The Healing Touch of Jesus
Expelling the Enemy
Mark 5:1-20
Introduction
In our text today is a frightening scene that demonstrates the power of our enemy and also the power of Jesus. There are likely many questions we have for this text that are unanswerable.
This has been a long night for the disciples. At the end of Mark 4 when the evening came, Jesus told them to get in a boat and go to the other side. It was here that so furious a storm came that the disciples thought the might die. Mark 4:39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. This left the disciples in awe - even the wind and the waves obey him!
If the disciples thought they were terrorized on the lake, they were about to face another terrorizing encounter.
Mark 5:2-5
When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, 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.
Notice that in this moment only Jesus gets out of the boat! Barclay: “It was part of the lake-side where there were many caves in the limestone rock, and many of these caves were used as tombs in which bodies were laid. At the best of times it was an eerie place; as night fell it must have been grim indeed.” Jesus was stepping into an unclean place. This is not Jewish land; the people were not Jews. They were keeping pigs -Jews regarded as unclean. Graveyards were considered places of contamination. For a Jew, contact with the dead, or with graves, made you unclean. “The man who rushes out to meet Jesus is about as unclean as you could get” (Wright). In this dark and frightening setting we learn three realities.
1. There Is An Enemy (Mark 5:6-10)
Mark 5:6-10
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? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure 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.
This man was suffering from a powerful demon living in him. Swindoll: “…This time in Israel’s history was marked by unprecedented demonic activity; more people than ever had become demonized - personally enslaved by a demonic spirit.” I think of demon possession as something that happened in 1st century - but I do not discount the work of Satan today.
The Bible is clear that Satan is active in our world today.
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 8:44 “…He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
This text tells us some things about the enemy:
-He is strong - he is able to captivate this man. He does not come out when Jesus first instructs him to.
-He hurts - this man is cut, tortured, isolated.
-He is an army - “Legion” - 6,000 Roman soldiers
-He claims a territory
-He is aware of the identity of Jesus
2. There is A Savior (Mark 5:11-15)
Mark 5:11-15
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 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. 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.
In the shadows of this night, in the face of a frightening situation, Jesus expels the demons into a herd of swine.
Our world is still in need of a Savior. Legion still at work using our lifestyles and habits against us. The hurts that our world experiences, both physical and mental. Emotional pain of loneliness, disappointment, regret, separation from those we love. Family pain, trauma, abuse, debt, doubt. Jesus knew that many would reject him, yet He still came.
Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Bookout: “All the world’s chaos turns to peace in Jesus.”
If you are struggling with evil thoughts, activities, or troubles in your life - Jesus is an amazing Savior from the evil of this world.
3. There Is a Response (Mark 5:16-20)
Mark 5:16-20
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 own people 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.
Two responses are recorded here
Some Wanted to Send Jesus Away. The owners of the herd lost a fortune. The townspeople were frightened and concerned. The pigs who ran over the cliff were not happy.
One wanted to follow Jesus. The former demoniac who begs to follow Jesus. Instead, he was to be a living, walking, vivid, unanswerable demonstration of what Christ can do for a man. Barclay: He was to be the first contact with Greek civilization in the Decapolis. The glory of all Christianity which one day flowered in the Greek mind and genius began with a man who had been possessed by demons and whom Christ healed. Christ must always begin with someone. In our own circle and society, why should He not begin with us?
We have those same two responses today: turn Him away or desire to follow Him. How many people hear about Jesus and His power to change lives, yet do not want Him near them? Jesus’ mission was to bring spiritual healing to lost humanity.
On Pentecost there was a stirring invitation to follow Jesus.
Acts 2:37-38 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 6:4 …We were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
For those of us who have experienced the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, it is our joy to tell others what He has done for us.
Conclusion
If you could bring every broken part of you to Jesus for healing, what would you bring to Him today? This is what we see people doing in the stories about Jesus. He is the One who receives broken hearts … dreams … lives. He is the only one who can bring healing and peace and grace. The healing touch of Jesus expels the enemy. Why would you wait any longer to bring Christ your broken life.
Bookout: “…There is no man, storm, army, legion, geography, unclean spirit, or force of evil in this world Jesus cannot overcome. Jesus can bring peace to chaos, order to disarray, a right mind to the maniac, and calm to the rain waters. This was demonstrated 2,000 years ago, and it is just as true today.”
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Discussion Questions
1. Ronald Kernaghan, in his commentary on Mark, states that this text raises “…a series of questions that may be
unanswerable.” What are some questions from this text that you have that may be unanswerable?
2. Why do the demons know precisely who Jesus is?
3. How is Jesus’ command to the demons different from the way exorcism is portrayed in the movies?
4. The demon-possessed man was a frightful sight. People had given up on him. What are some situations where the struggles that people face are frightening to us? How can we overcome our fears of those who are struggling in sin and reach out to them?
5. If you could put yourself in their shoes, what do you imagine are some of the reasons the people of Gadarene begged Jesus to leave?
6. In what ways can someone who has just been saved be a better evangelist than someone who has been a Christian and studied the Bible for a long time?
7. How does Jesus’ sending the man to the Ten Cities give us insight into His mission to save the world? How do we interpret that mission as it applies to our life in the Kingdom?
8. If someone were to ask you how Jesus makes our life whole when we have suffered pain, loss, or self-destructive habits … what would you say to them?
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Extra
Akin imagines the homecoming of the cleansed man. “Perhaps he had a wife and children. How long had it been since he saw them, kissed his wife, and held his children? Is it possible they have been praying for him all this time? ‘Lord, rescue the soul of my husband.’ ‘Dear God, please help my daddy and bring him back home?’ Finally, this man sees a home he has not seen for a long time. A little boy turns from playing in the dirt and sees his daddy. Running out the front door is his precious little girl. She stops in her tracks when she sees him and with the excitement only a daughter can have for her daddy, she begins to scream at the top of her lungs, ‘Mommy, Mommy! It’s Daddy! It’s Daddy! He’s come home!’ No longer walking, the man is now in a sprint, gathering in his arms his little boy and a little girl who had run to him. Then, there in the doorway, stood a lady, his wife. With tears streaming down her face and a sweet smile, she is speechless, all caught up in the joy of the moment. Now they are all embracing and crying tears of joy. How could this be? What happened? Wiping the tears from his eyes, the man looks at his wife and children and begins, “I met a man named Jesus. He is the Son of the Most High God. Let me tell you what He has done for me.” I imagine this was a wonderful story told many, many times. After all, those who are forgiven much, always love much (Luke 7:47).”
Resources
Akin, Daniel J. Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Mark. B&H, 2014.
Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Mark, Revised Edition. Westminster Press, 1975.
Bookout, Travis J. Cruciform Christ: 52 Reflections on the Gospel of Mark. Cyprus Press, 2022.
Kernaghan, Ronald J. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series, Mark. IVP, 2007.
Swindoll, Charles R. Swindoll’s Living Insights new Testament Commentary: Mark. Tyndale, 2016.
Wright, N. T. Mark For Everyone. Westminster John Knox Press, 2023.
