Mark 5:11-20 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil 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. Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 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. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man — and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Jesus had no sympathy for the many evil spirits who possessed the demoniac. When Jesus cast the demons out of Legion, He was not doing them a favor, but He may have given them permission to enter the pigs to emphasize his power over them and also to reveal how many demons were holding Legion hostage. As we see, the whole herd of two thousand pigs panicked when they felt the presence of the demons, killing themselves in the lake, giving the demons no living hosts in which to abide. We see that the demons in Legion were truthful when they said, "we are many." Who could have fathomed there were literally a multitude of these wicked, foul spirits in this one man, Legion. But Jesus, by commanding them to go into the pigs, clearly revealed their immense number and the severity of Legion's condition. These demons were not saved from destruction by entering the swine, for their hosts immediately destroyed themselves as they rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned, releasing these demons for eternal punishment in the abyss. The Bible speaks of "the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." The demons understood that Jesus had the power to destroy them. In another instance when a demon possessed man came to the synagogue where Jesus was teaching, and the demons said to Jesus, “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” When Jesus commanded the demon to come out and the man was freed, the people were amazed that He gives orders to evil spirits and they come out. (Luke 4:34 & 36) The news about Jesus' power spread throughout the area.
Dad had a dream the other night about a little bird with a broken wing. He realized this bird would never have a normal life. Even though it would live, the broken wing would dictate what it could do and what it could not do. Literally, this small bird was enslaved by its own limitations. We are like this injured bird, but we are enslaved by sin and death. Burdened down, we are not free to fly as God intended us to rise to heavenly places. We are bound to an earthly domain, unable to reveal God's intentions for us: to soar in the spirit. Sin has left us with broken wings. The Bible says, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23); consequently, we are enslaved to sin, and the author of sin is the evil one. As we follow his dictates in life, he becomes our master. We think we are functioning as freewill beings; actually, we are not free at all: our choices are not our own. Paul understood this dilemma: So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:21-24) Jesus came to rescue us from this broken state, from this slavery to sin. He came to heal broken wings, to make them as if they never were broken, perfectly new. The Bible calls this being born again. We are IN CHRIST, new creatures, made to display his glory, to soar to new heights through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus set this wounded and demented man free from a life of slavery to the demons that bound him. Legion no longer had to obey or to react to the will of these demons. After his deliverance, he functioned in his right mind and received the ability to choose a new life. No longer would Satan be in control of him. He would be acting and talking as he desired. For we know Jesus said that if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36) Legion would no longer be expressing the demons' wickedness. Jesus directed him to go back and tell his story to his family and community. Surely, his story included such remarks as, "I am free, I am free at last." What a story of deliverance he had to tell! And sometime soon, he must have adopted a new name, for he no longer carried a legion of demons within him, tormenting his every move. How many of us today rejoice in the Lord because we have the same story: I am free, I am free at last! Around this breakfast table the same story could be told by each participant in this meal. We have been set free from the bondage of sin and death. Our wings are no longer broken. The evil one has no hold on our lives. We are no longer enslaved by our limitations. Praise God! Through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, the gate to freedom from our hopeless state has been opened to us. Through that gate we enter into the Holy of Holies where God abides. That is where we soar in the Spirit, delighting in all God has prepared for us. What a story each one of us has to tell. Now we are called saints of God, not sinners. Because of Jesus, we can go back to our families and communities with a story of deliverance. WE ARE LIVING TESTIMONIES OF HIS GRACE AND POWER. As the Bible says, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5) Today, knowing who we are in Christ and who He is in us, may we sing the songs of deliverance and praise to our Lord, letting the whole world know Jesus saves to the uttermost!
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