DAY 20 | FEBRAURY 3, 2023
Mark 5: 1-20
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 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. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
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 impure 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 own people 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[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
REFLECTION
Jesus encounters a man possessed by a legion of demons. The man is living among the tombs, isolated from society and tormented by the demons. When he sees Jesus, he falls to his knees and begs for mercy. Jesus commands the demons to leave the man, and they are cast into a herd of pigs that run off a cliff and drown in the sea. The man is then healed and restored to his right mind.
This story is a powerful reminder of the freedom and healing that Jesus offers us. Like the man possessed by demons, we too can be tormented by the struggles and challenges of life. We may feel isolated and alone, living among the tombs of our own pain and suffering.
But just as Jesus had the power to cast out the demons and heal the man, he also has the power to heal us and set us free. He invites us to come to him and lay our burdens down, trusting that he will provide the healing and restoration we need.
We may not always understand the ways in which Jesus works in our lives, just as the townspeople could not understand why the herd of pigs had to be destroyed. But we can trust that he always works for our good and for the glory of God.
The healed man in this story was so transformed by his encounter with Jesus that he wanted to follow him and be with him. But Jesus told him to stay and share his testimony with others.
We too are called to share our testimony of how Jesus has transformed our lives with those around us. We can be a witness to the healing and freedom that he offers, and in doing so, we can help others to find the same hope and restoration that we have found in him.
So let us come to Jesus, laying our burdens down at his feet and trusting in his power to heal and restore us. Let us also share our testimony with others, so that they too may find hope and healing in the name of Jesus.
Mark 5: 1-20
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 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. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
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 impure 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 own people 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[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
REFLECTION
Jesus encounters a man possessed by a legion of demons. The man is living among the tombs, isolated from society and tormented by the demons. When he sees Jesus, he falls to his knees and begs for mercy. Jesus commands the demons to leave the man, and they are cast into a herd of pigs that run off a cliff and drown in the sea. The man is then healed and restored to his right mind.
This story is a powerful reminder of the freedom and healing that Jesus offers us. Like the man possessed by demons, we too can be tormented by the struggles and challenges of life. We may feel isolated and alone, living among the tombs of our own pain and suffering.
But just as Jesus had the power to cast out the demons and heal the man, he also has the power to heal us and set us free. He invites us to come to him and lay our burdens down, trusting that he will provide the healing and restoration we need.
We may not always understand the ways in which Jesus works in our lives, just as the townspeople could not understand why the herd of pigs had to be destroyed. But we can trust that he always works for our good and for the glory of God.
The healed man in this story was so transformed by his encounter with Jesus that he wanted to follow him and be with him. But Jesus told him to stay and share his testimony with others.
We too are called to share our testimony of how Jesus has transformed our lives with those around us. We can be a witness to the healing and freedom that he offers, and in doing so, we can help others to find the same hope and restoration that we have found in him.
So let us come to Jesus, laying our burdens down at his feet and trusting in his power to heal and restore us. Let us also share our testimony with others, so that they too may find hope and healing in the name of Jesus.