by Pastor Doug Cox
In Mark chapter 5 we find the story of Jesus going with his disciples from one side of the sea to the other to a country called the Gadara. After Jesus got out of the ship a man came out of the tombs to meet him. This man had an unclean spirit. We read how this wild man had been living in the tombs and no one could bind him, or tame him, not even with chains. He would cry night and day in torment and cut himself with stones. Obviously, this man’s life was a mess.
 
Thankfully the man ran in the right direction. Mark 5:6 says, “when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him.” Then verses 7-8 says the man cried out with a loud voice and said “…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.” For He (Jesus) said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”
 
Upon their meeting Jesus asked him his name, he said legion. Then in the next few verses, we see how Jesus was able to confront the demons that had been tormenting this poor man and cast them out, setting the man totally free, and sending the demons at their own request into a herd of swine.
 
In this story we find Jesus exposing the reason for the man’s torment and self destructive behavior. Imagine being tormented by a legion of devils. A legion is 5,000 to 7,000. These demons knew from the past who Jesus was, that He had authority to exile them to any place He desired and they didn’t want to leave this particular part of the country, so they begged Him to cast them into a herd of swine. So He did.
 
I’ve wondered why the swine ran into the sea and drowned and came up with two ideas. One is – the pigs couldn’t handle the presence of these demonic handlers trying to control them from the inside so they went mad and ran into the sea. The other is – the demons ‘could’ control them and to make Jesus look bad they ran this big economic resource for the whole community into the sea to destroy it.
 
Once the community found out what happened, “…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. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him (Jesus) to depart from their region.” (verses 15-17)
 
So at their request Jesus got in the boat to leave. Understandably the man who had been freed from the demons wanted to go with Him. Jesus refused him and said “…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. And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him, and all marveled.”
 
Following are a few things that can be learned from this powerful story.
 

When you feel like you are at your wits end draw close to Jesus and worship Him.
Worship opens the door for deliverance.
Understand that even in the worst circumstances the devil can’t override a man’s will. (The man ran to Jesus and worshipped Him)
Even in the worst circumstances Jesus has the power to set you free.
Anointed praise and worship is a battle strategy against evil spirits.
Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly, it’s the devil who came to steal, kill and destroy. (See John 10:10)
The carnal community around us is dangerously comfortable with having a life without Christ. (See John 3:19)
 
Conclusion – Worship God every day in spirit and in truth. The Father seeks those who will worship Him this way. He’s waiting for you. (See John 4:23-24)