Jesus Restores the Demon Possessed Man- Mark 5
Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man
5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Reflection:
There are several interesting features to reflect on in this story. First we see the nature of the man who was possessed by a legion of demons. No one could bind him and his strength was so great, even chains could not keep him shackled. If is safe to say nothing here on earth could help him. He was helpless and powerless over the dark spiritual forces that held him hostage.
Then we see his encounter with Jesus. Right away he recognizes his identity and correctly addresses him as, "The Son of the Most High!" The great spiritual power recognizes the greater spiritual power. It reminds me of the verse, "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." More about this later. And then the demonic being gives his name which is Legion, meaning many. Later when Jesus cast out all the demons into the pigs, it is reports that they were 2,000 in number indicating just how many there were. Maybe that is why they were so strong.
We also see the demons begging Jesus to only send them into the pigs as a concession of mercy. The demons went into the pigs and they rushed into the lake and drowned. What happened to them after that we do not know. But we do know what happens to the man who was possessed. It says he was dressed and in the right mind. The shirt the demons ripped apart was replaced with a new one. The mind that was tortured with evil spirits was restored. One can only imagine the gratitude this man had for Jesus. In fact, he wants to go with him after this was all over. But Jesus told him to go back to his home and tell them what The Lord had done for him. Notice Jesus uses the word "Lord" here. lord has to do with power. And clearly Jesus showed his lordship over all creation here, even impure spirits.
So what can we learn from this somewhat bizarre story? First there is the reality of dark spiritual forces whose mission is to come and steal and kill and destroy. The apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6, "Our battle is not against flesh and flood, but against the spiritual forces and principalities of darkness in the heavenly realm." So demons and impure spirits are not just something spooky that someone made up to try and explain evil. They are real and exist today. But secondly and most importantly, they recognize to and submit to the authority of Jesus. And if you are a disciple of Christ and have the Holy Spirit, the same power lives in you that Jesus had. We don't need to be afraid of anything. As the scriptures say, "fear not for I am with you and will deliver you by the power of my right hand ".
And 1 John 4:4 reminds us that greater is He than is in us than he that is in the world. God has given us weapons to fight the spiritual battle, including the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. As Martin Luther who certainly struggled against dark forces as he sought to being the Church back to the Gospel wrote, "One little word (from Christ) subdues him." So realize today although there is a battle out there, in a sense the battle has already been won when Jesus conquered Satan and the power of death on the cross. On the cross Jesus overcame every power of darkness and one day when he returns the victory will be final. For now we don't have to live in fear because Jesus is at our right hand and He will never leave or forsake us.
5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Reflection:
There are several interesting features to reflect on in this story. First we see the nature of the man who was possessed by a legion of demons. No one could bind him and his strength was so great, even chains could not keep him shackled. If is safe to say nothing here on earth could help him. He was helpless and powerless over the dark spiritual forces that held him hostage.
Then we see his encounter with Jesus. Right away he recognizes his identity and correctly addresses him as, "The Son of the Most High!" The great spiritual power recognizes the greater spiritual power. It reminds me of the verse, "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." More about this later. And then the demonic being gives his name which is Legion, meaning many. Later when Jesus cast out all the demons into the pigs, it is reports that they were 2,000 in number indicating just how many there were. Maybe that is why they were so strong.
We also see the demons begging Jesus to only send them into the pigs as a concession of mercy. The demons went into the pigs and they rushed into the lake and drowned. What happened to them after that we do not know. But we do know what happens to the man who was possessed. It says he was dressed and in the right mind. The shirt the demons ripped apart was replaced with a new one. The mind that was tortured with evil spirits was restored. One can only imagine the gratitude this man had for Jesus. In fact, he wants to go with him after this was all over. But Jesus told him to go back to his home and tell them what The Lord had done for him. Notice Jesus uses the word "Lord" here. lord has to do with power. And clearly Jesus showed his lordship over all creation here, even impure spirits.
So what can we learn from this somewhat bizarre story? First there is the reality of dark spiritual forces whose mission is to come and steal and kill and destroy. The apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6, "Our battle is not against flesh and flood, but against the spiritual forces and principalities of darkness in the heavenly realm." So demons and impure spirits are not just something spooky that someone made up to try and explain evil. They are real and exist today. But secondly and most importantly, they recognize to and submit to the authority of Jesus. And if you are a disciple of Christ and have the Holy Spirit, the same power lives in you that Jesus had. We don't need to be afraid of anything. As the scriptures say, "fear not for I am with you and will deliver you by the power of my right hand ".
And 1 John 4:4 reminds us that greater is He than is in us than he that is in the world. God has given us weapons to fight the spiritual battle, including the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. As Martin Luther who certainly struggled against dark forces as he sought to being the Church back to the Gospel wrote, "One little word (from Christ) subdues him." So realize today although there is a battle out there, in a sense the battle has already been won when Jesus conquered Satan and the power of death on the cross. On the cross Jesus overcame every power of darkness and one day when he returns the victory will be final. For now we don't have to live in fear because Jesus is at our right hand and He will never leave or forsake us.
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