David Bahn – Reflections

Jesus went with the synagogue ruler, and all the people followed, crowding around him. ²⁵ A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. ²⁷ She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. ²⁸ For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.

³⁰ Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”

³¹ His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

³² But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. ³⁴ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” – Mark 5:24-34

A friend of mine recently had a long phone conversation with a sister in Christ. Long…as in nearly 90 minutes on the phone. I’ve had these conversations as well, but my compassion quotient runs out much sooner. I just don’t have the space for such lengthy sessions of complaints, woe-is-me moments, and demands. 

Another word for patience is longsuffering. And for me, sometimes that’s what it comes to. Thankfully, most conversations I have – even long ones – don’t fit into the longsuffering category. 

Then there’s Jesus. Days of teaching, ministering, healing, casting out demons, travel, and life with his disciples lead to another day of demands. Large crowds. People begging for his help. Needs everywhere he looks. And now as he is responding to the needs of the synagogue ruler, with a large crown pressing in on him, someone touches him. 

He knows he’s been touched because he senses that power has gone out from him. Indeed it had. A woman – unclean by years of bleeding – had dared to press into the crowd, make her way to Jesus and reach out to touch his garment. And with the touch came a healing.

He knew it. She experienced it. And now he will stop the procession to determine what had happened. Who had touched him. Longsuffering. The woman had suffered long with this bleeding. The daughter was suffering now with her deadly disease. The synagogue ruler was suffering greatly and surely long from his perspective. I can imagine his compassion quotient being drained as Jesus speaks with this woman. Jesus himself is willing also to suffer the incredulity of his disciples as he stops to speak with this woman. 

So much suffering. But so much compassion as well. Jesus will not just heal the woman, he will call her daughter: a remarkable identifier found on the lips of Jesus only twice in the New Testament. He will explain that her faith had healed her. He will go on with the synagogue ruler to attend to his daughter. He will allow the disciples to question his sanity. 

Jesus never runs out of compassion. He will heal all who come to him in faith. He will forgive all who ask of him. He will never turn aside anyone who comes to him. No matter how long he must suffer to do all these things.

Hint: It’s longer even that a walk to the synagogue ruler’s house. It’s longer than his suffering and torment of trial and execution. He is the author of longsuffering. 

Next time I need to listen beyond my compassion limit, I must tap into Jesus’ storehouse of patience and longsuffering. How about you?

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.

²¹ Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. ²² Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, ²³ pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” – Mark 5:18-23

Do you ever run out of steam? Is your cup ever empty. Do you come to the end of your rope before you’ve dealt with all the things you need to deal with?

Watching Jesus going across the Sea of Galilee and back, dealing with a legion of demons, angry villagers, sleepy disciples, and now more people in need. Will he ever run out of steam? Will his compassion fatigue ever kick in? Can he keep up this pace?

He arrives following the demon encounter only to be met by Jairus, the synagogue ruler. His daughter is in need of Jesus’ healing intervention. The man is desperate. He begs Jesus to come to his daughter’s aid. 

Jesus will agree. He will go to the man’s house. He will raise the daughter up and restore her to health. But at what cost?

The Bible is unequivocal that Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). By his stripes we have been healed (Isaiah 53). 

It is also clear that Jesus suffered great physical torment when he was beaten and crucified. He also suffered emotional trauma when he was ridiculed and put to shame before all those gathered at his death. To top it all off even his Heavenly Father forsook him while he hung on the cross. Spiritual, physical, and emotional torment pressed the life from him. 

All this was multiplied by Jesus’ whole approach to ministry. He will not close his heart to anyone. He will let people get to him. He will take on their sorrows, woes, sickness and sin. All these conspired to kill Jesus. It wasn’t just the nails. It wasn’t only the scourging.

Jesus has come to seek and save the lost. To do so will exact a great physical, emotional, and spiritual cost. And he has paid the price.

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.

²¹ Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. ²² Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, ²³ pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” – Mark 5:18-23

Maybe you’ve had to be the bad guy: No, you can’t go to the prom with him. No. You didn’t get the promotion. The job’s not yours. No you can’t go with us. You’ll stay with the babysitter while we go out.

