In this story we see a rather horrible scene. Jesus crosses over to the other side of the sea to a graveyard where a fierce, naked, uncontrollable man lives. Why does Jesus go to this man?

You will remember that after the fall into sin in Paradise, God said that there would always be an antithesis between God and Satan. This means that there is a struggle, a fight going on between God’s children and Satan’s demons. Satan does everything he can to get people to follow him. But we know that God, through Jesus, has overcome Satan.

This Bible passage shows us something of that fight, that antithesis, between God and Satan. This uncontrollable man who stands before Jesus, is demon possessed. He lives among the tombs, the place of the dead. He has the powers of Satan at work in him.

When he sees Jesus, he immediately cries out to him. Satan wants to attack Christ, but Jesus shows his power over the devil. This demon-possessed man stops in his tracks and falls down on his knees in front of Jesus. And then Christ removes the demons from this man. Christ totally changes this man from someone who is naked and uncontrollable, into someone who is well-dressed and who sits peacefully at Jesus’ feet, listening carefully to his teachings. And so we see the power of Christ over Satan. Christ has total power over the devil.

We see this same fight in our own lives as well. Sometimes it is just so hard to do the right thing. Sometimes sinning really looks like the most fun thing to do. This is all part of that struggle. But know that Christ has won the victory over Satan. He is all-powerful and totally able to destroy the attacks of Satan in your life. Turn to Christ and ask him to help you fight against Satan in your life.

Reflection with your child:

What does it mean that there is an antithesis between God and Satan?