In this chapter we have a picture of Israel’s state and God’s ways in grace. The man possessed of the devil is the delivered remnant, while the swine taken possession of, is unbelieving Israel rushing on to their destruction. The Lord, cast out of the world, leaves the man behind to testify for Him. Jairus continues the picture; he, the believing remnant, is concerned about his daughter, who lay at the point of death. She pictures the Jewish hopes. Jesus goes to heal her; but on the way another picture comes in, that is, the present time—the church period—when individual faith gets the blessing; this is suited to the Gentile also. When He reaches Jairus’ house, the daughter is dead, but the Lord encourages Jairus with the words: “Be not afraid, only believe.” She is dead to all but Jesus; then He raises her up and commands them to feed her. This is His care over restored Israel. Let us draw some lessons from the chapter.
Verses 1-5. Here we find man under the power of Satan; his dwelling is among the dead, and no man can bind him with chains, he is untameable, and he is miserable, night and day, crying, and cutting himself with stones. Try to improve the flesh, put it under restraint, all its good resolutions are broken, all its goodness disappears, and it is the same at the end. None but the Lord can meet such a case. It is the same with us all; in reality, there is no difference.
Verses 6-8. “But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped Him.” Satan tries to hold on to his prey, but must yield to the, Son of God. He said: “Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.”
Verses 9-13. The man is the mouthpiece of the demons; how terrible is his case; but there is a Deliverer. Satan’s day with that man is over; the demons do not want to be chained up in the bottomless pit. (See Luke 8:3131And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. (Luke 8:31).) The Lord allows them to enter the herd of swine—unclean Israel in figure—they ran violently down a steep place into the sea and were choked in the sea. Israel’s destruction.
Verses 14-17. “And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind.” What a change to that dear man; his unrest, his wretchedness, his nakedness are all gone, and there he sits in the presence of his Saviour! Were the people glad to see it? No, they were afraid; and when those who saw it, told how it came about, instead of worshiping the Saviour, they besought Him to go away out of their country. They had lost their swine, they loved their uncleanness, the pleasures of sin which are for a season. The Lord is the cast out One now. The world seeth Him no, more. He is the rejected One, cast out by the world.
Verse 18. “And when He was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him.” How nice this is, how refreshing to the Lord’s heart, that precious soul now delivered from Satan’s power, wants His company. Is it so with us, beloved children of God? Is Christ’s presence the one desire of our hearts now? But it could not be yet, he was to remain where his Lord was cast out. But his very desire to be with the Lord, showed he was the fit man to represent Him where He was cast out.
Verse 19. “Howbeit, Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” Does the man do it?
Verse 20. “And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:55As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5).) Now, He is gone, we are to shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life. (Phil. 2:15, 1615That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. (Philippians 2:15‑16).) May we be able to tell out to others what the Lord has done for us.
Verses 21-23. We find the Lord going on with His ministry. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, when he saw Him, fell at His feet, and besought Him greatly, saying, “My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” Jairus, a type of the believing remnant of the Jews, sees his daughter (in figure the hopes of the Jews) dying; he is much concerned. Why should not the Lord, the true Messiah, set up His kingdom at once. The Lord goes with Him. He knew Israel would reject Him, but He waits on them in longsuffering even after He is raised from the dead, giving them another offer (Acts 3), but instead of repenting and receiving Him, they stone Stephen, declaring by it, “We will not have this Man to reign over us.” (Luke 19:1414But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. (Luke 19:14).)
(To be Continued).