Over the course of several weeks, I’m posting a series of devotional reflections for children on Matthew 8. This is the sixth devotional. Here are links to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth devotionals. Initially, I was planning to end the series with this one, but I’m going to expand it one or two more weeks. These are free for your use with your church or family.
After he calmed the storm, Jesus and his followers took their boat ashore near the village of Gerassa in the region of Gadarene near the Decapolis. Immediately, two demon-possessed men approached Jesus.
Read Matthew 8:28–34
These two men lived among the tombs— taking shelter in a graveyard of burial caves. Matthew tells us they were “so violent that no one could pass that way” (v. 28). We know from Mark’s account that the people of the village chained one of the men for his own protection. But the man had grown so strong and violent, he would break the chains. Now, this man would cry aloud night and day and cut himself with stones (Mark 5:1–5). Not only had these men given themselves over to sin, but demonic power now also held sway over their lives.
When Jesus came ashore, the men came toward him, and the demons spoke through them: “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” (v. 29). Next, the demons beg Jesus to cast them into a large herd of pigs feeding nearby. Jesus said, “Go!” And when they went, they caused the whole herd to stampede down a steep bank into the lake where they died in the water.
The miraculous deliverance is a picture of what Christ does for every sinner who experiences the salvation he brings. When we are baptized into Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, our old sinful life is drowned and we are made completely new. As 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
We might expect that this restored relationship with God would mean that these men’s relationships with fellow villagers would also be restored, but when the pig farmers reported what had happened in the town, “The whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region” (v. 34). They didn’t celebrate how the men’s lives were changed. All they could see was the profit that had drowned in the lake with those pigs.
Think, Pray, and Apply
Take a few minutes with your family to talk and reflect on the Bible passage:
In what kinds of ways, does sin affect a person’s relationship with God?
How does it affect a person’s relationship with other people?
Ask your kids to describe in their own words how Jesus deals with the sin problem in a person’s life.
When Jesus changes a person’s life, how does that affect their relationship with others? Is it always positive? Why?
Activity: Share Your Testimony. Parents, take a few minutes to share your personal testimony with your children. Tell about what your life was like before Christ (or if you’ve been a Christian since childhood, tell about times you’ve lived with a heart that’s distant from God). Then, tell how encountering Jesus and following him has made a difference in your life. How has this affected your relationships—for good and bad?
Pray: Jesus, thank you for your great rescue and salvation.
Gospel-Centered Family’s mission is to help parents and church leaders share Jesus with the next generation. Below you’ll find a link to Jesus Is Bigger Than Me: True Stories of His Miracles, my new board book that was recently released. You’ll also find our weekly links.
If you ever want to ask a question or give me feedback, please leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you. And if you’re loving the newsletter, please forward it to your friends.
Thanks again for subscribing and reading!
Jared Kennedy
Jesus Is Bigger Than Me
Kids live in the same beautiful and broken world that we inhabit, and they need to know that God is present and active in our world. More than that, they need to know that they can trust him. That’s why I wrote Jesus is Bigger than Me: True Stories of His Miracles.
In the book, children will learn that Jesus is good and powerful—that he has the power to heal and even give life to the dead. Most importantly, children will learn that Jesus is God, and through the stories of his miracles, they’ll be encouraged to go to him for help because he cares for them.
This Week’s Links
Here’s our list of blog posts we’ve found helpful:
Dale Hudson posted about leadership. This article is a top ten list for ministry leaders.
Michelle Anthony wrote about behavior vs. faith. It’s one thing to modify behavior with intimidation or fear of punishment; it’s something quite different o aim at the heart.
Ligonier Ministries had a post for husbands. It includes eight ways for a married man to love his wife.
What have you been reading online lately? Send us a note and let us know.