Mark 5:1-17, vs. 15 “Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid”
We are told of a story of a man in Mark 5, described as a demon possessed man. It’s interesting to note how Mark begins to describe Jesus’ encounter with the man. He came out of the boat and immediately met Him out of the tombs a man with unclean spirit. You have to understand this was no ordinary situation for one; he was living in the tombs where dead people were buried. The demons forced him there. The demons were called Legion and the term Legion represents soldiers of about six thousand men. This is what was controlling him, a legion, so demonic and filthy which caused much harm him. He had no avenue of escape, vs. 3 says no one could bind him for he had such tremendous strength. He had shackles and chains (heavy metals used to restrain the rest of his body); he was crying and cutting himself with stones bleeding all over. In agony and in pain with no one to tame him, restore him, bring him out of his misery, he was destined to die in his condition.
Perhaps his parents gave up on him, wrote him off, called his situation hopeless perhaps just waiting for him to die and bury him. Society may have tried some programs to help him but could not come up with a solution. If the bible says he was bound and broke the chains, you and I can speculate that he may have been disturbing the peace of the community in his condition. The bible takes time to tell us his condition and what they. One thing that strikes me is the stress that no one, not even a group of men could tame him. But when Jesus came out of the boat, the person who most people if not everyone wrote off was about to receive one of the greatest miracles Jesus performed while He was on earth.
Vs. “6 when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him”. The demons recognized Jesus and knew there was no one else who had power over them. When they saw Jesus, they trembled, (James 2:19) knowing that “10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”, Philippians 2:10-11. Something many of us fail to realize is that we serve a big big God, the God of the impossibilities. When He is present, everything is subject to Him both good and evil. Everyone wrote this man off, not Christ, He came to rescue him. People tried everything like we sometimes do too but Christ was destined to get His Father glory out of this hopeless situation as the legion (six thousand) demonic forces were to bow to Christ and confess He is Lord.
Vs. 11-13, “11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea”, I love that song that says, “Arise Oh God, demonstrate Your power”, this is a good example of Christ rising up to demonstrate His power. Demons knew He had power over them, and could do with them whatever He pleased, He chose to cast them into 2 thousand swine that ran violently into the sea and drowned. Do you see God’s power here? Is this not a demonstration that He has power of all and not just the demons? One man against a Legion (six thousand troops). Vs. “15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid”. When no one could tame him, when everyone wrote him off, only Christ in His power drove out the tormenting spirit that controlled him and gave him freedom and sound mind.
What have you written off as a hopeless situation? Or who have you written off? Don’t you realize the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that saved you and it’s the same power at work in your life, your marriage, your children, your job, and your health? If you and others have written things off, Christ has not. He has a bigger plan in that situation; He will make His name great when He steps in. He is more than what He can do for us; He is more about making His name great in your situation. My encouragement to you when you pray, ask the Lord, “How can You make Your name great in the situation I’ve written off”, Blessings Ev
He Has Magnified His Word 