Mark 5: 1-13 the Gerasene Demoniac

¹ They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. ² When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, ³ and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; ⁴ because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. ⁵ Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones. ⁶ Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; ⁷ and shouting with a loud voice, he *said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” ⁸ For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” ⁹ And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he *said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. ¹¹ Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. ¹² The demons implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” ¹³ Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousands of them; and they were drowned in the sea.

This is the second instance is this gospel account of Jesus encountering demon possessed persons. This is also the most profound instance as this man was possessed by Legion, a group of unclean spirits. Yet they instantly recognize and obey Jesus as their master. Demons must indwell something or they wonder aimlessley through the air seeking a dwelling place. Jesus gives them permission to go into the herd of pigs, and when the people saw that the pigs killed themselves over this entry, they were very afraid of Jesus and it was unsafe for him to stay.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, we welcome and appreciate your work and who you are. Glory be to your name. Let us now become busy with sharing the good news of the gospel so that people may find you and love you. In your holy name I pray Amen.