Mark 5:1-20
When Jesus and the disciples arrived on the other side of the sea of Galilee, they were greeted by a man with an unclean spirit. The disciples followed Jesus because they believed Him to be the Messiah but they did not know that following Him would be cause for them to be in a water-filled ship in the midst of violent waves. Nor did they know that following Jesus would result in being greeted by a wild man who dwelt among the tombs and who could not be bound with chains.
This demon possessed man was well-known. He had a reputation. He was known to have ripped apart fetters and chains with which he was bound (v. 4). He was known to cry, day and night, and to cut himself with stones. He was no ordinary person. It is more likely than not that word of him and his behavior was known to the disciples who were natives of the cities and villages bordering the sea of Galilee. Many would have had told of encounters with this man.
This encounter, however, was unlike any that would have been before. Upon seeing Jesus, the demoniac ran to Him and worshipped Him. The manner of worship is not described. The demon possessed man’s words reveal that he recognized Jesus as the Son of God and as one who had power to torment him. Recognition of authority does not constitute worship. Satan is not blind to the authority of God but worshiping God does not include rebellion against Him.
The scene before us and that which would immediately follow is not happenstance. God made it happen for His purposes. In the closing verse of chapter 4, the disciples asked What manner of man is this, that even the wind and sea obey him? God wanted the disciples to know more of the manner of man whom they followed.
The disciples knew or should have known that Jesus had power over unclean spirits because they had witnessed Jesus command an unclean spirit to leave a man in the synagogue at Capernaum (Mk. 1:23-26). Mark 1:34 states that Jesus cast out many devils. In verse 7, the demoniac addressed Jesus as Son of the most high God and adjured Jesus, by God, not to torment him. The words which proceeded from the possessed man were words which God wanted the disciples to hear. Unlike in the expunging of the unclean spirit recorded at Capernaum or in casting out other devils there, Jesus did not forbid the unclean spirits to speak. Jesus asked, “What is thy name?” The Son spoke the words given to Him by the Father. God wanted the disciples to see the scene which was about to unfold — a scene which is also recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
“My name is Legion: for we are many” (v. 9). Legion is a large number. Roman legions numbered in the thousands, up to six thousand. The voice which proceeded from the lips of the man was not his own. It was that of thousands of demons.
“And he besought him . . .” (v. 10). The unclean spirits besought Jesus with intent to avoid torment. The unclean spirits requested to be sent to the great herd of swine that was nearby such that they could enter into them (v. 12). It would appear that disembodiment (being cast out) is torment to spirits and renders them without power. As stated earlier, the power of these unclean spirits was known — the possessed man could not be bound with chains; he cried day and night, and cut himself with stones. Demons seemingly delight in forcing human hosts to do that which is contrary to nature. Upon entering into the swine, the unclean spirits would be enabled to manifest their power in a new home. The disciples saw what God wanted them (and us) to see.
The disciples witnessed the great destructive power of Legion. That power caused the herd of approximately two thousand swine to destroy themselves by plunging into the sea and drowning. One assesses the power of a storm through the damage which it produces. The destructive power of Legion was great. Legion, however, was powerless to oppose Jesus’ command to “Come out of the man” (v. 8). The power of Jesus’ command was fully realized by the disciples when they witnessed the demonic destructive power.
Mark reveals detail which is omitted in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Only in Mark do we find that the formerly possessed man sought to follow Jesus (v. 18). Jesus told the man to go home and to tell his friends the great things which the Lord had done for him. The time for Gentiles to follow after Jesus had not arrived.
As stated earlier, God wanted the disciples to know the manner of man which they followed. God wanted the disciples to see the Father through the Son. The disciples saw the Son traverse the sea of Galilee, calm raging waters, cast out thousands of demons from one man, and then, immediately return to the opposite shore. God wanted the disciples to see Jesus reach out to a single man, a Gentile whose friends kept swine. The disciples saw Jesus reach out to one whom Jews would have regarded as the lowest of the low. They saw Jesus go to the country of the Gadarenes to seek out a man who dwelt among the tombs. Believers of today see a God who is not willing that any should perish but would have all come to repentance.
The disciples heard Jesus tell the man to go and to tell others. The man was to tell what the Lord did for him and of the compassion which the Lord had for him. The disciples would later hear Jesus command them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mk. 16:15).
The man did as Jesus had said and all men marveled. Believers know what God has done. He is marvelous beyond measure. Let us tell others of the Son who gives righteousness to all who will believe and receive.
