Mark 5:1-20 (NIV)
They went across the lake to the region of
the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came
from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind
him any more, not even with a chain. 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. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he
would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a
distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at
the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High
God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come
out of this man, you evil spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again
and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on
the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us
to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil 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. Those tending the pigs ran off and
reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what
had happened. 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. Those who
had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and
told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As
Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to
go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you,
and how he has had mercy on you.” 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.
Wow...Jesus comes to truly set this captive
free. He commands the legion of demons to leave this man. Jesus is not intimidated
because this thing speaks that they are many; a legion is nothing to the Lord. Whether is one
evil spirit or many they all must bow. At the command, the Spoken Word of God they leave
and this man is set free and restored to his right mind! Glory to the Most High God; every
evil thing must bow its knee to Jesus Christ.
I find it interesting that the people are
noted to be afraid after the man is set free. Ok....prior to Christ's arrival this man is
tormented, living in a cemetery and this bothers no one? Now Christ shows up and all creation
trembles; every soul and every demonic thing. Why? God has sent his son to set
people free; free from sin that leads to death.
He has come and in the end every demonic thing
will be sent to their destination. (And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake
of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They
will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10) So why were the people
afraid? Why did they want Jesus to leave? I venture that the fear here is a
reality check on their own state.
I'm just thinking; here is Jesus (God in the
flesh) he has authority over legions and that which
man could not defeat. Sin has a way of wanting to keep its friendship and loyalty
with us. Sin will try to keep us shackled; Sin does not want to give us up so quickly. When
we face Christ their is a check; a check to see if we are right. His presence alone can
cause every demon in hell to tremble and bow.
Remember the demon possessed man saw Jesus from
a distance and ran and bowed....Hallelujah! Perhaps the people were afraid
that they too would have to give an account for the way they were living. Maybe
they were not sleeping in the graveyard, but they were dead apart from God's saving grace.
Jesus does leave the region but he leave a witness, the freed man, and he tells
him "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for
you".
We are God's witnesses to speak of the saving
power of he Most High God; the One that has come to set men free; to take the dead man
and give him life; eternal life! (He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news
to all creation. Mark 16:15)
