Page 452 - Bible History

CHRIST THE FRIEND OF THE POOR AND THE SI 425
made clean? Where are the other nine? Is there none found to return and give glory to God save this stranger?''
Every human being, from Adam and Eve to the present day, has been forced to do battle with the evil spirits o are constantly trying to lead us into sin. Even our blessed Savior was tempted by the devil. But sometimes the evil spirits go much further than this. They take complete possession of a man, body and soul, so that he is no longer his own master but just a tool of the devil. He does what the devil wants him to do, goes where the devil wants him to go, and says what the devil wants him to say. The devil may torture him, throw him about and hurt him or cause him to su er some terrible illness. There were many such unfortunate creatures in Palestine when our Lord
was on earth.
At the very beginning of His public life, esus was
teaching one day in the synagogue of Capharnaum. Not a sound was heard as the people listened most attentively so as not to miss one word of what He was saying. Suddenly a voice rang out, "Let us alone, esus of Nazareth. We know that Thou art the Holy One of God.'' Immediately all was confusion. The people rose from their seats and looked around the
synagogue to see who it was that was speaking. Stand­ ing in the doorway, they beheld a man who was possessed by the devil.
Jesus commanded the devil to go out of the man, and the unclean spirit obeyed, crying out with a loud voice.
The d out devils