Sermon Series: Getting to Know Jesus 

The Devil and the Great Commission 

Mark 5:1-20 

PSBC 2/17/02 AM

In a nutshell: There are seven signs of demonization as demonstrated in this account. But when delivered from these things, this man is taught how to be a witness.

I. Introduction

A. Cemetery Joke

A man often walked through a cemetery on his way home. One night, though, he was unaware that a new grave had been dug right in the middle of his normal path. And he fell into it. For quite some time he struggled to get out of the 7 foot deep grave, but he couldn't. So, finally gave up and settled down for the night, figuring he'd be rescued in the morning.

About an hour later, a farmer, out possum hunting, came walking through the cemetery. And you guessed it, he too fell into the grave. The farmer panicked! He tried desperately to climb out. And all the while he was unaware that there was anyone else in the grave along with him. The first man who fell in watched and listened to the farmer for a few minutes. Then he reached over in the darkness and tried to console the farmer by laying a hand on his shoulder. And he started saying…""You can't get out of here," ... but before he could finish his sentence, the farmer was gone!

Facing a scary situation certainly does affect your body's ability to produce adrenaline, doesn't it? Plus it plays havoc on your nerves.

But imagine facing not one… but two very scary situations, right in a row. That's what happened to the disciples in the passage of Scripture we're going to look at this morning. Not only did they face the "Perfect Storm" earlier that night, but now it's the same night, and they meet the scariest guy you could ever imagine. If you have your Bibles, please turn to Mark 5.

B. Demon possessed man Throughout the New Testament, we're told of many times when Jesus or His disciples cast demons out of people. But nowhere in the Bible is the description of demon possession more graphic and scary than here in Mark 5.

Mark 5:1-13 1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 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!" 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13 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.

If you thought the storm was scary, get to know this guy! He was "horror" personified! -He lived in a graveyard. -He was unshaven, and ragged. -He was scarred from chains and shackles that were unable to bind him. -We're not sure what he was wearing - but if he was wearing clothes at all - it wasn't much. -His face had a dark haunted look to it-probably like pictures you've seen of Ichabod Crain, in the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow". -And his body had open, bleeding wounds from cuts he made on it with sharp stones. -Every night and every day, he prowled the hills around the graveyard howling and screeching in a crazed torment-all because the demons in him would not let him rest. -And if you had the courage to get close enough to talk with him, you'd have heard the echoes of several different voices, speaking in unison, who were the many, many, many demons who lived within him.

No doubt about it, this guy was really scary. Not only would you not want to meet him in a dark cemetery. You wouldn't want to meet him on a crowded street in broad day light. He was a dangerous and frightening man.

C. Demon possession?

This story from Jesus' early ministry opens up whole topic of the occult, and demonic influence and oppression on human beings.

Now, we have an advantage today, over against generations in the early part of the 1900's. -You see, today most of us have heard about reports of demonic activity from missionaries in third world countries. -And some of us have read books by modern-day authors on the subject. -And others of us have experienced it in different forms because we've become threats to strongholds where demonic activity takes place. …So most of us are at least familiar with the concept that many call demon possession.

But friends, as I studied this idea in the New Testament this week, I discovered that the term "demon possession" is never used. It is a term that has been invented by people to describe what demons can do to people. But in my study, I'm coming to the conclusion that it really isn't a very accurate term for this phenomenon.

The word that is always used in the New Testament to describe a person in the condition of this man that Jesus and the disciples encountered, is the word "demonized". Whether it means possession, or control, or influence… "demonized" is always the term that is used in the Bible-it's never demon possession. So, I think it much wiser, in light of being accurate with the words of Scripture for us to use "demonized" when talking about this phenomenon, rather than demon possession.

II. Demonized

Now, it is very clear from the Bible that there are various stages and degrees to which demons, and evil spirits, can affect, or possess, or control human beings. But regardless of the degree or stage, what we're going to see this morning is that there are at least seven signs that demons are at work in the life of an individual. So, to help us be discerning, let's examine each one of those seven signs…

A. Evil or Unclean

The first of those things is found in the word "evil" or "unclean" that Mark uses in verse 2. Friends, understand this… there is always some element of the uncleanness or evil that is present in demonic activity. Wherever demons are involved, there is always some moral or physical filth that is evident.

In this case, there was physical filth. This demonized man lived among the tombs of the area-he lived among the dead bodies in the limestone caves which lined the cliffs along this part of the Sea of Galilee. It was in these caves that the people of Jesus' time would put the dead bodies of their friends and loved ones. So amongst the dead and decaying filth of human remains, this man lived.

But it's not just physical filth-it can also be moral filth. I don't think it's any accident that the rise of Satanism and occult activities in north America have coincided with the spread of pornography and obscenity… …in the media, …in our movies, …in our literature …and over the internet. Friends, these things are related. Demons love to be present in filth and obscenity and pollution in all areas of the human existence.

