Mark 5:1-20
“They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.
“They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.
Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!" For He had been saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" And He was asking him, "What is your name?" And he said to Him, "My name is Legion; for we are many." And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The demons implored Him, saying, "Send us into the swine so that we may enter them."
Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea. Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the "legion"; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine. And they began to implore Him to leave their region.
As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.”
Did you read all of that? If not, please go back and do so now.
Now, let’s look at what this passage is about. This is one of the most amazing passages. We learn so much in such a short read!!
First, what do we have? We have a man possessed by a legion of demons (v2). He is isolated and alone (v2 and 3). He is hated and people are so terrified by him that they have physically chained him time and again (v4). He is a tormented man in absolute anguish and physical pain (v5).
Next, let’s look at the events.
- Jesus comes on the scene.
- Demons bow.
- Jesus identifies the evil.
- Evil grovels.
- Jesus casts out evil and restores righteousness.
We may not think we have anything in common with a man possessed by a legion of demons, but if you look over that list of events, I think you’ll find, as I did, a common ground. It is the plan of salvation! When Jesus comes on the scene of our lives, we are acutely aware of our lowly status. We become aware of our sin problem. That sin problem is what chains us, what causes us torment and anguish and angst in this world! Humility is the right response to a true acknowledgement of Christ! What is His response to humility? Psalm 149: 4 says, “For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.” And so he did for this man.
But how does salvation and restoration come to us? First we must allow Jesus to identify the evil. Jesus asked the name of the demon within the man. He identified the whole of the problem. Then evil grovels with Jesus to not be cast out of the country but to be cast into pigs. And though evil believes it has been granted mercy by being cast into pigs, Jesus drowns the whole lot of them. Evil is destroyed!!! So it is when WE receive salvation and restoration. Jesus identifies our sin – the depravity of our souls. We may struggle against the truth and try to justify our sins by moving it “out of the way” as the demons sought to be cast into the pigs. But ultimately, Jesus still has victory!! He will conquer evil. You can either allow him to conquer it and raise you to life, as he did with this man. Or you can be as the demon and cast unto the lake in death, as he did with the demon-possessed pigs!
Did you read all of that? If not, please go back and do so now.
Now, let’s look at what this passage is about. This is one of the most amazing passages. We learn so much in such a short read!!
First, what do we have? We have a man possessed by a legion of demons (v2). He is isolated and alone (v2 and 3). He is hated and people are so terrified by him that they have physically chained him time and again (v4). He is a tormented man in absolute anguish and physical pain (v5).
Next, let’s look at the events.
- Jesus comes on the scene.
- Demons bow.
- Jesus identifies the evil.
- Evil grovels.
- Jesus casts out evil and restores righteousness.
We may not think we have anything in common with a man possessed by a legion of demons, but if you look over that list of events, I think you’ll find, as I did, a common ground. It is the plan of salvation! When Jesus comes on the scene of our lives, we are acutely aware of our lowly status. We become aware of our sin problem. That sin problem is what chains us, what causes us torment and anguish and angst in this world! Humility is the right response to a true acknowledgement of Christ! What is His response to humility? Psalm 149: 4 says, “For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.” And so he did for this man.
But how does salvation and restoration come to us? First we must allow Jesus to identify the evil. Jesus asked the name of the demon within the man. He identified the whole of the problem. Then evil grovels with Jesus to not be cast out of the country but to be cast into pigs. And though evil believes it has been granted mercy by being cast into pigs, Jesus drowns the whole lot of them. Evil is destroyed!!! So it is when WE receive salvation and restoration. Jesus identifies our sin – the depravity of our souls. We may struggle against the truth and try to justify our sins by moving it “out of the way” as the demons sought to be cast into the pigs. But ultimately, Jesus still has victory!! He will conquer evil. You can either allow him to conquer it and raise you to life, as he did with this man. Or you can be as the demon and cast unto the lake in death, as he did with the demon-possessed pigs!
Just a note here. There is section here, right after Jesus casts the pigs out, details how negatively the witnesses responded. They told the man what they saw happen to him and urged him to leave the region. I just want to say that sometimes when God is at work in our lives, onlookers may or may not understand and sometimes, as is the case here, they may be frightened to the point they don't want you hanging around. Major life change can be scary for anyone and for the onlooker that realizes Jesus' work to be contagious...he or she may run or want you to run in the opposite direction! This conversion, this event was radical. Sometimes being radical for Jesus warrants negative (sometimes VERY negative) attention.
But let's keep going to best part! If you choose life – there is more this passage offers!! The man, now free of his chains both physical and spiritual, longed to go with Jesus. That is an attitude of gratitude and dependency. How many times have you longed to leave the world behind you and be with Jesus? Yet, how does Jesus respond this time? He denies the request and gives the man His purpose for his life. The very same purpose he has given you and me. “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” When he did, the people were “amazed”!!! (Sidenote again - these people were amazed...some people get scared and want you gone, others are amazed! I guess you'll have to leave the response up to the Lord!) But doesn't this piece remind you of the great commission we find in Matthew 28?
What a simple command. Go and tell them. He didn’t say go to seminary, get trained and be a preacher. He didn’t say sit in bible study classes for the next year at your church so you can tell your neighbor about Jesus. He didn’t say develop a creative and culturally relevant plan. He simply said go and tell your people what Jesus has done for you and how He had mercy on you.
Do you do that? Do you keep it simple enough that when you meet someone, you tell them what Jesus has done for you? Do you even realize all that Jesus has done for you? Does it cause you to bow low and, in an attitude of gratitude, surrender everything you have? Are you even excited enough about your own salvation that you WANT to tell others?
If not, then I pray Psalm 51:12 for you ‘Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.’
This was an incredible read for me. I hope you will read and meditate on this passage and take its message to heart for yourself. May we all learn to keep it simple! May the gospel be our lives and our message regardless of where we find ourselves! Peace!
If not, then I pray Psalm 51:12 for you ‘Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.’
This was an incredible read for me. I hope you will read and meditate on this passage and take its message to heart for yourself. May we all learn to keep it simple! May the gospel be our lives and our message regardless of where we find ourselves! Peace!
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