Old Testament: Isaiah 31 & 32
Poetry: Psalm 74
*New Testament: Mark 5
The man was pacing. Spewing forth profanities in a low but steady stream. I was working at my part-time job at the public library and in charge of the building during my shift. The agitated man was on the open upper level—I was at the checkout counter on the lower level, busy with patrons.
The troubled man would quiet down and sit, and I would breathe a sigh of relief. Then he would pop up again, pacing round and round with a new surge of profanity flowing from his mouth. Slowly, I climbed the steps to the upper level.
I walked over to straighten some magazines, so I could observe him closeup. He was thin, wiry build, gray hair and beard, with eyes focused straight ahead, seeing things no one else could see. He was completely unaware of me or any of the other people there. I could see the uneasy expressions on their faces as he continued his verbal tirade, circling the floor.
I knew I needed to take action, but felt confronting him might be dangerous, to me and the other patrons, most of whom were now exiting the upper level.
I walked down the wide, open stairway and called the non-emergency police phone number. Waiting for the officers to arrive, I kept my eyes focused upstairs. Minutes passed at a snail’s pace. Finally, the officers walked in, talked to me, and went upstairs to speak to this distressed individual.
The final outcome—the man left the library, accompanied out by the officers, because he could not agree to quiet his profanity. I was relieved and saddened at the same time. It was obvious this man’s mind was troubled, whether it was because of PTSD, substance abuse, or something else. But it was February, it was cold, and perhaps he was homeless like some of our other library visitors. Yet, his “demons” had their way, and he lost a safe, warm space to spend a Saturday afternoon.
In Mark 5, Jesus encounters a man in much dire circumstances compared to the man in the library. Jesus and his disciples had just reached dry land after traveling in a boat together. While out on the Sea of Galilee, a raging storm arose, and Jesus calmed it to utter peace, much to the astonishment and trepidation of the disciples.
Now, a new, alarming situation awaited the group. Talk about a night of sheer drama!
A naked, bleeding, shrieking man meets Jesus at the shore. An unclean spirit lives inside of him, which causes him to behave like a madman. Consequently, he wanders about the town cemetery, banished from people. In the past, he had been subdued with shackles and chains, but amazingly they could not hold him for long. Night and day, he roams through the tombs, screaming and cutting himself with stones.
When the tormented man sees Jesus, he approaches and bows before him, but not before Jesus had already addressed the unclean spirit dwelling inside him.
“And shouting with a loud voice, he said, ‘What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!’ For He had already been saying to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!’ And He was asking him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said to Him, ‘My name is Legion, for we are many.’” (verses 7-9)
The unclean spirit recognizes Jesus fully—“Jesus Son of the Most High God.” It knows his true identity. Jesus asks the spirit its name. The answer received—“My name is Legion, for we are many.” A Roman legion could be up to six thousand soldiers. Whatever the number, the demon possession of this suffering pitiful man is overwhelming in magnitude.
The demons realize their “home” in the man is ending. Jesus, Son of the Most High God, has calmed the wild sea and he will calm this wild man. The demons do not want to leave the area. They implore Jesus to send them into a large herd of pigs nearby.
Jesus agrees. The demons enter the herd of two thousand pigs; the pigs promptly rush down the bank into the sea, and drown. Two thousand pigs destroyed. All the observers of this frightening scene witness the massive destructive power of Satan. Yet, what is their reaction to the miracle performed before them?
The bewildered herdsmen run to share this news in the city and country. Like any modern day curiosity, gawkers return to see for themselves what has happened.
And what do they see? The well-known “mad man” is calmly sitting near Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. At peace. Instead of being happy for him and the city as a whole, verse 15 says the gawkers become frightened. They beg Jesus to leave. They cannot comprehend the scene before them, and they are filled with fear.
But the “mad man,” now the “miracle man,” reacts as we would expect. He begs Jesus to take him along, the complete opposite response of the townspeople.
Jesus answers. ”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.’”
Imagine the witness this man will be for the Lord. From torment to peace, from screams to praises, from broken to whole, from darkness to light.
Past, present future, Jesus changes lives. Miraculously! Dramatically! And yes, sometimes slowly and quietly. But when you truly encounter Jesus, Son of the Most High God, your life changes.
I wish there had been a different outcome for the troubled man in the library. I thought about him for days. I know God saw him, I know God loves him. I can only hope and pray his “demons” have left him.
Jesus, Son of the Most High God, sits at our Father’s right hand, constantly interceding for us. “Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Romans 8:34
Give Jesus your personal struggles. Give him your anxious thoughts. He’s ready and waiting to take them all. Just hand them over.
Paula Kirkpatrick
Reflection Questions
- The demon-possessed man had great strength, and he broke free from shackles and chains. Why could no one subdue him?
- We can’t win in spiritual warfare with our own power. We need to rely on the Lord. How do we accomplish this?
- The people who came to see the demon-possessed man healed and the pigs destroyed, begged Jesus to leave. Put yourself in their place. Would you have had the same reaction?
Seek Grow Love 