B. Isolation

A second characteristic of demonic activity is isolation. We see this by how this man lived. He had a home, and he had friends, because as we'll read later, Jesus sent him back to both after he was healed.

But at the beginning of our story, this guy chose to live in total segregation, away from other humans, and completely cut off. In every case of demonic influence there is some form …of withdrawal …or secretiveness …or emotional or physical separation from people

Illustration: We saw this with a young man by the name of Dave, who worked on our maintenance staff at Wheaton Bible Church a number of years ago. This young man was always withdrawn, would never look you in the eye, and when he went home, he would always be behind a closed door from his roommates.

We found out later that even though he professed to be a Christian, he had past involvement in the church of Satan, he claimed to be a witch, and he still kept books and ritualistic devices that were used in the church of Satan, hidden in his room.

Does that surprise you? It shouldn't if you recognize that isolation is a second sign of a demonized person.

C. Supernatural Strength

A third sign of demonic activity in a person is supernatural strength. The man in our story exhibited by -the fact that chains were used to bind his hands and feet. -and shackles were used to try and subdue him, But he literally ripped these bindings apart and tore them off of his body. Folks, that requires strength far beyond what a normal human being is capable of demonstrating. But this isn't unusual in cases of people who are demonized. There are many instances that I've read about and heard about where people under the influence of demons, exercised unusual strength.

Illustration: The young man I told you about-Dave-whom I met at Wheaton Bible Church, was able to pick up a ceremonial sword that weighed over 30 pounds, and swing it over his head like it was a twig. Yet he was slightly built, about 5'2" tall and weighed 120lbs., if that.

Supernatural strength is just one more evidence that some power is at work in someone under demonic influence.

D. Sense of torment

A fourth mark of the demonized is a sense of torment. This man in our story was very tormented. The Bible calls Satan, "The Father of Lies." One of Satan's biggest lies is that occult activity is attractive and fascinating. So it becomes very alluring and seductive to someone looking from the outside in. But Satan uses that lie to lure people in, and once a person is involved in occult or Satanic activity torment sets in.

This man demonstrated a deep feeling of restlessness. He wandered up and down the mountains, crying out in pain and anguish at the torment he felt within himself. He was so tormented that he bruised and cut himself with jagged rocks-trying to drive out this feeling of inner torment. This is very characteristic of demonic influence.

Illustration: Dr. Kurt Koch, who before his death was considered one of the leading Christian authorities on occult phenomenon, was a visiting professor of mine at Wheaton College. In one of his books he wrote of a young man who came to him for counseling. He showed this man the way of salvation, and the young man wanted to ask Jesus to be the forgiver of his sins and the leader of his life, so Dr. Koch led him in a prayer to ask Jesus into his life. "Suddenly he jumped up and started running and banging his head against the wall time and time again. After I stopped praying, he asked me to forgive his behavior with the words, "I didn't want to do that. It just came over me." On talking to him further, I discovered that he had worked at the office of an astrologer. Calling in two other believing Christian men, we together commanded the evil powers to leave the young man. And he was delivered from the inner torment." (Occult Bondage and Deliverance, by Dr. Kurt Koch. Evangelization Publishers, Germany 1970. p. 65)

Inner torment is yet another characteristic of demonic influence.

E. Immediate Recognition of Jesus' Authority

A fifth element that is always present in demonized people is the immediate recognition of the authority of Jesus. The man in our story, when he saw Jesus, knew immediately who He was. He came running to Him and called Him by name, using the phrase that demons always use, "Son of the Most High God."

Friends, this is very revealing. This phrase "… the Most High God" is the highest name a non-believer can know or use to refer to God. It is used all through the Old Testament, but only by members of Gentile or pagan nations.

Israel know God as "Jehovah" or "Yahweh", which is translated in our Bibles by the word, LORD (with all capital letters). But everyone else knew God as "El Elyon"-or God Most High. So the demons in this man used the highest name they personally knew to use for Jesus, God's Son… "Son of the Most High God." That is as intimate as they knew Him. It recognized Jesus' authority, but showed a lack of intimacy.

F. Multiplicity of personality

A sixth characteristic of demonization that we find in this man is a duality or multiplicity of personality. Look at verse 9 again…

Mark 5:9 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."

And in verse 10, this demonized man begged Jesus like this…

Mark 5:10 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

By that statement, we know that this man was aware of more than one personality residing within him. Now, we know that there is a medical condition know as schizophrenia. And most times this condition can be treated with medication. But in our story, no amount of drugs or combination of drugs could ever heal or bring under control what this man was going through. That's because, just like some storms, as we discovered last week, can be from demons…, so can some forms of this mental illness.

