Mark 5:1-18

Mark 5:1-18
(A) 1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.[a] 2And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him,[b] not even with chains, 4because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." 8For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" 9Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." 10Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. 11
Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." 13And at once Jesus[c] gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. 14So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. 18And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him 19However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." 20And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

First, let’s focus on the guy who was possessed. He beats himself with stones. No one could bind him, not even with chains. You can imagine if he beats himself with stones he has open soars and gashes. He dwells among the tombs. No one can control him and nothing holds him. This is the work of satan. Satan does not sit still. Not then and not now. What is satan’s goal in your life? Drugs? Violence? Obsession with death? Endless restlessness. Isolation? 1 Peter 5:8 8Be sober, be vigilant; because[a] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Mark 5:7,9, & 10 What have you to do with me, Jesus Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me…Jesus asked him, what is your name? He replied, my name is legion for we are many. He begged earnestly not to send them out of the country.

Legion is a Roman Military term. A Roman legion involved six thousand soldiers.

Jesus spoke of the gates of hell. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:12.

Know that there is hope because we have been given a Savior…Jesus Christ

Mark 5:11-13 The demons begged Jesus… How the demon’s cower in Jesus’ presence. The demons obey Him. They can’t even lease pigs without permission from Christ.

So how does that leave us? Confident. Jesus has power over satan. One word from Jesus…just one command and the demons obey. Mark 1:27 Jesus commands..evil spirits, and they obey Him. Although we are confident, we are still careful. Satan knows his time is short. Rev 12:12. 1 John 4:4 Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world. James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

My prayer for us today is that we realize the One who lives in us is greater and mightier than all things. To realize the Power we have been given. The power to not let satan creep in and allow him to destroy our lives…we are without excuse when it comes to satan. We have been given a Savior…who crushes satan’s head. Eph 6:13 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. To believe and trust the work of your Savior.

Tammy