Mark 5:1-13 – Detecting and overcoming demon influence

People see the presence of demonic activities differently. There are those who see demons in everything and there are those who totally discount them. Both positions are flawed. While we must not be ignorant of the reality of Satan and his demons, we also don’t want to develop an undue fascination of them. This extensive account given in Mark serves to show the reality of Satan and his demons and that we must not be ignorant of his activities. Considering that Mark’s Gospel only has 16 chapters, this extensive rendering of the Gerasene demoniac indicates that the issue should not be lightly dismissed.

In Mark’s account, Jesus was confronting a different kind of storm. Having overcome the storm on the Sea of Galilee, He and His disciples were now in the region of Gerasene across the lake of Galilee. This region where Jesus was now at, was considered an unwelcome place in Jewish thinking. The population was a mixture of Gentiles and Jews. It was here that the Lord was greeted by a demoniac who lived among the tombs. In him we see what could become of a person when the demons enter a life and make a wreckage out of it. We shall also see the destructive nature of demons. This is what demons would do to their victims.

In this account, only one representative demon spoke to Jesus, but there were many of them in that man. For when asked its name, the response was “My name is Legion; for we are many.” We safely conclude that usually more than one demon would trouble a person with demonic influence. This account is a grim reminder of how highly organized demonic forces are. When the demon called itself Legion, it also added by saying “…for we are many.” A legion in the Roman army would consist of 6,000 foot soldiers, 120 horsemen and other technical personnel. This word conjures an image of huge, well-organized force with great strength.

This account shows us some aspects of demons to help us detect their activities. Firstly, they make a person unclean, since we are told here that it was an unclean spirit. Secondly, they isolate a person. This demoniac probably had a home, but was driven to live among the graveyard in isolation. Thirdly, they give their victim unusual strength. We are told no one could overcome that demonized man. Besides, he could easily break the shackles that were used to bind him. Fourthly, they cause violence. That man needed to be bound by chains. Fifthly, they torment their victim. That poor man was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and was mutilating himself with sharp stones. Sixthly, they make a person defiant. While they recognize authority they would also challenge it. This was seen in how that man challenged the Lord’s authority although they can recognize that Jesus is the Son of the Most High. And finally, we see the demons’ ultimate aim. They seek to destroy a victim. We see here that since the legion could not finish off that man, they asked for permission to go into a herd of pigs that ended up in suicide.    

Our joy and victory is this: though demons may have a show of unusual power but they all had to listen to our Lord. They knew that they cannot live in a victim for long when Jesus intervenes. Every demon has to bow in Jesus’ name. We are on the Victor’s side! And indeed every demon spirit of hell trembles when the mighty name of Jesus is heard. And we, His church must enforce His victory in the world today. Hallelujah!