Mark 5:1-5 (NKJV) A Demon-Possessed Man Healed
(Matt. 8:28–9:1; Luke 8:26–39)
1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 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 into pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
V1 “Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.”
This country is (the district of Gadara bordered the Lake of Galilee on its eastern side and extended south into the territory known as Decapolis. Gadara was not so thickly populated as other districts around the lake, and was inhabited mainly by Gentiles, some of them pig farmers. The Gadarenes were known also as Gerasenes after the chief town of the district (Mat 8:28; Mark 5:1; Mark 5:11-14)). Ryrie notes: “Mostly inhabited by Gentiles.”
V2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit…” Why did this man come to Jesus? We are not told if the demon forced him there or the man wanted to confront Jesus. Why did Jesus come to that area? He came to save and deliver. We know this is the reason for the ministry of Jesus for this man (Luke 19:10).
V3 “…who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains…” Satan likes disorder, death, pain, etc. This man did not have much choice. The idea of “no one could bind him” reveals that the source of this unnatural strength; it is not the man but the demon in the man. Satan is a thief who wants to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10 and 1 John 3:8). Satan seeks to deceive (Genesis 3:4-5, Revelation 12:9, and 2 Corinthians 4:4).
V4 “…because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken into pieces; neither could anyone tame him.” Truly unnatural strength. This is one of the signs of demon possession, not mental illness.
V5 “And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.” The devil wishes to harm and destroy. Jesus came to save and heal.
We learn:
- The devil destroys.
- Jesus heals.
Questions:
- In whom do we trust?
- Are we trusting in the strength of God?