ESOCS Devotional 18 May 2024 – Even the Demons Recognise Him
MEMORY VERSE: “He shouted at the top of his voice, what do you want with me, Jesus Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me.”Mark 5:7 NIV
TEXT: MARK 5:1-20
hen 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 in 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.
6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”
8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?”
And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
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Apostle Mark pictures Jesus as a man of intense action. Matthew portrays Him as the possessor of absolute authority. Every believer knows Him as Immanuel, the Son of God, who is at one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. To Him belong the Kingdom of heaven. Angels stand ready to respond to His every command. Since His death and resurrection, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. The challenge before every one of us is to ask, and answer the question: Do I truly acknowledge the authority of Jesus in my life?
In our text today, a legion of demons addressed Jesus. They recognized Jesus as the Son of God. There are several other scriptural indications that the demons, as well as Satan himself, know their destiny in the abyss, by the authority of Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:4; 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6). The demons also know that Jesus has absolute power over them (Luke 8:31-32). Hence, they negotiated for permission to choose where to go; on leaving their victim, as the Lord commanded.
In verse 17 of our text, we see a sad legacy of a people who had given up godliness, in preference to material wealth and worldliness. In this case, some citizens of Gad, on witnessing what happened, began to beg Jesus to depart from their territory. They were more concerned about their livestock than the human person who was delivered from the firm grip of the devil.
However, the erstwhile victim of the legion of demon possession now surrendered and gave his life to Jesus. But the Master would not permit him to come with Him. He rather asked him to go and tell his people about the mercy of God upon his life. He thus went throughout the region proclaiming to everyone what Jesus had done in his life.
Child of God, think of all the numerous benefits Jesus has extended to you. Have you appreciated Him enough? Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Acknowledge Him in everything you do, and He will continually direct you right. Never you claim that you are wiser than you truly are. Simply acknowledge Him and refuse to do wrong. If you honour the Lord, your physical and spiritual wounds will be miraculously healed. Take heed to yourself.
- Jesus is the highest name, both in heaven and on earth. Do you believe it?
- Lord Jesus, please search out all negative influences on my life and deal with them.
Further Reading: Exodus 10:12-29; 1 Kings 22:1-28; 2 Thessalonians 2: 14-13-17
ESOCS Devotional 18 May 2024
