Legions of Demons

So the people responded like most curious people do. They went to see if there were dead pigs floating on the Sea of Galilee and to see the men who were once demon possessed. These people soon realized that the report of the herdsmen was true, and they became very fearful. In fact, they were so afraid that they asked Jesus to leave their region. This is truly amazing. Rather than being thankful and finding protection and comfort in Jesus, they became fearful. They were afraid of Jesus because He had rescued the men. They were so afraid that they were begging Him to leave.

How would you have felt if someone had asked you to leave after serving God in such a great way? Would you have remained and ignored them? Would you become angry? What did Jesus do? Jesus did not remain. Instead, He planned to leave just as they had asked.

As He was getting into the boat, the demon possessed man repeatedly asked to join Jesus. The demon possessed man was not afraid. But Jesus encouraged him to go home and tell others what had been done for him. The Greek language indicates that the man asked again and again. He did not want to accept Jesus’ refusal but finally he did.

As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. (NASB) Mark 5:18-20

So the man did just that. He told folks throughout the Decapolis. Those who heard responded differently than the people in nearby cities. They were amazed at the report.

Conclusion. Why did God include this account of the rescue of a demon possessed man? Why did God include the previous reports of Jesus calming the storm and record the parables of the kingdom of heaven? The parables of the kingdom told us that most people would reject God’s message and end up in eternal judgment. When Jesus calmed the sea, the miracle revealed that He was more than just a man. He was and is our God and the Creator of this world. The testimony of the demons called Legion was that Jesus was God.

Why were these events recorded for us after the religious leaders announced to the crowd that Jesus was demon possessed? The answer is that this event was not a tutorial on demons. Nor was this account a story about a crazy man. We were not told that Jesus calmed the waves and stopped the winds so that we might be thrilled with a miracle event. We were not told about the parables so that we could have sermons to preach, stories to tell our children, or something to write in a book. The historical account of the man possessed by a demon was not about a spectacular fight between good and evil. All of these events were recorded so that we might know and understand what the religious leaders who claimed that Jesus was demon possessed did not understand. They were recorded so that we can know and believe that Jesus was and is God.

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (NASB) John 20:30-31