When we are transformed by God we have a story to tell. Today’s story is about God’s power and his mercy in the life of a long-possessed man. The outcome? The people were amazed. What’s your story?
1 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.
Mark 5:1-20 NIV
The story of the demon-possessed man from the Gerasenes reveals several truths for us to reflect on today:
The power and impact of the spirit world on the world is greater than we know and more frightening than we can comprehend.
Jesus is more powerful than the entire spirit world combined.
We reject what we don’t understand.
When we are set free of the worst demons, we have a role to play in telling our stories.
As we read about the demonized man, we don’t balk at it too much, because we are so used to horror movies and sci-fi flicks; this kind of supernatural event is depicted before us with regularity. Just pause, though, and realize how utterly frightening this would be if demon guy was in your neighbourhood. You would leave town if he got close.
The demons know Jesus, which reminds us of every other interaction Jesus has with spirits. They know him. Their fear of him is inherent in their response. The legion of demons begged him to let them move to the herd of pigs. We can speculate why a loving God would allow pigs to meet their demise through demon possession, yet I think it’s because Jesus knows that the whole region needs to hear this story.
If the demons are cast out of the man, it would make local news. But a herd of pigs full of demons running off a cliff makes the news in ten cities. By the way, the Decapolis referred to is ten cities on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. Sending the demons into a herd of pigs to heal the man gave him a story that likely spread ahead of him in the region.
Notice that Jesus didn’t stick around for this? The locals begged him to leave the region. We turn away what we don’t understand. We are not quick to embrace new messages or revelation. These folks were just like us. They were afraid of what happened. Jesus left.
He showed us that when we are transformed by God we have a story to tell. This guy’s story was about God’s power and his mercy in the life of a long-possessed man. The outcome? The people were amazed. I’m actually pretty sure they weren’t amazed at first. The first people to encounter the guy probably backed way up. But over time, as he continued to tell his story, people would have listened.
I don’t know if you’re the freed possessed guy or the townspeople. I just know that Jesus can heal us from the most frightening things, and when he does, we should recognize his handiwork and we should make sure the story is shared to the amazement of the people around us…
Amen.
Marc Kinna
marckinna 