For more Bible Studies go to: www.LivingWatersWeb.com
What habits do you have? Are there things you do the same way every time or things you just can’t do without? I don’t really have any of those. In fact, I’m often thankful that I’m free of patterns as I sip my daily mocha over the newspaper at my place at the table in my favorite slippers. Just kidding.
We all have things we do that we either don’t want to, or can’t break. Many people today suffer from addictions to alcohol, drugs, pornography, CSI Miami … Addictions are things to be taken seriously as they can do long term damage to you and others.
Today I’m going to talk about something that goes beyond habits – beyond addictions – to something so frightening that it really should freak us out – possession. What if you lost total control over your words, your actions- if something inside of you forced you to do things you would never do – and forced you away from all human contact? That’s what happens to a man that Jesus runs across in the 1st half of Mark 5.
1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.
This is also known as Gadara and is on the southeast side of the Sea of Galilee. Gadara was part of what was known as the “decapolis” or “ten cities” and had largely independent governments and was mainly a gentile area. That becomes important later in the story.
Different from the other sides of the Sea, Gadara features large hills that run up steeply from the shore – covered with sparse vegetation and large cliffs. There are, however, some green areas just before the water – perfect for what we see in this story. When we visited the spot years ago I remember we saw an olive press in the area.
2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, 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.
OK – not the sort of guy you’d like to meet on a dark night or on a bright day for that matter. (This story is also found in Matthew 8:28 and Luke 8:26) Matthew actually refers to two demon-possessed men – but Mark and Luke only one. This is probably because only one guy did the talking – Mr. Legion, we’ll call him.
In that area they used to cut little caves out of the rock – there are thousands of them near Jerusalem. Inside was just enough room for some coffins and a visitor – so someone could actually live there – as if anyone would want to.
But this guy was under the control of something totally evil and revolting. The man was possessed – demons lived inside of him, controlling his behavior, and his speech. I find it interesting that wherever Jesus went He prompted a huge response from demons. The demons gave the man superhuman strength – but no strength, whether human or demonic, can stand against the Words of Jesus.
Notice what the demons made him do – cut himself and cry out. You know – there really is not peace or joy outside of Christ. Demons and by extension everything that Satan stands for – only in the end brings grief and torment. Don’t be fooled by the shiny exterior – sin leads to death.
So watch what happens:
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? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!" 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
The demon was trying to take control over Jesus – over the situation by yelling and by using the highest divine term for Jesus. It didn’t work. In Matthew we read that the demon said “don’t torture us before the time.” The Bible tells us that Satan and his angels will indeed be tortured, by being thrown into the lake of fire. The demon is begging that Jesus not do that to him before the final judgment.
Oddly – the demon calls on God and begs mercy from Jesus. But he is rebellious to the end. The phrase “what do you want with me” can also mean: “what have I to do with you.” Demons and Jesus are about as opposite as you can get. Demons come to kill and destroy – but Jesus comes to give life.
Jesus addressed it as “you evil spirit” – apparently the demon didn’t leave because they didn’t know which one He was talking to – not because they had any real power – so Jesus finds out their identity.
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.
A Legion is a large Roman army – from 2 – 6,000. We don’t know if that’s how many demons inhabited this man but its obvious that a large number lived in his body – how hideous. In Luke the demons begged Jesus not to send them to the Abyss. The Abyss, mentioned in Revelation 9, is a place of incarceration for demons – these demons knew they had to go, but they wanted to control where and they didn’t want to go to the Abyss before their appointed time. So:
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 evil 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.
Now its interesting that the demons didn’t ask Jesus’ permission to into the man – but in the presence of the King of Kings they know they can do nothing without His permission. The pigs went crazy and all drowned – it shows Satan’s real purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy.
Can I take a small side road? People claim that Satan doesn’t really exist – or they even think its cute or fun to fool around with things like Ouija boards and that power associated with magic and Satan is alluring. Make no mistake – Satan is alive and well and has a terrible plan for your life. Paul tells us that he masquerades as an angel of light – but his intent is always to hurt you.
This brings up a controversial subject – do demons exist? Many today deny the existence of demons or Satan, or hell for that matter. Man has two natures, evil and good and how you define those is up to you and your culture and the Devil is just a personification of our own “dark side” but is not a literal being.
Well, here’s my take on it. I believe that the Bible is God’s Word and should be taken at face value whenever possible. The word “demon” appears 86 times in the New International Version. In fact the word “demon” in Greek is just that: dah’-ee’mown – meaning a supernatural spirit of bad character.
I think we should just take God at His Word that these creatures exist. They were angels – but fell with Satan in his rebellion and became demons. There is not salvation for them and they do their master’s bidding in trying to bring grief to humans and keep people out of the kingdom of God.
I think we make two mistakes when it comes to demons – we either de-emphasize them – pretend they don’t exist – or we over-emphasize them, seeing demons under every rock and in every person. Neither is correct in my opinion
So what should we do? Jesus told us to be “as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16). We need to be aware that these creatures exist so that if we encounter one we will not be surprised but lean on the Lord for help. Second, we need not to focus on Satan or his beings, but focus on the Lord. We should also realize that most things that people claim the Devil did – are just their own fleshly nature.
Speaking of fleshly nature - So watch how the people react to this wonderful miracle of freedom:
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.
Eating pork was not legal for the Jews – although these were probably not Jewish pig farmers – still, they probably thought Jesus was making some kind of swipe at their profession by killing the pigs. Maybe it was just God’s sense of humor to say – you were dealing with unclean things, and this is what can happen.
Sometimes we think that we can fool around with sin and in our freedom in Christ we think it will be just fine. Well its not. Paul said in Galatians that “God is not mocked, whatever a man sews, that shall he also reap. He who reaps to the flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but he who sews to the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Tom paraphrase).
Look at their reaction – they were “afraid.” Why fear? They couldn’t control this guy and here comes this man that at a word casts the bad out. If He has that kind of power over a major evil, what will he say to us?
Instead of being afraid they should have rejoiced – then come and repented to Jesus – their “fear” of the Lord led them to reject Him. What does your fear of the Lord lead you to do?
Jesus never stays where He isn’t wanted – so he starts to leave.
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 family 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.
From fear to amazement. The people who knew this guy feared the work of God – and some around you may fear what God is doing in your life. But that doesn’t mean your witness is useless. As you tell your story of how the Lord has saved and changed you – and rescued you, there are those who don’t have preconceptions or prejudices that will keep them from being amazed at the Lord.
• The man became a living witness – what are you a witness of?
This man was rescued and wanted to go just be with Jesus. I can hardly blame him – but the Lord sent him out to be a witness. After we get saved we probably would love to just instantly go to heaven – Jesus, I accept you as Lord and Savior – and BING – we go to be with Him. Wouldn’t that be great? But there’s a problem with that – who’d be left behind to tell the rest of us? So if your desire is just to sit and read the Bible and only go out to Bible Study – as good as those things are – we need to also go out and tell people what Jesus has done and be a light to shine in the darkness.
• What things hold you in bondage?
Are you willing to bring yourself to the Savior and ask him to drive them out? I’m not saying that being in bondage to something is being possessed – but sometimes it sure feels like it.
Romans 7:18-19 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing.
Romans 6:17-18 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Remember – Satan does not want you to experience freedom and will anything to keep you in bondage – even making it very very tempting and alluring – but it is bondage none the less.
• Are you willing to give the Lord access to what may be inside you?
Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
