Mark 5:1-20 (NLT)
So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 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. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.
When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 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!” For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”
Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”
And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”
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 herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. 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. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 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.” 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.
Explanation:
Few of us know the level of torment someone experiences when possessed by an evil spirit. Hollywood may give us a glimpse of what it looks like on the outside, but only God can see what takes place in the soul of someone operating under Satan’s control.
In spiritual terms, the word possessed is used exclusively for ownership by a demonic spirit. We do not say that Christ followers are angelically or divinely possessed, rather that we are saved, or redeemed. The difference between possession and salvation is free will. One may take an interest in the occult or even unwittingly entertain satanic philosophies, but once that door is open, possession is not a matter of choice—it can happen quickly, completely, and without warning. Contrast that with the tenderness of God, who “[draws us] with gentle cords, with bands of love” (Hosea 11:4). It’s up to us to respond to His call for salvation, and if we do, He guarantees that the enemy cannot possess us (John 10:28). We can be tempted, harassed, attacked, even oppressed by satan’s army, but the battle for our soul has been won. We must spend time daily putting on the full armor of God’s protection, so we can be victorious over anything that comes our way.
Application:
Prayer:
Lord God, thank You for saving my soul, and for the blessed assurance that the enemy cannot snatch me out of Your hand. Surround me with Your hedge of protection as a shield. Amen!