You might think of Jesus in this mode as he rejects the once-possessed man’s begging to go with him. The man had been released from a grave condition. He no longer needed to be tied with chains. He didn’t have to inhabit the graves. He was no longer subject to the legion of demons who tormented him.

Jesus had done this. Jesus was on a mission. Surely this man would be a powerful testimony to Jesus’ power over evil, and his goodness toward those in bondage to sin, Satan or death. It makes perfect sense that this man should be allowed to accompany Jesus. 

But Jesus will not allow him to come along. “No, go home to your family…” Sounds like a real downer attitude on the surface. 

Consider, however, what has happened since the man had been healed. The demons go into the pigs. The pigs rush over into the sea. The people of the village beg Jesus to depart from them. Go away. Leave us alone. Don’t trouble us anymore. A sad request to be sure. 

If Jesus leaves – which he is in the process of doing – there would be no more of his powerful ministry among them. No more demons would be cast out there. No more diseases cured. No more teaching from the Son of God. Their great loss. Jesus says, “Whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God” (Luke 12:9). Would this be their eternal lot?

Only God knows anyone’s eternal destiny. God wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God want people to recognize Jesus as the embodiment of his gracious rule and reign. He wants all to repent and believe the Good News of his redeeming love. God wants the lost found and the sinner saved. 

That’s where this hard answer comes into play. Jesus will not let the man come along because he has a special mission for him. “Go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” 

The man may not accompany Jesus, but he will be a witness to Jesus. And so it goes. You might not get the promotion. The opportunity to travel may not be offered to you. You might not be able to spend time with a special someone. But you do have a purpose. And it’s greater and more far-reaching than any personal desire we may have. 

The Fuller Context of this Encounter

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.

²¹ Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. ²² Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, ²³ pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.”

²⁴ Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. ²⁵ A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. ²⁷ She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. ²⁸ For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.

³⁰ Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”

³¹ His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

³² But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. ³⁴ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” – Mark 5:18-34

A selection of Psalm verses for your edification on this Lord’s Day

Psalm 27:1, 13-14
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
    so why should I tremble?

¹³ I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
    while I am here in the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Psalm 57:1-3
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
    for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
    till the storms of destruction pass by.
² I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
³ He will send from heaven and save me;
    he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

Psalm 87:1-3
On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
²     the Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
³ Glorious things of you are spoken,
    O city of God. Selah

Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all nations!
    Extol him, all peoples!
² For great is his steadfast love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 147:1-11
Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
    for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
² The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
    he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
³ He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.
⁴ He determines the number of the stars;
    he gives to all of them their names.
⁵ Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
    his understanding is beyond measure.
⁶ The Lord lifts up the humble;
    he casts the wicked to the ground.

⁷ Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
    make melody to our God on the lyre!
⁸ He covers the heavens with clouds;
    he prepares rain for the earth;
    he makes grass grow on the hills.
⁹ He gives to the beasts their food,
    and to the young ravens that cry.
¹⁰ His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
¹¹ but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love.

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. – Mark 5:14-17

Maybe you’ve wished for things that turned out to be to your detriment. Perhaps the answer to your prayer turned out to be something you didn’t really want. Once we get the new car, the job promotion, the home of your dreams, or the opportunity to travel far and wide, you discover it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, it may be a nightmare. 

I wonder how Jesus felt when the crowd begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone. I wonder whether they had any idea of what they were asking for. I wonder if they ever rued their request.

For my part, I consider it the saddest request Jesus would ever receive. There are some competitors in this category. A mom comes and asks that Jesus seat her boys at his right and left in his kingdom. The disciples ask Jesus if they should call down fire on some who did not receive him as he was heading to Jerusalem. Satan asks Jesus for permission to sift Peter like wheat. Sad. But none so sad as asking Jesus to leave us alone. Don’t bother us anymore.

Sadly we all do this from time to time. I want something I know is not godly, and I ask Jesus to leave me alone while I indulge my sinful desire. You forget – so you say – and give into gossip. You know you should be more careful with your money but you take your credit cards to the mall (in pre-COVID days!). The piece of cake that should go untouched disappears with the last smudge of chocolate icing on your napkin. The eye candy fascinates you but you just can’t stop looking. 

