The healing of a demon-possessed man – Mark Chapter 5: v1-20
Jesus arrives in the town of Gerasenes, which has a predominantly gentile population. So the people witnessing this and the demon-possessed man were probably gentiles not Jews. Jesus is immediately approached by a demon-possessed man. This man is desperate, un-naturely strong and a danger to himself and others. As soon as he sees Jesus “he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice “what do you want with me, Jesus, son of the most high God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me” (Mark 5: V6) Jesus then commands the demons to leave the man , and then he asks the demons their name. The reply is “My name is legion…for we are many” (Mark 5: v9). A legion in roman times was made up of about 6,000 people..so you can try imagine the state that this poor man was in. Jesus then sends the demons into the herd of pigs, and thy run into the lake and drown. The man is free from demonic possession! Now, Jesus has yet again demonstrated his power and authority over Satan. I think its important not to focus on this very visual picture of the pigs running into the lake and drowning but the healing and transformation of this man. What an encouragement this story is for the people who witnessed it at the time and for us reading about it in 2006!
A dead girl and a sick woman – Mark 5: v21-43
Jarius (the leader of a local synagogue) approaches Jesus and pleads with him “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live” Mark 5: v23). This verse really stands out to me because Jarius shows so much faith. As Jesus goes with Jarius , a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years approaches him from behind. She touches Jesus’ cloak. why? because she thought, “If I touch his clothes, I will be healed” (mARK 5: V28). Jesus then asks the crowd “who touched me?” (Mark 5:v30). The woman then comes forward and He says “Daughter your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mark 5: v34).
So it wasn’t that the woman had touched him and that was why she was healed. No, she had faith in Jesus! Jesus then goes on to raise Jarius’ daughter from the dead, and He says to her parents just before it happens “Don’t be afraid, just believe” (Mark 5: v36).
What stands out to me in this passage is the word ‘FAITH’. Jesus healed when people had faith in him. Jesus’ amazing grace is awesome. What stands out to you in this passage?
I think there’s an important point being overlooked here. The accounts of this event in the Gospels are very similar, but the detail which intrigues me is why the demons inhabiting this man do a bit of begging.
Luke 8:32, Matthew 5:31 and Mark 5:12 all account how the demons beg Jesus to be allowed to go into the herd of pigs on a hillside. Why all the pleading? Was it because they didn’t want to be there? Was it because they feared what Jesus could do and wanted to return to the Abyss rather than have Jesus deal with them?
My thinking is that it must have been the second, the demons will have realised that their days of tormenting this poor man were over. They were at the command and power of Jesus, and they knew it! The man was to be freed, and the only place those demons could go was into the pigs, because Jesus would never have allowed them to torment another person.
My other question is, is there enough evidence to think that the storm on the lake could have been brought by those demons who knew Jesus was coming, and wanted to stop him by raising up a violent storm. Remember the accounts tell that the storm was so violent that the disciples thought they were going to die!
I think you are spot on as to why the demons begged to be dismissed into the pigs. They knew exactly who Jesus was.
I’m not sure about the demons raising up the storm although this is an interesting idea. Do they have that power? I’m not sure. Storms were (and still are) nasty in that area. Although, this one was particularly bad.
Interesting thought. Anybody else got any knowledge in this area?