Mark 5:1-20

Three More Miracles

The Man Possessed With Legions Set Free (1-20)

Unhindered by the storm, Jesus guided the boat to the other side of the lake, to the region named Gerasenes and, specifically, near a cemetery. 

The moment Jesus climbed out of the boat, a deranged demoniac came running to meet him (1-2). This demonized man had been permitted to shelter among the tombs of dead bodies because the townspeople could no longer restrain him with chains. By some means of demonic strength, force of will, and insensitivity to pain, he was able to pry apart and break the chain links. He was so full of demons that when he was smitten with a fit, he could not be humanly subdued without bringing great injury to those attempting to subdue him. Thus, the town decided that leaving him free to roam the cemetery was in their best interest (3-4). There, he would writhe in pain as he engaged in self-mutilation (5). 

When this man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran to and fell before Him. With a loud voice, the demons within him recognized Jesus as the Son of the Most High God. When Jesus called for the demons to come out, one responded with a plea to not be tormented. Jesus asked the demon his name, and he revealed himself as “Legion,” divulging that he was merely the spokesman of many (8-9). Legion then began to beg Jesus through the man not to send them to another country or an empty space.

Mark then made note that wherever Gerasenes was, it was under heavy Gentile influence. A great herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside near the cemetery, being cared for by pig farmers, a job no Jew would engage in nor permit within their region. The demons revealed much about themselves in this story—they would rather inhabit pigs than be sent out into the abyss (10-12).

Jesus gave the demons permission, so they left the man and entered the 2,000-pig herd. Once the legion of demons entered the pigs, their dark forces drove the pigs into a senseless frenzy. The pigs charged down the steep embankment where they had been feeding and jumped into the sea, all drowning (13).

In this event, Jesus was teaching that He was Lord over all, including demons, even the strongest ones. 

The herdsmen went into the city and told their neighbors to come to witness what had happened (14). By the time they arrived, they saw Jesus with the once deranged demoniac now sitting fully clothed and in his right mind, carrying on a thoughtful conversation. 

The sight of the demonized man being fully healed did not fill the residents with awe; it filled their greedy little hearts with fear that if Jesus were to hang around, He could cost them financially (15).

The pig farmers then relayed to the townspeople what they had seen, and the residents of that place, instead of rejoicing over the salvation of God, asked Jesus to leave their region (16-17). So, the demons didn't want to leave the region, but the demons in the town’s residents wanted Jesus to leave. 

Jesus returned to the boat after being begged by the man He’d set free to take him along as one of His disciples. Jesus refused to let him come but told him to remain in the region that was trying to kick him out so he could spread the Good News of what Yahweh had done for him through Jesus. Although Jesus was being asked to leave, He was still seeking their salvation. He was moved with compassion for the people, so he left the man He had just delivered with a mission of proclamation.  

The healed man did just what Jesus commanded, starting in Decapolis. His message had everyone marveling over what Jesus had done (18-20).

Not only was Jesus revealed as Lord over the most hideous of the demonic world, but He was also revealed as the Lord of healing and restoration, having restored the deranged demoniac to sanity, affection, and purpose. 


Psalm 42

Longing for Yahweh

An Introduction to Book Two

We now begin the second book containing thirty-one Psalms, and you will notice that in this book God is almost exclusively referenced by His creative name, “Elohim,” instead of His redemptive name, “Yahweh.” The first eight Psalms are attributed to the “Sons of Korah.” This group included descendants of the infamous Korah who was executed by God for his rebellion against Moses (Numbers 16). These same Korahites were gatekeepers and were some of David's principal musicians, and you will find Heman appears instead of Korah through the Chronicles (1 Chronicles 6:31-33; 9:17-19; 26:1,19).

Psalms 42 and 43 are “Lament Psalms,” and, as in the first book of Psalms, this book also begins with a two-Psalm opening (42,43) introduction. It is believed chapters 42 and 43 were a connected poem as the same conditions seem to backdrop both Psalms. In Psalm 42, you will read the complaint; in Psalm 43, you will read the prayer responding to the complaint. This Psalm was likely written by one of the Levites traveling with David when he was fleeing from Absalom. These Psalms are also “maskils” (superscriptions), along with 44 and 45, Psalms written to give instruction.  

Psalms 42-43 can be clearly divided into three thoughts:

  1. The passion of the Levite's heart (42:1-2)

  2. The question of the Levite’s soul (42:3-10); faith scolding the Levite’s conscience (42:5,11)

  3. The prayer of the Levite’s spirit (43:1-4); faith scolding the Levite’s conscience (43:5)

Observation: the Psalm reveals the conscience. The poet complains and questions his faith, all the while reminding himself there is cause to hope. While the priest is banished and longs for the beauty of God’s house of worship, he reminds himself there is always cause to hope.

Purpose: To show us how to pray when our circumstance has separated us from the beauty of God’s house of worship, and yet our heart longs for it.