MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St.Mark

St. Mark 5:1-20

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IN THIS passage concerning the demon possessed man, we have lessons concerning the devil, concerning Jesus, concerning human beings, and for believers. Let us look briefly at each in turn.

Although I hope we believe in the reality of the devil, I guess that for many we do not consider the truth about him very deeply. It is always good to know our enemy. It makes us humble and more trusting in Christ. This possession by the devil is an example, and a very severe one, of the discord and destruction Satan works in the world. Since the sin of Adam he has had the authority to do such evil. It is an example of the misery and destruction of God's work that Satan likes to cause. Although he delights in human misery, his chief aim is to work malice against God the creator. Every act against God's creation is in fact an assault against God. This malice of Satan was seen clearly in Jesus' day in the many people who suffered in body and spirit. In so many of the cases, the malice was, and is still today, nothing to do with any sin on the part of the sufferer. There is no evidence here that this troubled man brought the possession on himself. Jesus showed by his action the example of pity and love that Christians should show. So often the church fails in this. Like the Pharisees in Jesus day, they assume to easily that people with afflictions have brought this on themselves by some wrong doing.

We learn that Satan is not like God. He is powerful, but his power is limited. He is not omnipresent, that is able to be everywhere at once, so he needs lesser devils to help him. Here we see an example. In what little the Bible reveals of the origin of Satan, we understand that when Satan, who was created by God as an angel, rebelled against God in heaven, he had the support of a host of the other angels. When Satan was cast out of heaven these other fallen angels were cast out also. The man was possessed with many devils, that is these other fallen angels who are now devils. There is an indication here that the malice of the devils clouds their judgement, and shows that they are vulnerable. Firstly, so many devils in one man surely was a waste of resources on the devil's part. Their malice had to harm some creature, but they had not deduced that the pigs would not be able to sustain possession and would immediately kill themselves in panic. They found that their fears of being sent back to hell, which was why they sought to enter the pigs, was not relieved, for no doubt they could not remain in a dead carcase after the pigs had drowned.

The devils knew they had to obey Jesus. This is not only a revelation of the deity of Christ, but an example of the subjection of the devils to God. They feared being sent back to hell. Hell was misery for them. It was the devil's malice that chose the pigs. Jesus simply did not prevent their malice. The cruelty was from the devils. We learn lastly that the devils have no good in them whatsoever. They can't have a good thought or do a good action. They are completely given over to evil. There life is given to promoting evil. Let us hide ourselves in Jesus always for protection.

Then we have a wonderful lesson concerning Jesus. Jesus is the Saviour from all the works of the devil. No one else could help this man. Jesus came and delivered him by his word of command. The devil's could not disobey him. This is a vivid example of the work Jesus came to do. He came to destroy the works of the devil. He took from the devil every hold Satan has on sinners when he died on the cross, and completely bore the guilt and punishment of the sins of the whole world. All who believe in Jesus are delivered from Satan and his dominion forever. Jesus is our refuge in temptation and in all the affliction of the evil one. He is a sure refuge.

We also learn from this passage a lesson about human nature. When the people of the district saw what had happened, they pleaded with Jesus to leave their area. We are told that they were afraid of him. The one who is all love who came to save us from evil and its consequences, these people sent away. This is an example of the truth in John chapter three, where Jesus tells us that human beings love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. This is the tragic reality of life. Only a divine work of conviction and new life can cause a soul to embrace Jesus. Although Jesus is the altogether lovely one, yet humanity in sin is afraid of him and turns away from him. How we need to be thankful that we have been taught to love Jesus, and how we need to pray that others may be taught so too.

Lastly, the saved man wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to stay where he was, even though the people of the area had shown they were afraid of him because of what Jesus had done for him. Nonetheless Jesus told him what he had to do. He must stay and tell his family and others what great things the Lord had done for him. This is ever our task, and also our joy, even though it is never easy. We must glorify Jesus through our testimony of his saving power and love in our lives.