The Demon Possessed Man at Gerasa
May 22, 2020
Commentary
Jesus and His disciples had just crossed over the Sea of Galilee and came to shore near the town of Gerasa (v. 1). The Sea of Galilee is 13 miles long at its longest part and 8 miles wide at its widest part. At this particular point in the shoreline, there were many caves in the limestone rock and these were used as tombs for the dead. As soon as Jesus and His disciples stepped on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee they were confronted with the bloodcurdling shrieks of a wild eyed, irrational demon possessed man who had been living in the graveyard (v. 2). He had been sleeping among the cave-like tombs where dead bodies were buried. No one was able to control him, not even with a chain (v. 3). He had been put in chains, but he broke the chains and smashed the leg irons (v. 4).
Night and day he was in the graveyard or on the hills, yelling and cutting himself with the stones (v. 5). When the man saw Jesus in the distance, he ran up to him and knelt down (v. 6). He shouted to the Son of God wanting to know what He was going to do with him (v. 7)? He asked Jesus to promise to him in God’s name that he wouldn’t torture him (v. 8). The man said this because Jesus had already told the evil spirit to come out of him. He had asked the man, “What is your name” (v. 9)? He replied, “My name is Legion because I have lots of evil spirits in me.” (A legion was the largest unit in the Roman army consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers.) He then begged Jesus not to send the spirits away (v. 10).
Although we can not be sure why demon-possession occurs we know that evil spirits can use the human body to distort and destroy man’s relationship with God. Even today demons are dangerous, powerful and destructive. We should avoid any curiosity about or involvement with demonic forces or the occult (Deut. 18:10-12). If we resist the Devil and his influences, he will flee from us (James 4:7).
Application
When this demon possessed man was transformed by Jesus power he shared the news with those around him. I need to be busy telling others about Jesus transforming power.
Mark 5:1– 10 (NET)
1 So they came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him. 3 He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For his hands and feet had often been bound with chains and shackles, but he had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Each night and every day among the tombs and in the mountains, he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him. 7 Then he cried out with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God —do not torment me!” 8 (For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!”) 9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 He begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of the region.