Mark 5:1-20

The Power of Jesus

Introduction

Opener

If you will, please open your Bibles to Mark 5.

When I first read our passage for today, my mind went straight to imagining what this passage might have been like to experience in real life, thinking about how disturbing this might have been to witness.

Have you ever watched a movie or documentary and before it started you were presented with a content warning or trigger warning, reading something to extent of, “Warning: Contains scenes that some viewers may find disturbing.”

I would say that our narrative for today warrants such a warning, as our story for today contains tombs, demon possession, emotional trauma, self harm, and animal cruelty.

To say this is an easy passage to stomach when you try to imagine it in your mind would be far from the truth, but God’s Word doesn’t spare us with the darker details of reality, rather, God provides them to remind us of the importance of receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

And as we will see in our story for today, for one man experiencing an extremely dark reality, our Lord and Savior Jesus makes all the difference.

With that said, let me remind you of the context of our passage for today.

Main Point of the Text (MPT)

Last week, we ended Mark 4 with Jesus and the disciples in a boat in the Sea of Galilee.

While on the boat a great windstorm arose, meanwhile, Jesus was asleep on a cushion in the stern.

The windstorm was so powerful that the waves were breaking into the boat, causing the boat to begin filling with water, which caused the disciples to be afraid.

This led them to wake Jesus and with three words, Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!”, the wind ceased, a great calm occurred, and Jesus provided them with the evidence that He was more powerful that any windstorm, that He was Lord over all creation.

The narrative ends with the disciples once again being filled with fear due to experiencing the power of Jesus, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

I remind you of our story from last week, not only because our story picks up where last week’s story left off, but it continues to expand on the message that Jesus is Lord over all creation.

Last week, we got to read of Jesus being more powerful than nature, as He calmed the windstorm that brought fear to the disciples, but this week we will get to see that Jesus is not only more powerful than the natural, He is more powerful than the supernatural.

Jesus is Lord over all creation, both natural and supernatural.

And so if you are able, please stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Scripture Reading: Mark 5:1-20

Prayer

Main Point of the Sermon (MPS):

As we dive in and pull out all that we can from our passage today, the main point I want you to walk away with is this, that Jesus has all power over all things at all times in all ways.

We will arrive at this conclusion by the end of time today by first examining the Extreme Torment that our man from the tomb is experiencing due to his demon possession, then we will move on to the Extreme Power that Jesus has over the demons, and lastly, we will see how the Extreme Evidence causes two different responses from the characters in our story for today.

So, let’s dive in, Point 1, Extreme Torment...

Body

Point 1: Extreme Torment

Scripture: Mark 5:1–5

Explanation:

We ended last week with Jesus and his disciples on a boat somewhere in the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35-41).

As I mentioned before, our story continues today in verse 1 as we read of them coming to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.

To give you an idea of where we are at, I wanted to provide you with a map (show map on screen), because it serves as a great visual, but also because I am a map nerd.

If you remember from the end of our scripture reading from today, Mark mentions Decapolis, on our map that is the area in orange, this area contains the country of the Gerasenes and was a group of ten Hellenistic (Greek-influenced) cities.

Where they came to shore was most likely a small city called Gersa, that was located midway on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which is why Mark refers to it as the country of the Gerasenes.

As we continue in verse 2, we read that as Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.

The detail about this man was that really stand out was that he was a man with an unclean spirit, which refers to the demon or demons that were possessing and controlling him.

Throughout our time in the Gospels, we see many cases of demon possession describes this way (Matthew 10:1; 12:43; Mark 1:23,26-7; 3:11; 3:30; 6:7; 7:25; etc.)

In many of these cases, we see that these unclean spirits lead people to experience different symptoms that someone who isn’t demon possessed wouldn’t (this isn’t saying that if someone experiences any of these symptoms that they are demon possessed, but these are just often seen in God’s Word as common symptoms for demon possessed people).

Let’s take a look at these symptoms:

The first symptom we is social isolation as verse 3 tells us that this man lived among the tombs.

While in small doses, social isolation can be helpful, such as stepping away to get fresh air or spending time in prayer, but complete social isolation is harmful and is not part of the design God has laid out for humanity as His Word time and time again speaks to the importance of fellowship and community (Genesis 2:8; 1 Corinthians 12; Hebrews 10:25; etc.).

But unfortunely, this was often the practice during this time period, that people dealing with symptoms such as he was were completely isolated from society and forced to live in the tombs, where were often burial chambers carved out of the rocky hillsides on the outskirts of towns.

