These are my notes from a sermon series I did through the gospel of Mark. It has not been proofed for spelling or grammatical errors. I present it to you as-is.

Take your Bibles and open them to Mark 5. We are going through the gospel of Mark and learning what it means to follow Jesus. Along the way we are discovering what following Jesus looks like and what it does not. We are discovering who Jesus is and who He is not. We have now come to an incredible event.

  • Jesus and the disciples have just crossed over the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has just rebuked and calmed a raging storm at sea. The disciples were shocked and asked themselves, “Who is this man?” They were learning more about Jesus and specifically they were seeing that His authority and power had no limits.
  • This brings us to Mark 5:1.

Mark 5:1-20

So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.

6 When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 7 With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”

9 Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” 10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.

11 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. 12 “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.” 13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

14 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. 15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 16 Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. 17 And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. (NLT)

Last week we focused in on the demon-possessed man.

  • We discovered that he is controlled by an evil spirit, violent and would attack others, lived a life of rejection and isolation among the tombs, and was self-destructive.
  • He is an example and object lesson of how far the sinful nature can take a person. He is an example of the total depravity of people.
  • He shows us what sin can do, how destructive sin can be, and shows us the need for Jesus.
  • People had tried to help him and control him, but nothing had helped. The demonic world had complete control of this man.
  • It would take a miracle to set this man free from sin’s dominion over his life and the kingdom of darkness’ control within him.

1 John 3:8 says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” This miraculous encounter with Jesus is one small illustration of Jesus destroying the devil’s work in one man’s life.

Today, we are going to focus on the power of Jesus in verses 6-13.

The power of Jesus

The power and authority of Jesus is demonstrated in several ways in this encounter with Jesus.

The Lord’s authority is recognized by the demons

The first thing we see is the Lord’s authority is recognized by the demons. In verse 6 Mark says, When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. This is incredible! When this violent man saw people near the tombs, he would run at them and attack them. This is why they would try to restrain him from time to time. But when Jesus showed up this demon-possessed man, half-clothed, covered in self-inflicted wounds and scars, filthy from head to toe – runs directly to Jesus and the disciples as they are getting out of the boat. I can only imagine Peter, who would often carry a small sword with him (Peter is the one who cut the ear off of one of the Roman soldiers when they came to get Jesus for trial) pulls it out ready to defend Jesus and himself from the lunatic.

One thing that is amazing about this scene is that while the disciples often struggled to understand who Jesus really was, the demons recognized Him immediately. They knew exactly who was standing in front of them.

What is happening here is the opposite of what normally happens. While the people tried and tried to control this man, the mere presence of Jesus control this man completely. Mark tells us that this man ran up to Jesus and “bowed lowed before him.”

  • The word for “bowed” (proskuneo) means to worship. This reverence was not motivated by repentance or love for Jesus, but out of the horrifying recognition of their heavenly judge was standing before them (cf. James 2:19). Compelled by sheer dread, the demons were completely subdued before their Judge.
  • This is why Paul could say in Philippians 2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (NLT). Regardless of a person opinion about Jesus, once they get into His presence and see Him face to face they will bow. They will not be able to stop themselves. It will be an overwhelming natural response because of who He is!

The demons immediately recognized and acknowledged the Lord’s authority.

The Lord’s authority is confessed by the demons

A second thing we see is the Lord’s authority is confessed by the demons. Mark tells us in verse 7, With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

