Topic: Demons recognized Jesus, do you?
In Mark chapter 5, we see Jesus dealing with demons, disease and death—the three great horrors of humanity. In turn, He delivered a man, a woman and a child. By the end of the chapter, we’ll see clearly Mark’s single-minded purpose: to prove through Jesus’ works, words and character that Jesus is the Son of God—God Himself in human form—and that therefore we should trust Him as our Savior.
The focal thought for today is on the delivered demoniac man (verses 1-20). The disciples had just experienced the worst storm of their lives (3:35-41), and then were struck with terror when Jesus stilled the storm with three simple words, “Hush, be still.” Having hardly had time to digest this extraordinary moment, they land on shore and they’re faced with a raving lunatic!
Mark says he had an unclean spirit, a term that simply refers to a demon. Mark does not tell us how he got into this condition. Demon possession is not fully understood but it is real, as any missionary in a pagan land can attest since idolatry and demon possession go together. But you don’t have to go to foreign lands to find demon possession. Even in modern society, involvement in the occult, drugs, flagrant immorality can be means whereby evil spirits get hold of people, invade their bodies and control them.
Here was a lost and desperate man…whom Jesus loved and had compassion for. Jesus could have chosen to land in another town, or another landing spot, or met with another man with fewer problems. But He chose to come to a maniac among the tombs. Jesus pursues the very people we run from. This man did not just have one demon but a legion of demons. They knew Jesus’ voice and they recognized Him as the “the Son of the most high God.”
Many people have wondered why Jesus would allow the demons to enter into the head of pigs, depriving the swineherds of their livelihood.
- First, I believe Jesus was revealing that the rescue and restoration of one person was more important than vast financial assets.
- Second, that Jesus allowed the demons to enter the pigs to illustrate beyond question that their real purpose was total destruction.
- Third, the dramatic end of the swine was also powerful visual testimony to the ex-demoniac that he had been fully delivered. There would be no doubt this man’s mind that he saw where the demons went, and so did the disciples and the swineherds.
You would think one would be filled with joy at seeing such a thing! “The maniac is cured! We’re safe, thank goodness! He’s whole again.” But that was not their reaction. The Bible says they were afraid so much so that they began to plead with Jesus to leave.
The ex-demoniac then begged to go and be with Jesus, to become one of His disciples, to abide with Him, to sit at His feet. This tells us that Jesus was not some mighty magician to be feared.
The natural response to Jesus is to be with Jesus. But Jesus denied his request. He had other plans for him. He was to become a messenger to his family, neighbors and friends. He who had been a terror to everyone was now to go back and give testimony that he once was lost but now was found, was bound, but now was free!
Here we have the first missionary in the New Testament, and surprise, surprise, he was not Jewish. He was a Gentile sent to Gentiles, a hint of what was to come.
What do we learn from this moment with Jesus?
1. Satan and demons are real.
2. Believers in Jesus do not need to fear Satan or his demons.
3. Tell what great things the Lord has done for you.
See you Sunday,
Dr. Scott Kallem