By: Dale Weckbacher
Mark 5:12-13
12 and
they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So
he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs;
and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the
sea and drowned in the sea.
(ESV)
Christians are engaged in spiritual warfare that typically
takes place in high places, but this spiritual warfare can manifest itself in
the physical realm (Ephesians
6:12). The account of Jesus casting
out demons from a possessed man in the country of Gerasenes is one such
instance. This account illustrates the
power and authority of God over Satan but also illustrates how idolatry can
blind people to understanding who Jesus is.
The account begins with Jesus and the Disciples arriving at
the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
Immediately after stepping out of the boat, a man possessed with a demon
approaches Jesus. Please note that Jesus
did not seek out the demon, but the demon sought him. Mark
5:3-4 tells us that the people in the area had tried to bind the demon-possessed
man many times, but with no success. Mark
5:5 also tells us the demon tormented the possessed man. When the demon-possessed man approached
Jesus, he does not ask for relief from his demonic possession but instead cries
out with a loud voice saying, “do not torment me.” (Mark
5:6-8). However, this is not the man
speaking but the demon possessing the man who understands who Jesus is
The demon possessing the man identifies himself as Legion
for it is a group of many demons. Then
the demon makes a strange request, asking Jesus not to cast him out of the
country but instead into the swine.
After casting the demons into the swine, the great pork slaughter begins
as the pigs run off the cliff and drown in the sea (Mark
5:9-13).
After seeing this event, the herdsmen tending the swine went
to the city telling their story. The
people, possibly including the owners of the swine, come out to see what had
happened. Seeing the demon-possessed man
now in his right mind and their herd of swine destroyed, the people from the
city ask Jesus to leave. It would appear
these people did not realize that Jesus had demonstrated power and authority
over demonic powers they could not bind and instead have concern over the loss
of their herd and the man’s healing (Mark
5:14-17). The previously possessed
man, however, realizes a miracle has just occurred in his life and wants to go
with Jesus. However, Jesus directs him
to instead go to the Decapolis and share the testimony of what just occurred (Mark
5:18-20).
This account teaches us that,
1)
We are to resist not confront demonic powers –
The airwaves on some cable channels are full of shows about the
paranormal. While the existence of a
spiritual dimension is biblical as demonstrated by this account in the Bible
and Ephesians
6:12, the Bible instructs believers to resist and not confront the Devil (James
4:7). In the interest of TV ratings,
many of the individuals on these shows go to locations to confront demonic
powers. These are demonic powers for none of what they encounter
is the soul of a deceased person for upon death, we enter the presence of the
Lord (2
Corinthians 5:8). Many of the people
on these programs are fighting a spiritual war without the spiritual weapons
provided by God (Ephesians
6:10-20). They are playing with fire
and risk being spiritually burned.
2)
Unlike the people from the city, the demons
understood the authority and power of God present in Jesus – James
2:19 reminds us that demons believe in God and shudder. This contrasts heavenly beings who worship
God (Isaiah
6:1-3). There are no atheists in the
heavenly and demonic realm.
3)
Idols in our lives can blind us to God’s power,
authority, and grace – The people from the city have just heard the eyewitness
account from the herdsman, seen the once demon possessed man restored, and the
loss of two thousand swine. However,
even this does not create a desire to find out more about Jesus and instead,
they ask Him to leave. While scripture
does not provide the reason they ask Jesus to leave. we can surmise it is
possibly due to the loss of two thousand of their herd. The fact is that sitting in front of them is
the Son of God, God Himself who has just demonstrated his authority over
demonic forces, the power to cast them out, and power to completely restore someone
tormented by them. Instead of wanting to
find out more about Jesus, they reject Him.
4)
We are to share with others what Jesus has done
in our lives as God directs. Unlike the
people from the city, the formerly demon-possessed man wants to go with Jesus. However, Jesus instructs him to share his
experience with others in Decapolis. It
does not take some great theological degree or special calling from God to
share the Gospel, just someone that has a personal relationship with God
sharing what God has done in their lives.
Perhaps you are reading this and do not have a personal
relationship with God. If so, I urge you
to enter a personal relationship with God by praying with me now,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my
sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe you died, was
buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.
Now, like the formerly demon-possessed man, share what has
just occurred in your life by telling someone.
I also urge you to find a church teaching from the Bible so you can
learn more about Jesus and develop a strong relationship with Him, the one with
authority and power over demonic forces, even death.
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