  • Jesus is standing there and hasn’t said a word yet and the first sound the demons make out of this man is a “shriek.” Before speaking he screamed an inarticulate cry, an unearthly howl. The word “shriek” comes from the Greek word krazo (pronounced krad-zo). It is compared to the sound of a shrieking or crying raven. It’s almost like the demons were fighting not to say what they were about to say.
  • So the “shriek” turned into a screaming question, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” The title, “Son of the Most High God” comes from the Old Testament’s title for God, El Elyon, which refers to God’s extreme power, sovereignty and majesty over everything. Jesus is the “Most High God.” There is no other God. He is God. He is supreme in authority and power and might. Nothing can overtake Him.
  • The demons knew this and they confessed it immediately. They recognized and knew who Jesus was and could not help themselves but declare that Jesus is Lord as the most high God. Philippians 2:10 says that every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord whether they want to or not. They will not be able to stop themselves when they are in the perfect presence of Jesus. The demons demonstrate this for us.
  • There is something significant happening here. The demons are demonstrating understanding, belief and faith. The demons believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that Jesus is Lord and that Jesus has all authority. They are confessing that Jesus is Lord, but they are saved. They are not redeemed. They have faith that acknowledges who Jesus is, but they don’t have a faith that saves.
  • James addresses this in James 2:19 when he says, “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” James is not saying that faith + good deeds = salvation. James is saying that faith produces good deeds that is evidence for salvation. The demons have a faith, but it produces no good deeds which is not saving faith at all. There are people who have what is a called a demonic faith which is not saving faith at all. It’s an imitation faith.
  • Notice the demon’s question again, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus…?” This phrase is asking, “What have you to do with me?” and “What have I to do with you?” The demon is saying, “Jesus, I know who you are and I’m leaving you alone. I’m not bother you. I’m not interfering with your business so don’t interfere with my business. Jesus, we have no business with each other. I leave you alone and You leave me alone.”

The bottom line is, the demons recognized exactly who Jesus was. I’m sure the disciples who were listening to this conversation were still asking about Jesus, “Who is this man?”

The Lord’s authority is feared by the demons

So far we have seen the Lord’s authority is recognized by the demons, the Lord’s authority is confessed by the demons and now we see the Lord’s authority is feared by the demons. At the end of verse 7 Mark tells us the demons said to Jesus, “In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”

  • How ironic! The tormentor is asking not to be tormented. Their request is based on “the name of God.” It’s amazing how quick people will try to use God for their own advantage. The demons are no exception. They are asking for Jesus to be nice to them based on God’s name, based on God’s character. The demons could care less about God, but when they want something they sure try to manipulate the situation by sounding theological and biblical all of a sudden.
  • The demons are basically using the Bible and their knowledge of God to manipulate Jesus to give them what they want. We do the same thing, we will say things like, “You are a generous God, so give me this” or “You are a loving God, so do this for me.” It’s not about what’s right or just or what glorifies God, but what is convenient for us. We use this logic on God and on people all the time.
  • The demon goes on to say, “In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” When Matthew is telling about this event he says the demon asked Jesus, “Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?” (Matthew 8:29). The demons are very aware of an appointment with God where they will be finally judged and punished for what they have done. The demons are very aware of two scriptures.
    • Revelation 20:10 says, “Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (NLT).
    • Then in Matthew 25:41 Jesus was teaching about the final judgement and said, “Then the King will turn to those on the lest and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons” (NLT).

So, when the demon said, “In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” He was afraid that Jesus had arrived early to send them into the eternal fire. The demons knew He had this authority and they feared the Lord’s authority.

Look at verse 9,  Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” 10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.

  • Mark tells us, Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” – This command for the demon to identify himself was not for Jesus, but for the man they possessed and those who were watching. In the Bible the word “name” refers to the nature of something. So the man was asked to confess the nature of the powers of evil by which he was enslaved.
  • Mark then tells us, And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” – That name was not the man’s name but the title taken by the demon forces who were in this man. “Legion” was a military term referring to about 6,000 soldiers. This demonstrated that “many [demons were] inside this man” (also Luke 8:30; Matt. 12:43-45). These demons had attached themselves upon this man by the thousands, like bacteria consuming an individual.
  • Jesus demanded the name of these demons for one simple reason: to demonstrate the extent of His power over the realm of Satan. He not only had the authority to cast out a single demon (which Jesus had done previously), but He had the authority to cast out an entire army of demons. Whether they numbered a few or many, demons and the kingdom of darkness were no match for the incredible power and authority of Jesus Christ. A host of evil spirits staired at Jesus from behind the poor man’s wild eyes. It was time for Jesus’ power to be seen in a most unforgettable way.
  • After telling Jesus who they were, Mark says in verse 10, Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place. We are not told everything that was said in this conversation between Jesus and the evil spirits. We are told they “begged” Jesus “again and again” to not “send them to some distant place.” Luke says they begged Jesus “not to send them into the bottomless pit” (Luke 8:31, NLT). I can’t imagine what the disciples were thinking and feeling as they watched and listened to this intense conversation between good and evil.
    • I do want to add here that demons are territorial. When you study demons in the Bible you discover they are regional. They are given areas to oversee and torment. One thought is they didn’t want to leave the area because evil had overtaken it and the demons found it easy to do what they wanted in the area. It was fertile and hospitable for their activities. That may be one reason why Jesus would later tell this man, once he was delivered, to go around to the ten cities of that area telling what God had done for him.