But what exactly were the symptoms that caused him to be isolated by the people of Gersa?

The second symptom found in verse 3 and 4 is supernatural strength, as we read that no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 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.

This man’s strength was not natural, but supernatural, powered by the demons that possessed him.

We know that he didn’t start out this way.

Based upon the scripture, we can assume that at some point he lived amongst the people as a normal person, then something happened to cause him to be demon possessed, but we aren’t provided with the how, only the outcome.

Someone or a group of someones decided they wanted him gone, out of sight, out of mind, how disgusting a thought to throw a man away instead of helping him.

So they tried to bind him with shackles and chains, because of how the demons were causing him to act, but the demons wouldn’t allow him to be bound so they provided this man with the strength to wrench the chains apart, break the shackles in pieces, and overpower anyone who tried to subdue him causing disorder and chaos to continue this man and for those who had tried to bind him.

The third symptom, lamenting, the beginning of verse 5 tells us that night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out.

The demons controlled him, but even still, we see him crying out as someone would cry out for help when facing their struggles.

The greek word here for crying is krazō (krad-zo), meaning to cry out, to call out, to shout, to scream.

No one answered his screams, no one came to offer help, he was socially isolated, plagued by supernatural strength, lamenting day and night and...

The fourth and last symptom, he was self-destructive.

At the end of verse 5, we read that day and night not only consisted with his screams, but also with him cutting himself with stones.

As someone who has met people who have struggled with self-destruction such as cutting, this one hits home.

Many who I have talked to about the subject did it because the pain from cutting helped them cope with the pain they were experiencing, whether that be physical or emotional, and perhaps for this man it was the way of coping with the pain the demons were causing him, but I am here to tell you, just like cutting couldn’t help this mans pain, it can’t help yours either.

I know for the person out there struggling with this, that probably isn’t the answer that your seeking, I am not a professional counselor by no means, but I want you to know that I love you and want tell you about Jesus, as I know He can help you just like He did this man, but more than that I also want to work with you to help you find the help that you need, connect you with a professional counselor, whatever the solution may be, please don’t hurt yourself, please seek help, help is available.

Application:

When I said this wasn’t an easy passage to stomach, I wasn’t lying, and if we believe the Bible is the truth, then we must accept demons exist folks, they do not serve our God, but the devil and do so by causing disorder and chaos, seeking to deceive, possess, and attack people.

I don’t say this to scare you, but to make you aware, as Christian’s, our response to the existence of demons should be to:

First, study God’s Word and what it says about demons.

Second, be ready for their attacks and resist them (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Third, remember He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4) knowing that you are inhabited by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19).

Lastly, take comfort knowing that there will come a day when the demons will be thrown into the lake of fire along with the devil (Revelation 20:10).

While Christians, those who have saving faith in Jesus cannot be possessed by demons because we are inhabited by the Holy Spirit, we can be possessed by our own sinful desires.

We’ve actually been discussing this with the youth as we have been studying the book of James.

Consider what James says in James 1:14–15, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

While direct attacks from the devil or demons are possible, one, if not, the primary way we are attacked each day is through our own desires, we go through what is called the cycle of desire found here in this scripture:

First, temptation occurs as we are lured and enticed by someone or something.

The temptation might look like a new job that pays more or a promotion that will put you on top.

Second, if we give into the temptation, it causes a desire is conceived, born, created.

The desire might be greed or pride.

This desire then gives birth to sin and sin when it is fully grown bring forth death.

I loved what Trevin said when we were discussing this in youth, he said something to the affect of, it doesn’t always mean physical death, but death or loss of something in life.

Maybe that new job or promotion pulls you away from church, so you lose time with your church family, maybe it pulls you away from your own family, so you can’t be the spouse and parents your supposed to be.

This doesn’t mean that every desire you have is wrong, but it does mean that we should be aware that if our desires to not line up with God’s desires found in His Word for us, that they could lead to death.

The reality is that this cycle of desire affects us all, because we are all affected by sin, it is a hard, constant battle, but it is a battle that can be won through Jesus and the power that He has given us through His Spirit.

This leads me to Point 2, Extreme Power...

Point 2: Extreme Power

Scripture: Mark 5:6–13

Explanation:

I want to start out by first looking at verse 6, the man’s response to seeing Jesus from afar.

You know, this part still puzzles/amazes me, we see the man’s response was to run and fall down before Jesus, the word for run here being trechō (trey-ho), in Greek, meaning to run hard, sprint, and the word for fall down in Greek being proskyneō (pros-too-na-o), meaning to bow down or worship.

