Jesus had just calmed a violent storm at sea, now He meets a
man with an equally violent storm inside of him.
THE MAN WITH AN INNER STORM (V.1-5)
The Man Confronted Jesus (v.2). As soon as Jesus stepped out
of the boat, he was ‘met’ immediately by a man with an unclean spirit! The word
for ‘met’ has a military connotation, of being opposed with hostility. This
will make more sense in a moment when we look at the unclean spirit.
The man with an unclean spirit met Jesus out from the tombs where he lived. Tombs were considered to be popular haunts for demons, and the tombs were considered ‘unclean’. By the time Jesus and His disciples reached Gerasene, it would have be night time, when demons were supposed to have their greatest power. The tombs were considered to ‘unclean’ by the Law. Those who visited a tomb must cleanse himself afterward or be cut off from Israel.
The Man Could Not Be Subdued (v.3-4). He could not be bound.
Not with shakles or chains—When they tried the man broke the shackles in
pieces. No one had the strength, the power to ‘subdue’ him. The word for
‘subdue’ is used for binding ferocious animals.
The Man was Tormented (v.5). He cried out night and day from
the tombs as he cut himself with stones. The unclean spirit was out to destroy
this man who was in the image of man. This man was being tortured by this
terrorist spirit.
THE SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD
(V.6-12)
Jesus Has Ultimate Authority (v.6-7). Remember,
this demoniac man was confronting Jesus and his disciples! But when the
demoniac saw that it was Jesus, he ran to him and fell down before him. This
word ‘fell’ means to prostrate oneself, and pay due homage or respect. Jesus
called out, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” Though Jesus had taken
on human form, the demons knew He was! There was no other posture before a
king!
“Have
this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who,
though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be
grasped. 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him
the name that Is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father”
(Philippians 2:5-11).
The demon cried out,
“What
have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by Go, do
not torment me.” (vv.7).
The demon not only bowed his knee, but confessed that Jesus
was the Son of the Most High God—This was a Jewish title given to God to
distinguish him from all the idols that were worshipped as gods in the land.
The demon was precise in who Jesus was—he was not a more powerful being, or
idol god, but rather he was the Son of the One and Only Most High God!
The demon adjured Jesus by God the Father, not to torment
him! The Father has set a time and place for the eternal judgement of Satan and
all his demons! This judgment is the Lake of Fire! This demon knew this and was
reminding Jesus of the Fathers decree!
Jesus Confronts the ‘Legion’ (v. 8-9). Then Jesus asked him his name. He said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” Legion was the largest military unit of the Roman army and at full strength would number 6,000 soldiers. The grip that the demons had on this man resembled the grip of the Roman legion had on Israel the previous century—All Mark’s readers would know this image of military dominance all too well!
In verse 15, Mark tells us that this man was literally
demon-possessed. This is to distinguished from the “demon oppressed.” To be
oppressed is to come under a demon’s influence. This can be a general influence
or to be influenced in a specific desires or thought. Paul tells us,
“For
we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
authorities, against the cosmic powers over darkness, against spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand
firm.” (Eph 6:12-13).
Because demonic influence intensifies works of the flesh, it
must be discerned and stood against before one can die to the flesh and walk in
the spirit.
But this man was beyond mere influence, and was completely
controlled by this legion of demons. But Jesus had greater authority than these
demons! As a matter of fact, when Jesus submitted himself to arrest on the
night he was betrayed, he told Peter
“Do you not think that I cannot
appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of
angels?” (Mt 26:52).
Jesus Casts Out the ‘Legion’ (v.10-13). These demons knew
they could not continue to possess this man. They could not keep this
stronghold! Jesus was a greater force, a greater authority—yet they appealed to
decrees that were set by God the Father. An ultimate time of punishment and
destruction is coming their way—but for now they pleaded to be sent into the
pigs!
Why did Jesus agree to send them into the pigs? We don’t
know, but when these pigs ran into the sea to drown, everyone present did have
a visual representation of this legion of demons, as well as a visual
demonstration of the power and authority of Jesus over the demonic realm.
TWO KINDS OF FEAR (V. 14-20)
When the herdsmen saw what happened to the pigs they fled
the scene. They told the people of the Gerasenes what had happened. They came
out to see for themselves. In this scene we see two reactions to Jesus:
Fear That Begs Jesus to Depart (v.14-17) Last week we studied
when Jesus had calmed the storm. He had fallen asleep in the boat while a storm
had arose and waves threatened them. The disciples awoke Jesus and he rebuked
the wind and sea saying, “Peace! Be still!”(v.39) and suddenly there was a
great calm. Do you remember the response of the disciples? They were filled
with great fear! And they questioned, “Who then is this, that even the wind and
the sea obey him?”(v.41). There is a correlation with this account.
When the towns people arrived, they saw the demon-possessed
man clothed and in his right mind—The legion of demons was gone—the storm
inside of him was still—the terrorism was over! They also heard that a legion
of had left the man and entered the herd of pigs. Most-likely they were able to
see the remains of the pigs in the water or even washed up on the shore. This
great number of pigs that perished served as evidence that verified the claim
that this man was filled with many of demons!
At this sight, the people were filled with fear and begged
Jesus to leave. Were they worried about their economy? Were they scared for the
changes that he would make in the lives they had become comfortable in? Or, was
it just too much to conceive how one man, Jesus, could have the power to do
what they could not do?
Fear That Begs Jesus to Guide (v.18-20) The who was no
longer possessed feared the Lord also! But his fear was a different kind of
fear—the fear of the Lord—a healthy sense of awe and respect! A desire to honor
the Lord! This man wanted to go with Jesus and maybe even become a disciple.
Jesus did not permit him to do so, but instead, commissioned him to go back
home and become a witness of the mercy that had been shown to him through
Christ. This man did not waste his deliverance, he used his new found freedom
to tell the people of Decapolis and the people marvel at his testimony!
Are you faithful to testify to the mercies of the Lord that
have been shown to you?
This article is part of a message series on the Gospel of Mark called Son of God--Servant to Man.
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