Mark 5:1-20

The encounter with the demonic is a record we need to study more and more frequently.  As many in our society are dabbling in the demonic they open the gateway to the powers of demons.  As Christians we may soon confront the demonic in our lives and ministry.  There is something about the demonic that at a heart or gut level a sensitive believer will recognize.  This is hardly a clinical diagnoses, but it is some how identifiable, but none the less real.

Jesus is never out numbered. The collective called Legion was not a match for Jesus and they knew it.  The demons were, in fact, terrified with the prospects of what they knew was their defeat. In verse 10, they beg Jesus not to cast them “out of the country” or the realm of time and space and into the realm of their eternal doom.  Like many people, demons do not want to face their eternity.

Why would Jesus cast them into hogs?  Why would the demons want to go to the hogs?  Why would Jesus allow it?  This is speculation, but we may guess.  For the demons the hogs are a better option than their eternal doom.  Also the powers of darkness hate humans and will use any occasion to harm them.  These hogs represented $250,000 to $400,000 in value.  The demons could hurt the community by an act of economic terrorism.  The demonic uses humans like tools then break the tools they have used.  Where demons might for a season empower and energize their human host or allies in the end their intent is to ruin them.  But why did Jesus allow such an act of economic terrorism?  First, this is to demonstrate the value of one soul.  In the economy of heaven, the loss of much is worth it to gain the real life in Jesus.  Secondly, Jesus is going to send this man out as the first missionary.  The suicidal stampede of the pigs will be the talk of the region and will make a fertile seed bed for the gospel’s proclamation. 

It is interesting that the people in the area ask Jesus to leave.  Asking Jesus to leave is how people-content with misery- respond to the change the Gospel brings.  In terms of one man’s impact it is hard to over estimate what this man did.  It is important to know that this first missionary worked with very low knowledge, but a very high level of obedience.