In every person who experiences demonization, there will at least be a duality-the person plus the demon within them.

G. Suicidal tendencies

The last mark of a demonized person is suicidal tendencies. Now, don't get me wrong, not all suicidal tendencies come from demonic influence. But all demonized people will have suicidal tendencies.

Now, it's interesting to me how strong this tendency towards suicide is in demons. I mean, the demons begged Jesus not to send them "out of the area", as the NIV translation puts it. Now, they weren't asking Jesus to keep them from moving to another state or province. That phrase literally was asking Jesus not to send them to the abyss-in other words to the place of eternal destruction.

But the demons defeated their own purpose to keep on living, by their natural suicidal nature. Because look… what's the first thing they do when they get in the pigs? They go and drown themselves.

Joke: Visitors to a certain zoo were surprised to see a new exhibit labeled "Co-existence". In the cage they saw a lion and some lambs. Some of the visitors were curious and asked the zookeeper how this could happen. And the zookeeper explained, "It's really very simple. All I have to do, every now and then, is add a few fresh lambs."

You see, it is the nature of a lion to eat lambs. And it is the nature of demons to self-destruct.

So, saying all that, we are confronted with "the rest of the story"…and some specific application for all of us in this room, this morning.

III. The Rest of the Story

A. The Strange Reaction

Mark 5:14-17 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 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. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man-and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

Just a few hours later, the townspeople came to see what had happened out by the graveyard. They had heard this wild story from the shepherds. But by the time they arrive on the scene, the man had already gone home, he had put on clean clothes, he had come back to Jesus, and was sitting at Jesus' feet, quietly learning from Him. But even though all this good had happened, the people of the town asked Jesus to leave.

What a strange reaction! -Jesus had just rescued a very scary man from a horrible life, -restored him to his family and friends, -and he was now prepared to enter society again as a useful participant. He was no longer scary. He was no longer withdrawn. He was in his right mind. He was at peace with himself. There were no dual personalities were raging in his head. He was completely delivered. He was set free. …But the townspeople asked Jesus to leave! Why?

I'll tell you why… They had been hit in the tenderest part of their anatomy-their pocketbook. And instead of rejoicing, they plead with Jesus to leave.

John Oxenham, the man who wrote the words to the beloved missionary hymn, "In Christ There Is No East or West" wrote the poem on the front of your WIG's this morning early in the 1900's. It is based on these 4 verses, and it's called…

Rabbi, Be Gone Rabbi, be gone! And take this fool of thine. His soul? What care we for his soul? Since we have lost our swine. Then Christ went sadly: For he had given them a sign Of love and tenderness. But they only wanted swine! Christ stands without your door and gently knocks, But if your gold or swine the entrance blocks, He forces no man's hold, he will depart And leave you to the treasures of your heart.

What is the treasure of your heart? Is it your comfort? Is it your music? Is it your money? Is it your status? Is it your pride? Is it your ambition? Is it …? Regardless of whatever it is, Jesus won't wrestle it from you. He'll let you keep the treasures of your heart, and He'll leave, just like he did from the people on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Friends, please understand this…when you keep the treasures of your heart, you will miss the real treasures that have eternal value and significance. These four verses are a good reminder to us to make sure our hearts are tuned to what's most important to Jesus-lost people! If that isn't our heart, Jesus will turn and walk away, and leave us to our swine, just like he did with the people of this area.

IV. Conclusion

Mark 5:18-20 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 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." 20 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.

The Decapolis were ten Greek cities on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, including the town of Damascus. It was to this Gentile community that Jesus commanded this man to go and tell his story.

Friends, I love this passage. I love it because it is such a clear example of what Jesus' Great Commission is all about. Jesus didn't tell this man to go and preach on the street corner, or go door to door with pamphlets and literature. He simply told him to go home and tell his friends what happened to him. We call that "being a witness". If I can get you to understand this, and do this, I will have done my job as your pastor.

Did you know that this idea of being a witness is at the core of what we teach in our 201 course, "Becoming a Contagious Christian"? It's going to be offered again at the beginning of March, and you owe it to yourself and to your Lord, Jesus, to take this course and learn how to effectively tell your story to your friends and family. Now, I caution you… don't get witnessing mixed up with evangelizing. Evangelizing is a spiritual gift. Not everyone has that gift. But everyone is expected to be a witness.

Think of it this way, Jesus didn't tell you in the Great Commission "to go and Evangelize". He said, "be my witnesses". When this man became a witness in the Decapolis region, he simply told people how he had lived in anguish and torment; how he had been withdrawn from humanity; how he used to be a really scary person; how he used to be angry and hostile and rebellious. But then he met Jesus. And Jesus freed him from all that, and gave him peace and joy!

No wonder all the people of those 10 Greek cities, "were amazed at what he told them!"

Amen.