5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
A Man Given Over to Evil (vv. 1-10)
“Some openly willful sinners are like this madman. The commands of the law are as chains and fetters, to restrain sinners from their wicked courses; but they break those bands in sunder; and it is an evidence of the power of the devil in them.”
Matthew Henry
“There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God, and counterclaimed by Satan.”
C.S. Lewis
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”
Michael L. Brown
- We can only speculate what contributed to this man’s wretched estate, but be sure of this: any one of us could end up like him except for the grace of God.
- The “world” is satan’s domain (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 1 John 5:19). If we are not actively pressing into God’s Kingdom, we are straying into the devil’s domain of darkness.
- The devil and his host are “at work” in the disobedient (Ephesians 2:2); they “blind the minds” of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4), and “hold in slavery” those who live in the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15).
- Twice Paul references “handing over to Satan” believers who persisted in willful rebellion (1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20), placing them outside of God’s dominion, where His protection and blessings flow, and back into the world, where darkness reigns.
- This man represents the extreme of demonic possession-when a person is go given over to evil that the evil one is able to inhabit and control them physically. In this case, a legion (as many as six thousand unclean spirits!) indwell the man.
- Even short of possession, satan may oppress and bring death to those who entertain him with sin, unbelief and false religion.
- We must tremble and submit ourselves to God; the closer we are to God, the further we are from satan (James 4:4-10; 1 Peter 5:5-9).
A Land Given Over to Evil (vv. 11-17)
- The city Gerasa (or Gadara) southeast of the Sea of Galilee was part of the Decapolis (Ten Cities). It’s investment in the raising of unclean swine indicates the largely character of this region. The Gerasenes, like Sodom or Pergamum, might represent a region synomous with wickedness, uncleanness and satanic power.
- Their uncleanness and idolatry led to consequences that the people could not comprehend or control – their efforts to contain the demoniac proving futile.
- While its inhabitants could not have been thrilled with the outworking of their unclean living (pictured the madman rampaging in their town), they were unwilling to let go of their uncleanness, instead rejecting the One who could make them clean and whole.
God is Merciful to the Evil and Unclean (vv. 18-20)
- The former demoniac, once freed from his bondage, was subdued by the Master, sitting at His feet, ready to do His will. Jesus frees the slaves of sin, making them slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:20-23).
- Even though the people of Gerasa had rejected Christ, His mercy would still seek them out. In fact, Jesus’ mission would be seek and save the lost, and to bring light to all the Gentiles (Isaiah 65:1).
- In a reversal of the typical scenario, the former demoniac, now the Lord’s freeman, eager to follow Jesus and serve Him in the ministry, was denied. Instead, He would be a witness to his own people of God’s mercy to the unclean and wicked.
- The Lord will receive those who once rejected Him!