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Facing Demons (Mark 5)

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Theodore Geisel wrote over 60 books that have created a world of wonder and mystery. His writings inspire kids of all ages, selling over 600-million copies and translated into 20+ languages. Theodore Seuss Geisel = Dr. Seuss. One of his books is “Horton Hears A Who.” It’s about an elephant named Horton who discovers a tiny speck of dust containing a microscopic world called Whoville. Horton’s friends are suspicious and cynical there is life inside a speck of dust. Horton does all he can to protect the dust speck city from all sorts of adventures that could easily destroy a dust speck. In the end, the citizens of Whoville have to overcome their own challenging adventures to create a united noise that can be heard in Horton’s world.

It is impossible for us to imagine life exists on a speck of dust. Yet, the recent Artemis Space travel around the moon reminds us that our own planet is a special small sphere existing in an unlimited universe.

Likewise, no one knows the unique circumstances and challenges each individual faces. Everyone has a personal and profound and incomparable life experience.

Today’s passage reminds us two traits of Jesus

  1. Jesus cares about every person, no matter how different, or defiled, they are from others.
  2. Jesus has power over every difficulty we experience.

EXAMINE     Facing Demons (Mark 5)

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has 8 mentions of demons in Mark’s Gospel.

  1. Jesus healing crowds of people oppressed by demons (Mark 1:32, 34).
  2. Jesus preaching and casting out demons (Mark 1:39).
  3. Jesus commissioning the apostles to preach and have authority to cast out demons (Mark 3:15). 
  4. Jesus is accused of being possessed by demons (Mark 3:22).
  5. Jesus ministering to and healing a man possessed by a legion of demons (Mark 5:1-20). 
  6. Jesus’s disciples casting out demons (Mark 6:13).
  7. Jesus healing the child daughter of a Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:25-30).
  8. Jesus telling disciples not to dismiss those casting out demons in Jesus’s name (Mark 9:38-39).

Before we engage Mark 5 text, I share this…

  • I believe in demonic activity and a real devil. 
    • Bible teaches an unseen spiritual realm (2Kings 6:15-18; Ephesians 6:12).
    • Bible teaches a unique and formidable enemy (Gen3:1; Mat4:1; 2Cor4:4-6; 1Pet5:8; Rev20:7-8).
  • I have ministered to those who have encountered demonic activity.
    • paranormal & unusual activity / oppressive darkness
    • every sin is demonic… and also a decision that must be confronted with a gospel response under Jesus’ Lordship (Eph 6;1Pet5;Jas3)
    • But don’t give the devil too much credit as the source behind every difficulty

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”[1]

  • BUT I have not seen specific demonic possession. Demon possession is a reality, yet be careful of equating to neurological disorders or mental illness; which both stem from Gen3 world impacting psychological and physiological systems. Those with either are to be treated with dignity, support, and prayer.
    You are wanted at spbc, valued, and we’ll seek to care/resource as possible.

Mark 5:1 They came to the other side of the sea,

  • Remember the disciples in the storm? They made it to the other side.
  • You might be going through a storm and wondering if you’ll make it through. This is a reminder God is faithful. Be strong & courageous, the LORD is with you. Keep going!

to the country of the Gerasenes.

  • Jesus entered a Gentile region. Gadara was one of the cities of Decapolis.[2]
  • Jesus doesn’t stay safe in rural Nazareth or familiar city of Jerusalem, but traveled beyond Jewish regions.
    • House in N. Beach in woods and “haunted.” We’d walk up & throw rocks then run… Christians must follow pattern of Jesus entering lives of those who need help.

MARK 5:2-5 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

  • Immediate welcome with wild man. Christians should not be surprised at the wildness and madness of the world. Instead of complaining “look what the world is coming to, we should say, “look who has come into the world!” Light invades the darkness.
  • Lived in the tombs. How bad would your life circumstances need to be to consider camping at the local cemetery?
    • All around us are people experiencing deep problems and living in isolation, hurt, shame, and sadness.  
  • unclean spirit: The man is unclean bc 1) he’s a Gentile, 2) he’s living among dead people (Num 19:11), 3) there were contact pigs in the area (Lev 11:7-8).
  • Luke’s Gospel says the man was naked, along with the man being chained multiple times but no one could keep him subdued (damazō, is used of taming a wild beast in, James 3:7).[3] The man appears uncontrollable and unsafe.
    • Astonishing contrast of prev narrative Jesus controlling wind & waves (Mk 4:39-41).
      • Poor disciples… they go from trauma of storm to terror of evil spirits.
  • Unstable: 5 Night and day… he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
    Description of man is deeply troubling. It shows one who is emotionally overwhelmed and near the end of options for relief; so much that self-harm appears as a solution.  

