35.   And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side. 36   And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. 37   And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling. 38   And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish? 39   And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40   And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith? 41   And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

I. Jesus Stills the Storm. Mark 4:41.

Verse 35. Recall what he did in the earlier part of the day. The speech of Mark 3:20-30; the incident of Mark 3:31-35; the Parable teaching, Mark 4:1-34. (Matt. 13:1). Why did He want to go across the lake at the end of so busy a day? Was He not tired? (v. 38). Were the movements of the Lord planned by Himself? (Jno. 6:38; 7:6, 8).

Verse 36. For what seemingly small task did He leave the "multitude?" Mark 5:1-21. (Comp. Acts 8:26-29). Did Jesus make any special preparation for the trip?

Verse 38. Why could Jesus sleep? Ps. 4:8; Isa. 26:3. How can His people find sleep in the midst of trouble? 1 Pet. 5:7; Phil. 4:6, 7.

Was there a wrong suggestion in what they said to Him? Is He ever (though He may seem so) indifferent to our troubles or dangers? What made them ever think He could be? (v. 40). What makes us think such things?

Verse 39. When a man is suddenly awakened by cries of distress, is he likely to be excited and flustrated? Was Jesus so? Did he cry out, or did He simply say "Peace be still?" What followed at once? What did that reveal to His disciples? (1) That Jesus had absolute power over and control of every sort of storms. (2) That when He gets ready He can stop a storm instantly. (3) That is the storm goes on it is not because Jesus does not care, or is unable to check it, but because He is permitting it for a wise and good purpose. Once they had learned this would they feel it so necessary to have their storms stopped on the instant?

Verse 40. What only answer could be given to the Savior's first question? What attitude should God's children hold in troublous times? Ps. 56:3, 4; 1 Pet. 3:14, 15. As to the second question--what is the antidote of fear? Ps. 27:1-3; Heb. 11:27. Should they have had faith by this time? Should we?

Verse 41. Was this sort of fear right and good? Heb. 12:28. What great lesson had they learned regarding the power and authority of the Lord Jesus?

      15   And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid. 16   And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine. 17   And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders. 18   And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him. 19   And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee. 20   And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled.

II. The Healed Demoniac of Gadara. Mark 5:15-20.

Verse 15. (For the account of the healing of this afflicted man, see Notes.) When the people gathered what living testimony to Jesus' goodness and power did they see? How [112] did it affect them? Are men ever really "clothed in their right mind" until Jesus makes them such? Gal. 3:27; Eph. 4:23.

Verse 16. What explanations and further testimony did they get from those who had witnessed the healing?

Verse 17. What motive can you see in this request? (v. 15, last three words; comp. Luke 5:8). What lower motive may have influenced some? (Swine.)

Verses 18, 19. Was this a natural and good desire? Did the Lord grant it? What great need prevented such enjoyment? Should Christian give themselves over to selfish enjoyment in even spiritual things when their testimony and helping hand is greatly needed? But can we do good work and bear true testimony without much secret communion with the Lord? Where should this testimony begin?

Verse 20. Where did the restore man publish his testimony? When did Jesus go to Decapolis again? Did they ask Him to leave the second time, so far as the record shows? Why did Jesus charge this man to publish the great kindness done to him, while in the case of many others He charged them not to tell it? (Think about the circumstances at Gadara, as compared with the other places.) Can any of us bear a testimony for the Lord until we have been really saved and helped by Him? If we have not personally tasted and seen God's goodness and power in Christ, what should we by all means do first? John 6:35; Ps. 34:8 with 1 Pet. 2:3, 4.

THE HEALING OF THE GADARENE DEMONIAC.

      This incident was so important in God's eyes that He caused it to be recorded by three of the four evangelists. (Matt. 8; Luke 8; Mark 5). Modern teachers have tried to avoid the gross imputation of falsehood to Jesus and the gospels by the theory that Jesus just adapted Himself to the superstitions of that day and country, and talked and acted as if there were really such evil spirits, when all along He knew quite well that it was not so. We need not stop to refute such talk. The record itself makes it impossible. The symptoms of demon-possession (distinguished from insanity proper) are today found in all the world and especially on "the firing line of the gospel," in heathen lands, especially India, China, Korea, Japan. (See the careful, scientific treatise by the late Dr. Nevins, on "Demon Possession and Allied Themes.")

      1. Matthew states that there were two demoniacs; Mark and Luke speak of but one. There is no conflict. If a historian should tell that Roosevelt went on a hunting expedition to Africa; and another would state that it was Roosevelt and his son Kermit--no one would think it a falsehood.

      2. Note the supernatural power these demons imparted to their victims. As the Spirit of God imparted to the human body of Samson supernatural strength, so these evil spirits lent superhuman strength to the men in whom they had made their abode.

      3. Note their instant acknowledgment of Jesus' person and authority: they worshipped Him, and begged not to be "tormented"--for He is the Judge (as they well knew) who had the power to punish them.

      4. Note that Jesus addressed the demons direct--not the man of whom the demons had possession. Such was the constant practice of Jesus and His apostles. [113]

Source: First Lord's Day Lesson of March. Lesson 9. March 3, 1918. Jesus Bringing Peace (Mark 4:35-41;