The Life and Ministry of Jesus
Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 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. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. Mark 5:1–5
This is a desperate case of a man possessed with an unclean spirit. He dwelt, which means he settled down, among the tombs. This is where he lived; this was his ghetto. The tombs were unclean places. He no longer enjoyed the society of normal men but he lived among the dead. He was alone. Yet we are told that he possessed superhuman power; so they could not bind him.
Just because a man demonstrates power which is supernatural does not prove that God gave it to him. He was a wild man; no one could confine him. He was miserable. He suffered great physical harm which he inflicted on himself. What an awful condition! And all due to demon possession! 1
Personal Encouragement
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Are you receiving His resurrected power for daily living? Has He liberated you from the guilt of the past and the present temptations?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Luke 4:18
If the Holy Spirit does not possess you, the demons will.
A Prayer
Lord, I am thankful that Your power is so much greater than the evil of this world.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (Matthew 1-13) (electronic ed., Vol. 34). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
