Jesus Liberates
For Meditation
Mark is building a case for the identity of Jesus. He believes that Jesus is not only the long hoped-for Messiah, but is also the very person and power of God in our midst. Last week, we saw the tremendous power of Jesus at work in stilling a massive hurricane with a single word. In the very next story (Mark 5:1-20), we see Jesus again confront a storm, but this time it is an internal demonic storm trapped within a single person. Just as happened in the boat, in this case Jesus stills this man’s internal storm with a single word, and makes everything still. And again, people react with even greater fear than the original threat (5:15). Jesus is the power of God at work in the world to push back chaos and evil and bring the restoration that God intends for all creation.
This story may be hard to relate to because demonic possession seems so outside of our everyday experience. And yet this story speaks of something that we all know deep down- that there is a spiritual power of evil at work in the world that cannot be explained by mere human behavior. The Bible teaches that evil is real and personal, and that evil is actively at work in the world to unravel God’s good purposes for humanity. We see that in the extreme in this man in the graveyard. And yet Jesus goes far beyond the boundaries to find this man, to defeat the evil within him, and to restore him to wholeness. Jesus beats evil with a single word.
As you prepare for worship this week, ask God to reveal an area of your life where you may have let evil creep in, and invite God through Jesus to set you free.
Mark 5:1–20
1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.