    If you know someone self-harming, here are some helps[4]:
    1) Remind the person they’re not alone. Be present with them; asking gentle questions so it feels more like conversation not interrogation; listen with full attention.
    2) Replace lies with truth. Help the person know they’re cared about, and there are always a variety of ways to solve problems beyond self-harm. Even if you can’t think of immediate solutions, communicate that you will help problem-solve. And pray w/ them.
    3) Resource the person. Local crisis response systems or professional counseling organizations are trained and ready, especially in emergency situations.
    4) Return communications in future settings. Compassion is not confined to a single event. People who are hurting need a relentless show of support and hope.

MARK 5:6-13 6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

  • The unclean man recognized and reverenced Jesus identity and authority.  
    he ran and fell down before him saying, … “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

Falling down [προσκυνέω] = worship.

  • Demons believe and fear God (James 2:19). Accurate orthodoxy ≠ orthopraxy.
    • Demonic faith is hypocritical – knowing, but not acting.
      Every time in Scripture when Jesus gives a demon a command, they obey.

Demons don’t delay obedience to Jesus.
They don’t ask for clarity before responding.
They don’t wait until its convenient, nor pause to gather the courage to act.
They don’t ignore, resist, or fight back against Jesus, thinking somehow their ambitions will be accomplished.
Sadly, that is not the case for humans.

Demons have accurate orthodoxy as they believe in and fear God.

Demons don’t delay obedience to Jesus.
They don’t ask for clarity before responding.
They don’t wait until its convenient, nor pause to gather the courage to act.
They don’t ignore, resist, or fight back against Jesus, thinking somehow their ambitions will be accomplished.
Sadly, that is not the case for humans.
But the one opportunity for humans that demons don’t have is to experience God’s love.
The human journey is to understand how to fear and live loved by God.

  • DIFFERENCE: Don’t divide fearing and loving God.
    Fear = awareness. Love = affection. Fear &  Love = abiding.
    We grow in awareness time learning about the person (Scripture)
    We grow in affection through time spent being loved by person (community)
  • The demons know they’ll be judged at an appointed time (Mt 8:29; Rev 19:10).
    • Momentarily, Jesus created deviled ham… sending demons into a pig herd.
  • Demons operate in unity with other demons / legion = ~6,000 soldiers.[5] Yet, this large host of demons were no rivals to Jesus, who were exorcised with a word / in contrast to Greek or Egyptian pagan priests with long spell incantations.

Illus: Song by Martin Luther “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (lyrics adapted)
… For Still our ancient foe, conspires to work us woe
His craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate…
If we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing
Unless God’s man is on our side, the man of God’s own choosing
who that may be – Christ Jesus it is He!
The Lord of Hosts His name, From age to age the same, He must win the battle
And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us
We will not fear For God has willed His truth to triumph through us
The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we endure for his doom is sure
One word shall overthrow him; That word above all earthly powers


MARK 5:14-17  14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.

  • The demon-possessed man was healed: sitting calmly, clothed, in right mind, and others afraid

Just PAUSE… isn’t that marvelous!?! Imagine that transformation / feeling.


And those around him were afraid – should have celebrated but… the liberated man had become a mirror to those with sophisticated depravity…

  • The herdsmen were more upset over the loss pigs & financial impact. Some people would rather have a thriving economy than a flourishing and compassionate society… For the record, I think both are possible but today’s politics would rather demonize each other and profit financially than offer lasting solutions to those truly hurting. The work of Jesus to solve our problems will be costly and sacrificial, and may cost our pigs! Are you ready?

MARK 5:18-20
18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

  • The oppressed man is liberated and begged to follow Jesus, but Jesus doesn’t allow the man in the boat,
  • Jesus knows the man didn’t need more “Bible study.” He needed community. He needed a new mission and purpose. So, Jesus sent him home to give report what the Lord has done for him. The result was many people marveling at Jesus…
  • Likewise, you might feel like your salvation story is different than other disciples. Notice that Jesus didn’t expect the man to be like the others, but He did instruct him to be faithful in his own environment.

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

  • Your uncleanness may not be a demon but everyone needs deliverance from Jesus.
    Jesus has supreme power and authority, and only He can deliver us from whatever darkness we live or reflect onto others.
  • What’s your gospel story?
  • Who in your “home environment” needs to hear your gospel story?
  • What “pigs” are you afraid to lose to follow Jesus?

[1] C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1971), p. 3.

[2] Chad Brand et al., eds., “Gadarene,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 611.

[3] James Edwards, Pillar NT Commentary, Mark 5:3.

[4] More info: http://www.biblicalcounselingcenter.org/how-to-stop-self-injury/ and https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/related-conditions/self-harm, https://www.spbcmd.com/counseling

[5] Mike Mitchell, “Legion,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ed. Chad Brand et al. (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1024.

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