Jesus’ Authority Pt. 2
Servant King: A Study on The Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Jesus’ Authority Over Demons (5:1-20)
Jesus’ Authority Over Demons (5:1-20)
Geographical context: the country of the Gerasenes was in the region of the Decapolis to the East of Galilee and Judea. It was a gentile region that was controlled by Rome.
The “Great” Demons (v. 1-5)
Read v. 1-5
1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs.
The demon possessed man symbolizes sin and death.
“From the tombs.”
3 . . . And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
“No one” had the strength to subdue him.
Great Demons: v. 9: “Legion” (could be as many as 6000 soldiers).
Similar to the “Great storm.”
The man was enslaved, in pain and agony, “crying out” in horror day and night.
Satan only comes to steal, kill, and destroy our lives.
“Crying out” is the same word Mark uses to describe Jesus crying out on the cross right before he died.
This man did not realize it in the moment, but Jesus can sympathize with this man’s weakness. . . for he too cried out in pain in the same way this man did.
Jesus knows this man, he knows his need, and he has the power to help him.
Brief Excursus: Can we be possessed by demons?
Christians: No. . . we are possessed by the Holy Spirit.
non-believers: Yes
Jesus’ Authority (v. 6-13)
Read v. 6-13
6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.
v. 6: The demon possessed man falls down before Jesus. No one could subdue the demon, but one sight of the Son of God and he submits to the power of Jesus.
7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
v. 7-8: The demons confess Jesus is the Christ. . . even the demons believe in Jesus. . . and shudder (James 2:19).
9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
v. 9: Jesus asks the demon his name to demonstrate his power and authority over him.
10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.”
v. 10-12: Mark the word “beg,” it will come up again a few times in this story.
“beg” is the same word used to pray or plead for something.
The demons begged Jesus to depart from them and send them into the pigs. . . and he did what they requested.
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.
v. 13: Jesus demonstrates his authority over demons by giving them permission to enter the pigs.
Jesus has all authority over the kingdom of darkness. . . they all bow to his will and authority and can do nothing without his permission.
Remember that Jesus created these fallen angels.
Once more, By Jesus casting out these demons, he is making himself equal with God.
Jesus’ power over demons also symbolizes his power over our sin.
We do not have to fear demonic powers because he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Response: Do we submit to him and fall prostrate before him as the demons do?
The demons respected, confessed, and honored Jesus. . . yet they did not trust in him. . . how much more should we fall on our face before Jesus since we have been bought with his blood and forgiven of all our iniquity???
Brief excursus: Why the poor little piggies??
Jesus cares more about humans than animals.
The demons destroyed the pigs, not Jesus.
Jesus knew this would cause a commotion in the city that would allow them to see his power over demons in healing the man who was possessed.
The City’s Great Fear (v. 14-17)
Read v. 14-17
14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind. . .
v. 14-15a: Jesus took the man who was controlled by “great” demons and gave him “great” peace.
Sitting there. . . clothed. . . in his right mind. . . see how this contrasts with v. 1-5 at the beginning of the chapter.
When someone encounters Jesus, their life is transformed. . . it is completely different. . . it is new creation!
15 . . . and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.
v. 15b-17: Just like the disciples after Jesus calmed the storm, the people of the city responded with fear. . . they were afraid of Jesus.
They were more concerned with the loss of their swine, then the transformation of the demon-possessed man.
They “begged” him to leave their region. . . and Jesus did what they requested.
The Man’s Great Faith (v. 18-20)
Read v. 18-20
18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him. . .
v.18-19a: In submission to and trust in Jesus, the man who had just been healed “begged” Jesus to let him join them in the boat.
Third time “beg” is used. . . notice the similarities and differences. . .
The demons begged Jesus to depart from them and send them into pigs. . . and he did what they asked.
The people of the city begged Jesus to depart from them. . . and he did what they asked.
The man begged Jesus to join him on his journey. . . and he did not do what the man asked.
What?!?!? Why!?!?!?
19 . . . “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
v. 19b-20: Jesus wanted the man to proclaim all that he had done for him.
This is contrasted with the previous healings of Jesus where he did not want the person who was healed to say anything.
Why does Jesus want this man to share?
He was a Gentile and wanted the gospel to be proclaimed to his Gentile friends and family.
Notice how Jesus calls himself Lord in v. 19 and “Lord” is substituted for “Jesus” in v. 20. . . making Jesus equal with God.
Jesus’ command to the man to stay in the Gerasenes and share his testimony demonstrates Jesus’ love for the people that just rejected him. . . The Gerasenes might not have wanted Jesus, but Jesus wanted them, and he would not leave them without a witness.
Application:
Even though the man had a good and godly desire (to be with Jesus). . . Jesus had better plans for the man.
As good as it is to be with Jesus, sometimes it is better to go and tell others about him.
“The place that Christians wish to be in is not always the place that is best for their souls. The position that they would choose, if they could have their own way, is not always that which Jesus would have them occupy.” -J.C. Ryle
Share Ash and I’s story about God saying no to our desire to go to North Africa so we could serve him here.
