Mark 5:1-20

Destructive Demon

Jesus had to go to the other side of the sea to deal with a bunch of demons. When He reached the shore immediately the demon possessed man met Him. This demon was a bad demon. It is one that is described better than any other demon.

Let’s look at this demon. He lived among the tombs. No one could bind him. He had broken shackles and chains. No one could subdue him. He was constantly screaming. He was cutting himself with stones. He was naked. These are all attributes to invoke destruction on the one possessed but also to reek havoc on everyone around him.

We can conclude that this was an exceptional demon that had done his job well. It would be easy to say that we don’t have anything in common with this demon, but we may have more in common with this demon than we want to acknowledge. Let me explain.

This demon is like sin in our life. As a matter of fact I have heard it said that all people have their own demons. What this phrase means is that we all have our own sinful struggles.

Sin like a demon is destructive in our lives. It brings harm to us and discomfort to everyone around us. James 1:13-16

James 1:13–16 NASB95

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Just as this demon was destroying its host, so sin will destroy us. There was probably a time in your life that you were headed on a path of destruction. Paul writes about this in Ephesians 2:1-3

Ephesians 2:1–3 NASB95

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

This man had no hope. This man was headed for death until Jesus came along.

Jesus Delivers

Jesus confronts the demon and actually tells the demon to come out of the man. However the demon would not listen to Jesus. Jesus had the power to banish the demon to the abyss but chose not to do this. Instead Jesus ask the demon for his name. This is important because it was known that if you could get the demon to share his name he would lose his power over the person they posses.

When Jesus ask the demon had to answer. His answer is revealing. The demon said his name was Legion. This revealed that it was not just one demon but thousands. A legion during this time was a roman army that numbered 6,000.

When Jesus got the demons name the demon lost his power. He was no longer able to exert authority over the host. He no longer presented a harm to the man or the people. This is why the demon requested to go into the pigs. He had no power to posses another person. Jesus gave the demon permission to enter the pigs. Why did Jesus do this? I don’t know. However we see that the pigs run into the sea and are destroyed as are the demons.

Just as Jesus cast the demons out of the man, Jesus removes the power of sin in our lives. Romans 6:12-14

Romans 6:12–14 NASB95

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Christ has given us grace to overcome sin. 1 Cor.10:13

1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB95

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Christ always gives us a way out of sin. It is found in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is Rejected

When the people of the region saw the demon possessed man was clothed and in his right mind the people were frightened. They knew they were in the presence of God. They loved their pigs and their sin more than a relationship with God, so they begged him to leave their region.

This will happen when we receive Jesus and begin to eradicate sin from our lives. We may have friends that disassociate with us because we are not running with them in sin.

Jesus Gives Us A Story to Tell

The man who was healed from the legion of demons begged Jesus to let him follow Him. Jesus would not let him, but instead said Mark 5:19

Mark 5:19 NASB95

And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”

It was more important for this man to stay in the region and share his story than it was to follow Jesus on His journey.

We too have a story to tell. We have a conversion story or a story of overcoming sin. We need to share that story!