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The Possessed Man in a Graveyard
Mark 5:1-21
5:1 ¶ Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.
Remembering from the previous chapter, it was evening when they set out across the Sea of Galilee. A storm developed and Jesus calmed the storm. Since it does not say, "Immediately they were at the other shore", their arrival on the other shore would be about 4 (or up to 7) hours later. It sounds like the time of day would be about 11 pm or later. Rowing a boat across takes from 4 to 7 hours, depending where on the other side a person is going.
They landed in the country of the Gadarenes. So their trip took most of the night.
This is the land claimed by the tribe of Gad when the Israelites first possessed the land. The tribe of Gad was the only tribe to settle on the other side of the Jordan River. They did not actually enter the promised land. Was it a lack of faith? Is this an indicator of their level of commitment to the unity of Israel? Is this why the Gadarenes are herders of swine (as we will note in a couple of verses)?
2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
Note, Mark does not call this person a monster, nor does he say, a demon possessed person. He calls him a man. God (the Holy Spirit) is differentiating between the man and the monster inside of him. AaHe has an unclean spirit which is presenting itself as a second nature. We might even call him schizophrenic. However, I will be quick to add, I am not saying that schizophrenia is demon possession.
3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains,
4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
This man was in torment. He knew he was possessed but he could do nothing about it.
6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.
7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, ( I am sure he wanted to say, help me please! But the unclean spirit took over) “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”
8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”
9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”
10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
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.
What do we know about demon possession?
We know that it was rampant during Jesus’ personal ministry.
We know that an unclean spirit can leave the body if it so wishes.
We know that some unclean spirits are more resistant to leaving than others are.
We know that unclean spirits cannot possess someone who already is possessed by God’s Holy Spirit. I John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
The Unclean spirits have just asked for permission to enter the herd of swine. This is either in the middle of the night or it is day-break.
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.
14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.
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.
I am sure that some thought that this is too good to be true.
But Mark says that they were afraid. They were afraid of the man when he was possessed by the legion of demons, now they are afraid when they see him delivered. They have just witnessed an incredible display of the power of God. They have witnessed the loss of the herd of swine that they were hired to care for. They have to tell the owner what happened.
They know that they, as Jews, should have nothing to do with swine. So what else might this Jesus do? Will he bring judgment upon them for marketing ham and bacon?
We read, 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.
17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
And Jesus did just that. We have no record that Jesus ever went back to Gadara. God does not impose Himself on those who do not want Him. This, in itself, is a huge judgment upon them.
18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.
Here is evidence of a truly converted man. Delivered, yes, but also born again. How heart warming that is for us to witness the new found joy of a new believer.
19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
This man is given a mission. It is not exactly what he wanted, but he was glad to do it. He was glad to be pointed in the right direction. His mission was not unique in the sense that every one of us has people right around us that need to be told what great things the Lord has done for us. And so he goes, immediately.
20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Many Bible commentators claim that this was Jesus' first exposure to gentiles. While Decapolis (ten cities) had Greek influence, this was also the area settled by the tribe of Dan, and they were Jews.
One other thing to note, Matthew's account of this same event is that there were two demon possessed men dwelling in the tombs. This is not a contradiction in scripture. The simple truth is that there were two. Mark did not say that there was not another person at the scene. He clearly is talking about one in particular. It is obvious to me that the other one would take on a minor place in this account. The second man was not called Legion and was not the most prominent of the two. But it does leave us with a bit of encouragement when it comes to spreading the gospel. These two could go out as an evangelizing team. It is always better to serve God with someone. Jesus sent out disciples two at a time. There is wisdom in that.
21 ¶ Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.
And that is the ministry of Jesus in Gadara. A storm. Rowing much of the night. A short ministry at a graveyard and then right back again. What was that trip all about? I think there are some ‘works of Jesus’ that we are allowed to be a part of that seem quite insignificant. It is not for us to evaluate outcomes. If anything, eternity will reveal the impact our ‘small’ area of service actually had. Jesus is looking for commitment to Him and is also looking for faithfulness. We can all be that.