The Lord’s authority is obeyed by the demons

So far we have seen the Lord’s authority is recognized by the demons, the Lord’s authority is confessed by the demons, the Lord’s authority is feared by the demons and finally, the Lord’s authority is obeyed by the demons. Jesus was now done with this conversation and the demons knew it. So Mark tells us in verse 11, There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. 12 “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.” 13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

The demons have a strange request. They begged Jesus to send them into the herd of pigs that were nearby and “Jesus gave them permission.” Why give them permission to go into the pigs?

  • For one thing, by doing it that way, Jesus gave physical and visible proof to all who were watching that a real miracle of deliverance had really taken place. The dramatic scene provided stunning, undeniable proof that the evil spirits had left the man.
  • The destruction of the pigs also gave assurance to the two men who were possessed that the evil spirits were actually gone.
  • As proof that the demons were actually gone, the two men would be accepted back into the communities from which they were rejected.
  • It may also be an illustration of the truth that “the wages of sin is death.”
  • Jesus was allowing them to put on display the true magnitude of their destructive and deadly power. In so doing, Jesus was also highlighting His glorious power over them.

So, in verse 13, Mark says, The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. This event goes from a weird conversation between Jesus and the evil spirits to a bizarre event of pigs committing suey-side.

The scene must have been terrifying to watch. Have you ever heard just one pig squealing, let alone 2000 of them squealing and running and panicking. These pigs, for whatever reason ran down the hill they were on and plunged themselves into the Sea of Galilee. Visualize them thrashing in the water in a single mass drowning as evil spirits drive them mad. Then little by little the squealing becomes less and less until the last pig drowns.

Some people wonder why Jesus would allow so many animals to be killed in such dramatic fashion. Several points might be made in response.

  • First, and most obviously, Jesus did not kill the pigs; the demons did. That God sovereignly permits Satan and his agents to act wickedly does not mean that God is responsible for their sinful actions (cf. James 1:13).
  • Second, the Lord’s focus was on rescuing the man. The loss of the pigs represented a relatively small sacrifice in comparison to the human life that was recovered when the demons were expelled.
  • Third, all of the pigs would have eventually been slaughtered anyway, since they were being raised for food. Though it hastened their deaths, the drowning of the pigs did not destroy their meat. The herd’s owners undoubtedly recovered much of it by retrieving the dead pigs from the water, butchering their meat and sending it to market.
  • Finally, to become fixated on what happened to the pigs is to fall far below the point of this event, which is that the demon forces were so numerous and violent that, within moments of their expulsion from the man, they were able to occupy and drown a multitude of otherwise impersonal beasts. The only power that could control them was that of the Lord Jesus. (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 247).

Conclusion

This wonderful, strange, incredible and bizarre event all demonstrated the authority and power of Jesus over the spiritual world. Remember, Mark is teaching us what it means to follow Jesus. He is telling us what it looks like to follow Jesus and Mark is telling us who we are following.

  • You are not following just a nice guy with great charisma.
  • You are not following just a great teacher with deep insights to life.
  • You are following the Most High, the Son of God, the one whom demons fear, who demons bow as soon as they recognize who He is.
  • You are following the Lord Jesus. He has complete authority and power over the kingdom of darkness.

1 John 3:8 says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” This miraculous encounter with Jesus is one small illustration of Jesus destroying the devil’s work in one man’s life.