Crumbs 95
The Defeat of Evil
Scripture Mark 5 : 1-10New International Version5 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 any more, 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.
I could not divide this incident up into shorter studies. That would mean one of our studies would be entirely devoted to evil. Besides it is an indivisible unity.
In this incident we see three portrayals of men; a man broken in the thrall of evil, a man confronting evil from a higher authority and a man rebuilt by God.
Legion is naked, without dignity or protection. He exists among the dead. Order and peace are distant, alien. All he can do is self harm. 21st century would give a name to this condition, explaining how the balance of chemicals in the brain is awry, 1st century man, including the Lord Jesus, would see the work of evil and evil spirits. All truth is God’s truth. Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
Which brings us to the second man in this account, The Lord Jesus Christ. One lens through which we may view His activities is that of the Kingdom. We are learning about the governance of God. There is no defiance on the part of the evil spirits. His authority was recognised and admitted. The presence of such goodness causes the evil spirits fear and pain. We must note this. “ the darkness overcame it not”
Having dealt with evil the Lord turns to rebuilding the man. The man was clothed, sane and sent to his community as a witness to the work of the Lord in the living community. That work is the rebuilding of broken people. It still is.
Questions
What effects does Jesus have of men who accept Him today ?
What do we learn about the kingdom of God ,i.e. how God rules ?
How does the Lordship of Christ affect our world view?
