Mark 5:1-10

Rachel Workman: 5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.^{[a] 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 anymore, 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.

Even Satan knows the power of Jesus. Interesting how it said he ran and fell on his knees in front of Jesus. That proves that that Romans 14:11 is indeed correct. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Just when we think that evil is surely the dumbest thing you can do we're reminded that even evil knows the power of Christ. Yet I question is more often than I trust it. That makes me dumber than evil. Wow.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Julie Madison: Oh ye of little faith...listen and believe....

____________________________________________________________________________________

Allen Michaels:  5 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. Although we cannot be sure why demon-possession occurs, we know that evil spirits can use the human body to distort and destroy man’s relationship with God and likeness to him. Even today, demons are dangerous, powerful, and destructive. While it’s important to recognize their evil activity so that we can stay away from demons, we should avoid any curiosity about or involvement with demonic forces or the occult. Even today I wonder if all mental illness or some mental illness is really demonic possession, or mental illness is just that…mental illness. The human mind is very complicated as it’s basically controlled by electricity, minerals, and chemicals. I’m sure that the right combination of the 3 can cause all sorts of issues. Or, is all mental illness really the act of Satan? ³ This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, 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. The demon’s goal was to control the humans they inhabited; Jesus’ goal was to give people freedom from sin and Satan’s control. No demon has power over Jesus. I often wonder; if this is true, why is it easier to walk the path of Satan than it is to stay on the path of righteousness? Satan doesn’t even have to force us. He just simply needs to tempt us, whereas, God sometimes has to punish us in order to get us back on the path with the greatest rewards.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Tomorrow's reading for Mark 5:11-20

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^[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.