Why would a demon-possessed man sprint to Jesus and not only that, but bow down to Jesus? Wouldn’t the demons see Jesus and choose to high tail it the other way?

God’s Word doesn’t really give us an explanation for his behavior, but I definitely think it’s a question worth exploring, because as I thought more and more about it, my only conclusion is this, that there was something in this man that was still human, the man he was before he became possessed was still in there and in desperation, he sprinted to Jesus and not away from Him, he bowed down to the only One that could truly help him escape the evil he was experiencing night and day.

Let’s explore his behavior more here in a bit, let’s continue...

Verse 7, again, in the same way as he was doing day and night, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

This wasn’t the man speaking, this was the demon/s.

In protest to Jesus arrival, “What have you to do with me...?”, why are you troubling or disturbing us?

But in the same question, they recognize who He is and the power He possesses, referring to him as Jesus, Son of the Most High God.

Man had tried to bind the man in shackles and chains, but couldn’t, they didn’t possess the power necessary to deal with these demons, but Jesus, the Son of the Most High God did, and they knew it, look at their next plea, “I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

Torment was what they were putting the man through, and now look at who was afraid of being tormented.

Their fear was valid, they knew who Jesus was based upon how the addressed him, if we look at the the title they gave him, it speaks to their knowledge of the power He possessed, Jesus is the Son of the Most High God, this title meaning that just like our main point for today read, Jesus has all power over all things at all times in all ways, natural and supernatural, the demons knew they were in trouble and so, they adjured him, begged him, do not torment me, they knew their fate.

What was that fate?

Verse 8, "For he was saying to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!’”

They would be forced to leave the man, but before that Jesus would ask them their name, “What is your name?”

The demon would reply, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”

Jesus wasn’t dealing with just one demon here, He was dealing with many as the name Legion suggests.

Legion was a term common to Jews and Greeks at the time and defined a Roman military unit of 6,000 infantrymen.

Was there that man demons in this man? The answer isn’t know, but by their name, we do know there were many as the demons response suggest.

As the story continues, the demons still continued begging, it says in verse 10 that they begged him earnestly, meaning greatly, extensively, that He not send them out of the country.

Demons want to possess something, Jesus spoke to this in Matthew 12:43 when He spoke about unclean spirits returning back to the person they once possessed, saying that when the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.

Demons seek to have a purpose, their purpose being to cause disorder in chaos by possessing something or someone, to not be doing so is torment to them and so that is why they beg earnestly that He not send them out of the country, for they won’t be able to rest.

That is when we are told of the great herd of pigs feeding on the hillside, pigs, to the Jew were an unclean animal, forbidden by the Law to eat (Deuteronomy 14:8), but since this was a Hellenistic or Greek-influenced area, this makes sense to why they would be there.

They demons see these and once again, beg Jesus, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.”

Verse 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.”

Jesus gave permission, allowed the demons to possess the pigs, and look the number of the herd, about two thousand, again, just speaks to the immense power that even the demons possessed, but Jesus having all power over them, possessing all authority, allowed them to possess the pigs.

And look at the pigs response, they rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea, which, speaks to the extreme torment the man must have been going through night and day, so much, that the pigs would rather die than be possessed by them.

Oh, the power, the wonder working power of Jesus, Son of the God Most High, have you experienced his power?

Application:

Perhaps, just like the demon possessed man, there is someone in here today in desperation, you’ve sought every other solution but Jesus, you’ve gotten to the bottom of the bottle, it didn’t help, you’ve clocked in a million hours at work hoping to stay distracted from reality, it didn’t help, you’ve taken it out on others that you love through anger and aggression, it didn’t help, you’ve done everything but run to the only one who can save you.

WHY? Why do that to yourself?

Do you not think your desperation is an issue that Jesus, the Son of the Most High God, the one who has power over all things can solve? Do you not want to swallow your pride? Do you not want to admit that you need help? What is it that keep you stuck in a place of desperation?

Just like for this man, Jesus is not to far away for you to run to Him, He is waiting to take you out of your desperation, to strip you of your demons, to set you free today!

Humble yourself, accept the help, and begin life a new, today is the day for you to sprint and bow down to Jesus!

I am a big fan of Katy Nicole, perhaps you know of her, if not, she is a Christian artist who sings a song called In Jesus Name (God Of Possible).

