HEART OF DARKNESS
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, you came to die so that I could live. Thank you for the abundance of the life you have purchased for me; help me to use it to bring you glory and to draw others to you.
Read MARK 5:1–20
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man
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.
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.
Footnotes
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Read Ephesians 6:12. Where are you conscious of being in a spiritual battle? Are you aware of carrying some injuries? Or are you struggling to distinguish between ‘flesh and blood’ and ‘spiritual forces’?It had been a rough night. Jesus’ disciples had thought they were going to drown until he calmed the storm. A man in a graveyard, overwhelmed by dark forces, was the last thing they needed.
The disciples were commissioned to drive out demons (3:15), but they are nowhere to be seen. Jesus is able to take the fight to the heart of darkness and win. Only Jesus has this kind of authority.
Our culture may have different ways to describe phenomena described here (mental illness, victim of abuse, etc.). Naming is one thing; overcoming is quite another. Jesus brought peace to the man just as he had brought peace to the storm (v. 15).
Another darkness hides behind this narrative. It’s the darkness of a society that was more concerned about pigs and the economy than this man. He had been written off. The best they could do was try to contain him. When they saw that Jesus was more powerful than the forces controlling this man whom they could not tame, the townsfolk were terrified. Their request to Jesus to leave the region shows what side of this titanic struggle they were really on.
Apply
Look around your church and your community. How can you show the love of Jesus to those who have been marginalized?
Closing prayer
Jesus, forgive me for when I have been more concerned with what I see as the “big picture” than for those individuals needing my attention. Give me eyes to see what you see, give me more of your heart to love with your love.
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