We want our own way all too often. We want Jesus conveniently present. Doing his good thing at our bidding. Healing. Comforting. Encouraging. Affirming. 

But let’s not invite him to the bachelor’s party, the office Christmas party (again, pre-COVID), or the trip to Vegas. Then we’ll settle for conveniently nearby in case we get into trouble.

Sigh…

Thankfully this is not the end of the story. For even as Jesus leaves, he commissions the now healed man to tell the story of his healing and grace to his household. We’ll begin there tomorrow. But we’ll end with Jesus’ initial call, “Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand.”

Larger Context of this Event

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. – Mark 5:1-17

The evil spirits begged Jesus 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. – Mark 5:10-17

Have you ever been on the bubble? Pass/fail? In/out? On the team/cut? Financially solvent/bankrupt? I have. In our earliest years of marriage, Diane and I counted our change – including our pennies – all $4.17 of it. Then there was Greek. I had to pass the final in order to continue my seminary studies. If I failed, I would not be able to go on. I was on the bubble. You get the idea. 

Few people in this encounter are on the bubble. The demon-possessed man wasn’t on the bubble. Prior to Jesus’ intervention he was completely cut off. Uncontrollable. Dangerous. Possessed. Until Jesus intervenes. Then he is fully freed. Restored. No longer needing to be restrained. In his right mind. Sane. At peace with man and God.

The demons are not on the bubble either. But their fate is far worse for it. They are released from the man only to be sent into the pigs. Even though they begged to be sent into the pigs, it was not a good choice. They rush over the edge of the cliff and drown in the sea.

Sadly, the people of the nearby village are not on the bubble either. They want to get rid of Jesus. They see the man in his right mind. They hear about the demons and the pigs. And all they can think about is the pigs – a source of income perhaps. But in any event more important to them than a man who had been tormented now released from his misery. Pigs more important to them than a man. No bubble for them either. 

Where is your bubble? What is more important to you: pigs or people? Jesus or rebellion? Faith or sight? Being on the bubble is dangerous. Elijah once asked, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.” 

If you’re not clear that money, safety, personal preference are a poor substitutes for the True God, you will end up on a bubble that will ultimately burst in ignominy and doom. 

Jesus and his disciples 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. – Mark 5:1-17

Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”

And he replied, “My name is Legion, because we are many.”– Mark 5:9

[See below for the full context of this encounter.]

How does life challenge us? Let me count the ways… It challenges us with wildfires that destroy creations of God and man. It challenges us with divisions political and social. It challenges us with difficulties financial and medical. It challenges us with distance social and physical. It challenges us with complexities in education and employment. There are so many ways that life is challenging these days!

But they are not too many for Jesus. When he is met by a legion of demons, even in the midst of their protestations, he commands control. He will not be undone by them. Whether this is a literal legion of 3,000 to 6,000 as the term is used of Romany armies, or a figurative host or multitude of demons, his challenge is formidable. This will not be an easy fight. 

Or will it? It seems that Jesus is so totally in control that there is no fight at all. The demons are unsuccessful at preventing Jesus from extricating them from this poor man whom they had possessed. They were successful in having Jesus send them into the nearby herd of pigs, but only to be brought to their doom as they were hurled into the sea. A legion of demons – literal or figurative – is no match for the Son of God. He will have his way. They will not.

There is another time, however, when it seems they did have their way – at least the chief of demons did. Satan inspired Judas to betray Jesus. The chief priests and Sanhedrin conspired with Pilate at Satan’s instigation to arrest, torture, and kill Jesus. Even at his arrest, however, Jesus reminds us that he could call on 12 legions of angels to come to his aid (cf. Matthew 26:51-53). But he did not. 

Jesus will exercise power and control over demons, sickness, disease and Satan’s minions. And even though it will appear that he was under the control of Satan, sin, and death at his arrest and crucifixion. Those appearances will be washed away on the third day after his death. He is ultimately in charge.

So what of our challenges? Are they too big for Jesus to handle? His mission to seek and save lost people – to help and redeem those who live in a fallen world and seek his help – will not be set aside by legions of demons or a multitude of life’s challenges. He is large and in charge for our good and to the glory of his grace.