I remember while attending one of her concerts, she spoke to the reason behind the song, she was going through a very tough season in life, like the one our demon possessed man is in our story, where she had to have surgery to correct her spine due to scoliosis, a very painful recovery, and in her desperation, she clung to prayer, she clung to Jesus and prayed for His power to get her through her tough season.

Her lyrics read, “Come believe it; Come receive it; Oh, the power of His Spirt is now forever yours; Come believe it; Come receive it; In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible.”

Do you believe those words today? Will you cling to Jesus? Will you seek the power of the Holy Spirit in your life? Will you allow him to bring you out of a place of desperation today?

The demon possessed man did, his desperation was no more, and now it is time to look at the extreme evidence Jesus provided by his extreme power, Point 3, Extreme Evidence...

Point 3: Extreme Evidence

Scripture: Mark 5:14–20

Explanation:

Jesus had provided the evidence of his extreme power to the demons, the man, and to the herdsmen.

The demons response was to obey and come out of the man into the pigs, but now let’s take a look at the response of the man and the herdsmen.

Verse 14, “The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country.”

Upon fleeing, as verse 16 tells us, they must have described to other what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs, because we see that in verse 14, more people came to see what it was that had happened, they too needed to see the evidence of Jesus’s power.

The demon possessed man and his condition must have been well known by those who lived in city and the country and most likely in disbelief, people came to see what they would consider a miracle.

Likely posing the same type of question the disciples had when Jesus calmed the storm (Mark 4:41), who was this, that even demons obey him?

We read of the man’s new state, God’s Word saying that he was “...sitting there, clothed and in his right mind...”

What an extreme difference from the state he had been in before, a man who once bore shackles and chains, who spent day and night crying out for help as he cut himself with stones, was now calmly sitting, clothed, as another account of this story mentions him being naked (Luke 8:27), and in his right mind, there’s no telling how long it must have been since he had been able to relax from the torment he suffered at the hands of the demons who had possessed him.

I say again, Oh, the power, the wonder working power of Jesus, Son of the God Most High, have you experienced his power?

The herdsman had, their description of what had happened is what brought the people to come and see and now that they had seen, what was their response, the end of verse 15, “...they were afraid”.

How would they react to that fear? Would they sprint to Jesus, bow down before him?

No, verse 17 tells us of their reaction, they begged Jesus, “they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region”, He wasn’t welcome there any longer.

His power had brought them fear, just as the disciples where when Jesus calmed the storm (Mark 4:41), they were afraid, their response wasn’t worship, it was dismissal, depart from our region, were afraid of you.

Before we unpack, let’s look at the man who had been possessed response, as he was no longer a enslaved to the demons, he had been set free.

Verse 18, Jesus, respecting their wish for him to leave was getting into the boat, but as he did, the man begged him that he might be with him.

This man’s response to Jesus stands in contrast to the herdsman's and onlookers response, He responded in worship, devotion, and as we will read of, obedience, the power of Jesus that rid him of his demons caused him to want to be with Jesus, not away from Jesus, but Jesus had other plans for the man as again, with authority, Jesus did not permit him to go with him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

He was to be a witness of the extreme power of Jesus, to spread the story of what had happened there to his friends, to proclaim the extreme power of the Lord Jesus and the mercy he hath provided him to them.

And with the extreme evidence that Jesus had given the man, in obedience, a form of worship, responded to Jesus’s command as our verses for today end inform us that “...he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.”

Praise God.

Application:

What will be your response to the extreme power of Jesus, Son of the God Most High?

Fear, is not a bad response, in fact, it’s perfectly healthy, we must have a healthy fear of the Lord, many of those who personal experienced the power of God throughout scripture, have responded in fear, but what they did with that fear, that’s what matters, it’s what you do with that fear that matters.

Will you be as the herdsmen and the people from the city and country?

Will fear of the Lord cause you to dismiss him? To run from him or reject him?

Or will you be as the man, who was, but no longer was demon possessed because of the power of Jesus?

Will your fear cause you acknowledge Jesus as the only one who can save you from the devil, his demons, and your own desires? Will you sprint, bow down, worship Him, and receive the gifts of mercy and grace He offers you today? Will that lead you to being a witness for Him today?

How will you respond today?

We respond like the man, we must acknowledge the extreme evidence, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17).

We must take this extreme evidence and become a extreme witness for Him today, this is not a option, but a command from Jesus, Son of the God Most High (Matthew 28:19-20).

Conclusion

Summation

As Gene comes to sing our song of invitation, do you believe what we have read today?

Do you believe that Jesus has all power over all things at all times in all ways?

Invitation