This week I have had the subject of demons on my mind. On
Monday, I read about this man’s young adult son who was doing well at college,
academically and in music, then he was diagnosed with a mental disorder and
took a turn for the worse. The father thought the son may do some self-harm so
he took the son to a mental health facility but there was no room for the son. They
went back home where the son proceeded to write in his journal about killing
his father and he tried to do just that and then killed himself. Right away I
thought that there was probably demonic influence in the son’s life, whether he
realized it or not. Yesterday, I was ministering to an online student who is
concerned about a demonic statue being proposed for a government location in
Oklahoma. This morning, on the way to work, I pulled up behind a black car with
the word ‘legion’ on the vanity license plate and there were two skulls on the
back dashboard (creepy). I don’t know if that driver, car, and license plate is
directly associated with any demonic influence but that’s what I thought about.
The truth is, according to God’s Holy Scriptures, there are real
spiritual creatures known as demons (fallen angels). They were created Holy
angels and chose to become evil. The devil, Satan, is the lead demon. They are
powerful spiritual enemies who seek to do what is contrary to the character and
will of God. They seek to corrupt and harm people and prevent people from being
true worshipers of God, from obeying God, and glorifying God. Jesus said, “the devil is a murderer and the father of
lies.” John 8:44. Peter wrote this to Christ-followers, Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary
the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1
Peter 5:8 (ESV). On the origins and fall of the devil/demons, consider
also Isa. 14:12-17, Ezek. 28:11-19, Matt. 25:41, Rev. 12:1-14.
Mark, in his Gospel of Christ account, emphasized Jesus’
encounters with demon influenced people pointing out that Christ cares about
such people, Christ is greater than demons, and Christ healed many people from
demonic bondage.
Let’s consider some verses from Mark 5:1-20 ESV (I encourage you
to read and study the entire passage, but for the sake of space and scope here
I’m highlighting key verses) about Jesus’ encounter with a demon-possessed man.
Jesus was traveling with His disciples
when a man with an unclean spirit (i.e. evil spirit, demon) came up to Jesus
(Mk. 5:2).
5:3-4 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind £him, not even with chains, 4 because he
had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled
apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame
him.
Efforts had been made to confine this man, but all hope by
the local people to bring this man under control had been abandoned. No one
could subdue or contain this man because he had supernatural strength given to
him by the demonic power controlling him. Luke added that this man was naked. Matthew
wrote that no one could pass by that location because of his violence.
5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs,
crying out and cutting himself with stones.
This was one scary dude. He was violently crazy all the
time. He was amazingly powerful. He was running around naked. He was screaming
night and day. He was cutting himself with rocks. One translation uses the word
‘gashing’ so he was probably bloody. This man terrorized people from up close
and afar. His condition must have seemed hopeless to him and to anyone who knew
about him.
5:7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with
You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not
torment me.”
The demon was saying to Jesus something like, “What do you
and I have in common?” It is kind of like, when we would say, “Oh no, what are
your doing here?” The demon speaking was aware of both the human name Jesus and
His deity, although this as it appears was his first encounter with Jesus. Such
knowledge indicates that the man was not merely crazy, he was indwelt by
demonic powers who know the true identity of Christ. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and
shudder! James 2:19 ESV
Then the demon begged Jesus to not torment the demon (see also
Mt. 8:29, Lk. 8:31, 2 Pet. 2:4, Jude 1:6). According to Scripture, demons not
only know who Jesus is but they also know the handwriting on the wall, so to
speak (see Rev. 20), about God’s final judgment upon them. Demons live in
constant dread of the day when Jesus will eternally punish them.
5:9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered,
saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”
The
name ‘legion’ was given to a division in the Roman army at that time. It
typically consisted of 3-6000 soldiers. So, the implication was that
there were several thousand demons present in that man’s body. Wow! I can’t
imagine the torment and experience in that man’s life.
5:12-13 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we
may enter them.” 13 And £at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the
unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand);
and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in
the sea.
This is surely a vivid, visible, and powerful lesson on the
immensity of the evil from which the possessed man had been delivered.
5:19b-20 “Go home to
your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and
how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in
Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
What happened to this demon possessed man is truly an
amazing grace healing of God and then he went from maniac to missionary for
Jesus. This man went beyond the call of duty, being so enthusiastic about
Christ and what he had done, that he shared his amazing story with people
beyond his friends and family and local town into the nearby ten Greek cities. People
marveled at the work and message of Jesus.
It’s interesting to note that people are not delivered by
Christ from their bondage to evil and sin merely for their own comfort and
well-being, but so that they may give testimony to others concerning their
divine Deliverer, to glorify God! What
great things has God done for you and who are you telling about it?
This Bible event shows us the reality of demonic influence
in someone’s life, that Jesus cares about demon inflicted people, that Jesus is
greater than demons, and in this case, Jesus healed the man being controlled
and possessed by demons who went on to proclaim the good news of Christ to many
people.
Jesus Christ is awesome and amazing and as I ponder the reality of
spiritual warfare and demonic influence in this world it comforts me to know
biblically and by faith that all the demons together are no match for Jesus Christ!
Jesus is the eternal risen glorified Son of God, the One who has all authority
and power, God Himself (i.e. Heb. 1:1-4, Col. 1:15-19).
I don’t know what you believe about demons and their influence in this
world but God’s Word has much to say about these things. The key for you and me
is Jesus Christ, who He is and what He did on the cross, dying for our sins,
and resurrecting in victory over sin and death. By God’s grace through faith in
Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, you can have an eternal relationship
with your Creator and trust Him for victory over the spiritual enemies of God. I
trust Christ, how about you?
What are your thoughts?
Mike