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. – Mark 5:1-17

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. – Mark 5:7-13 

[See the larger context of this portion of the encounter below.]

Have you ever built a house of cards? I have. Not a very big one though. Two levels high. Two bases wide. Easily toppled. Not very impressive. Maybe you’ve seen them much higher and more impressive. Perhaps you’ve also seen even the most elaborate ones tumble down with only a slight touch. Houses of cards are built to impress, but not to withstand trouble. Not to stand for anything…except for a while.

Satan’s realm is a giant house of cards. It’s all hat no cattle. It’s all show no substance. I will not stand. I will cave in under its own weight. We can know this by looking at this encounter of Jesus with the demon-possessed man. Nothing in the demon’s behavior proves otherwise. 

They approach Jesus first of all. Why would they do this? They knew what he could do to them. They knew he had authority over the demons. They knew they could not stand up to his power or authority. They even beg not to be sent to the abyss (cf. Luke 8:31).

One minute they are seeking to gain control over Jesus by invoking his name. The next they are begging for mercy. They fail at exercising power over Jesus and beg for mercy in the face of their impending doom.

Their request for mercy is short-sighted as well – to say the least. They beg Jesus to send them into the nearby herd of pigs. The unclean animals sought refuge in unclean animals. Jesus obliges and they enter the pigs which rush into the sea. A fitting end for both. 

The abyss is referenced in Revelation 9:1, the bottomless pit into which Satan and all his minions will one day be cast. Being cast into the sea is an earthly manifestation of that future destiny. 

Lies. Evil intent. Every ungodly bond. Every visitation of death, sin, and disease will one day crash under its own weight. That’s good to remember when we’re tempted to build our own house of cards. Or when others’ evil strike fear impress us with their false bravado. It will all one day come tumblin’ down.

Jesus and his disciples 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. – Mark 5:1-17

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.”  – Mark 5:1-8

[See the remainder of Mark 5:1-17 below]

Right in the middle of your presentation ZOOM goes down. You get one bill paid off and suddenly the refrigerator goes out. You manage to get settled in for a quiet Sunday afternoon when your kids decide to have an impromptu wrestling match. Just when you’ve got the office organized a coworker gets transferred. Seldom are interruptions anticipated or welcomed. 

Jesus knows all about interruptions. He finishes a day of teaching and healing and heads over to the other side of the lake. In the middle of his trip he takes a nap, only to be awakened by his worried disciples in the midst of a raging storm. Then he lands only to be interrupted by this demon-possessed man. 

Look a little closer as this scene unfolds. The man who is demon-possessed is caught in a miserable existence. He cannot be constrained – even by chains. He cuts himself. He lives among the tombs. And Jesus interrupts is – in spite of the opposite appearance of things. It appears that he is interrupting Jesus, but it will prove to be an interruption to the demons’ mischief and mayhem. 

For now we see Jesus interrupted, the shrieking fear of the demons. But Jesus is interrupting the demons’ tyranny. Jesus’ is dedicated to interrupting the rule and reign of Satan in all his realms. That’s an interruption of a favorable kind. 

Evil did not consider this to be a good thing. Shrieks reveal their distress at this encounter. This will not go well for them. But it will go very well for this man. That might be a good thing to remember the next time we are interrupted. 

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. – Mark 5:9-17

Readings from 5 Psalms for your Sunday edification…

Psalm 20:1-5

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
    May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
² May he send you help from the sanctuary
    and give you support from Zion!
³ May he remember all your offerings
    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

⁴ May he grant you your heart’s desire
    and fulfill all your plans!
⁵ May we shout for joy over your salvation,
    and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

Psalm 50:14-15

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
    and perform your vows to the Most High,
¹⁵ and call upon me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalm 80:1-3

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
²     Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
    and come to save us!

³ Restore us, O God;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalm 110:1,4

The Lord says to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

⁴ The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
    after the order of Melchizedek.”

Psalm 140:12-13

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
    and will execute justice for the needy.
¹³ Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
    the upright shall dwell in your presence.