Lessons From the Demon Possessed Man

I was reading the encounter of the demon possessed man found in Mark 5 and walked away with a few lessons I would like to share.

Have you ever have been in a situation that seemed hopeless? Or tried to help someone you couldn’t because only the Grace of God could reach them?

Let me introduce you to the demon possessed man.

We meet him in Mark 5.

After Jesus calms the Sea during a storm, they came to the other side of the Sea to the country of Gerasenes (Mark 5:1). Jesus steps out of the boat and we are introduced to the demon possessed man.

This man lived among the tombs and no one was strong enough to bind him (vs 3). He had been bound with shackles and chains and perhaps his strength grew by breaking those shackles in pieces time and again. As a result, no one could subdue him. No one could help him.

Night and day he was crying out and cutting himself with stones. Can you imagine yourself in this man’s shoes?

Then it happens.

He sees Jesus. He falls down before him crying out, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” During this time, Jesus was commanding the unclean spirit to come out of him, so it is hard to tell if Jesus is speaking to the man or to the unclean spirit. But in the next verse we see Jesus asks the spirit name. The spirit seemingly tries to intimidate Jesus because He responds, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” But Jesus isnt intimidated, and we even get a glimpse of the weakness of the demon: He has to ask for permission for his next move.

“And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea” vs 10-12.

Wow. What a scene.

And what happens next is interesting:

“The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.”

After witnessing this encounter, the men who owned the pigs went into the city and told all the people what happened. They came to witness it for themselves and they saw the once demon-possessed man, sitting there clothed in his right mind. And were they filled with hope and reassurance? No! They were afraid and wanted Jesus to leave!

Let’s keep reading before we pull this apart, “As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled (vs 18-20).

So what can we make of this story? Here are my takeaways:

1. The Value of One Life to Jesus

I always thought of this man as some random demon-possessed man. But as I read it today my heart was filled with comfort because there are no “random” cases for Jesus. Jesus knew this man. He crossed to the opposite side of the Sea for this man. And he knew this man had friends (vs 19). This man that was alone, with no purpose, was healed and given new life because of Jesus. It reminds me of the woman at the well, who Jesus intentionally went through Samaria to reach. Over and over Scripture demonstrates how valuable souls are to Jesus. No Soul is left behind when it comes to our Lord and Savior.

2. With Jesus, Hope can be Found in Even The Most Hopeless Situations

At first glance, this man’s condition seemed hopeless. No one was strong enough to help him overcome what he was bound by. But Jesus stepped into his mess, unbound, and redeemed him. He gave him a new life and new purpose. Whatever situation you are bound by, He can redeem, release, and restore. He will turn your mess into something that can be used for His glory and create purpose from your pain.

3. Fear can blind us

When the herdsman witnessed the spirits go into the pigs and the pigs drown in the sea, they fled into the city and told the people what happened. Then the people came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there clothed and in his right man. What was their response? They were afraid and pushed Jesus away. Instead of being marveled by the fact that the demon possessed man was healed and free, they were afraid of Jesus. Their fear blinded them to the freeing power of Jesus. Satan uses fear to shrink our faith and at times push Jesus away. Because when we are more afraid of what Jesus will do in our lives than what Satan does in the moment, we often push Him away. We have to fight against this.

4. Sometimes God Does Not Make Sense: After the man was healed, he wanted to be with Jesus as Jesus was leaving. But Jesus did not allow the man to be with him, instead he says, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And when I read this at first, I was frustrated. Why wouldn’t Jesus let the man be with Him? Why would Jesus honor the request of the ungodly demon (allowing the demons to enter the pigs) but deny a godly request from an honest heart (allowing the man to go with him). With physical eyes, this seems unfair. But when we approach the situation with an eternal perspective, it all makes sense. Jesus knew the impact this man could have on his friends. This man was now clothed in his right mind (vs 15) and a perfect vessel to demonstrate the Lord’s goodness and mercy. The man obeyed and went into Decapolis to proclaim how much Jesus had done for him. As a result, everyone marveled (vs 20). Sis, sometimes God does not make sense. From the human perspective, sometimes it appears the ungoldy requests are granted while we may feel our godly prayer requests are left unanswered. But there is always purpose in this. It is so vital to keep trusting Him even when life doesn’t make sense. God is always working out a situation for His eternal purpose. The inspired words in this story are a perfect reminder of that.

I hope my reflection on this story brings you hope and a renewed confidence in the value of just one life to Jesus. Please remember no sin is too strong for Him to break. Come to Him. Be unbound by Him. And when it happens, don’t be afraid to proclaim how much He has be done for you. There are still bound up people to free. And please remember, no situation is too hopeless for our God. He can give you a new purpose and use your story of redemption to marvel others.