotes
It was a magnificent display of the power of Christ that by his voice not one devil but a great multitude of devils were suddenly driven out.
You might say well I'm not demon possessed, I don't dwell amongst the tombs, I'm not quite that bad — you're bad and you need Jesus to save you from your sins as well.
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of his love.
Applications
- Believe in Christ and look to him for salvation, for his power to cast out a multitude of demons is the same power by which he saves sinners.
- Do not excuse yourself from need of salvation by comparing yourself favorably to others — every person is sinful and stands in need of Christ.
Questions this sermon answers
What does the exorcism of the Gadarene demoniacs have to do with salvation?
The casting out of a multitude of demons by Christ's voice alone is a visible declaration of his power and authority to save, demonstrating that he can deliver any sinner from the dominion of darkness.
Does this passage only apply to people in extreme spiritual bondage?
No — the preacher insists that every person is under the power of sin and needs Christ to save them, not only those in dramatic bondage like the Gadarene demoniacs.
What does it mean to be delivered from the power of darkness?
Drawing on Colossians 1:13, the preacher describes it as being transferred out of the devil's dominion and into the kingdom of Christ, the Son of God's love.
Study notes
Theological terms
- Kingdom of the Son
- Power of Darkness