Daily Double: Markin MarkSample

Jesus Frees a Demon Possessed Gentile

By Ps Matt

Jesus and his disciples cross the lake into the region of the Gerasenes. As soon as Jesus gets out of the boat another man with a demon meets Jesus. You’ve probably noticed there’s lots of demon talk in the Gospel of Mark. We’ll cover that in a bit.

The demon-possessed man we encounter in our passage is a sad story. People have chained him up in a cave and he probably looked like death. The Bible says he cut himself up with stones and ripped iron cuffs off his feet.

The Bible says he has been tormented day and night by not just one demon – but thousands! We realize demons exist to destroy human life – but thankfully Jesus comes to save it.

Jesus casts these two thousand demons out into two thousand pigs who run into the water and drown themselves. Just picture that! But don’t think about it too long because we’re talking about a lot of bacon dead in the water.

There’s two super important words to unlocking so much understanding in this story. The words are “Gerasenes” (v. 1) and “Decapolis” (v. 20). For the first time in Mark, Jesus has crossed the lake from a Jewish region into a Gentile region. And the first Gentile man He meets is saved from terrible darkness.

We’re learning some essential things about who Jesus is and what Jesus did. Mark is showing us that Jesus’ ministry wasn’t exclusive to the Jews but for everyone – the same is true today.

Mark is also teaching us that people distant from God (Gentiles) are open to serious spiritual darkness and demon possession which torments them and others – the same is true today.

But most powerfully, Jesus not only has power to cast out one demon but thousands. No matter how messed up someone seemingly is… we learn Jesus has the power to save anyone no matter how Gentile or demon-possessed or tormented they may be.

I’ve heard stories like this happening 2000 years after this event happened. Jesus’ power works for people who are locked up for life in prison or tormented by the most horrible upbringings.

What darkness has Jesus cast out of you?