Written by Sue Thorn, lead organizer of the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network, and brought to you by Metro-Urban Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Scripture
Mark 5:1-20
1 They came to the other side of the lake, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. 3 He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him anymore, even with a chain; 4 for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; 7 and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; 12 and the unclean spirits begged him, “Send us into the swine; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned in the lake.
14 The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But Jesus refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
Devotional
The man who calls himself Legion, meaning an army of thousands, asks Jesus if he might work with him. Although in Mark 1 the disciples needed encouragement and attention from Jesus, the demoniac clearly understood what he was requesting and Jesus sent him on a preaching mission, which was extremely successful and unexpected by others. This scripture was a struggle for me, as it may be for many Christians, those of us who tend to spend little time focused on the role of Satan. Through Jesus demonstrating tremendous power in dealing with Satan, and the fear that the demonstration created among people, I was forced to reflect that Jesus is willing to free us from what controls us. The question is: Are we willing to part with the elements of our lives that keep us from accepting His love and the power He has to transform our lives?
Prayer
Lord, please help us to understand the power you have to transform our lives and demonstrate to us our need to relinquish what holds us back from taking this step. We pray that you guide us so we may experience the power to live a life that is worthy of your creation. Amen.