In Mark 5:1-17, we learn of a man who is possessed by evil spirits. Not just one evil spirit, but a large number of evil spirits, possibly as many as 2000. Everyone was scared of this man. He lived among the tombs, in the grave yard. Many people had tried to catch this man and subdue him, but no one was strong enough to lock him up. No matter how hard they tried or how many chains they used, he was always able to tear them apart. Nothing was strong enough to hold him, and no one was strong enough to withstand him.
These spirits also made the man hurt himself. He would cut himself with sharp rocks and cry out in pain. This man scared everyone around him, and no one wanted to be near this man.
This was his life. He had no hope, he had no control, and he had no future. That is, until he encountered Jesus.
Mark 5:6-8
“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? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
Jesus saw a man in need of healing, and Jesus demanded that the spirits come out. It was one man, Jesus, against a large number of demons; yet Jesus was much stronger than the demons he was facing. Jesus has supreme power over the demons. They cannot face him, they cannot stand up to him, and they cannot overpower him.
Mark 5:9-13
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. 12The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13He 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.
Jesus drove the demons out of the man. What is amazing is how different the man is from then on.
Mark 5:15
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.
The man’s entire appearance was changed. Now he was sitting calmly, clothed, and in his right mind. No longer does he live among the tombs; now he can live among the people, because Jesus has set him free!
The people were more afraid of the power of Jesus than they were of the demons he had cast out!
We find another story of Jesus’ power over demons in Mark 9. In Mark 9 there is a story of boy who had been possessed by an evil spirit.
This spirit wanted to cause him harm and even kill him. It took away his speech and made him mute. When the evil spirit takes over his body, it throws him to the ground, makes him spit and foam at the mouth, and makes his body go into seizures. Nothing has been able to drive out this spirit, and it has been happening since this young man was very little.
Let’s listen to the story:
Mark 9:17-20
A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Mark 9:21-27
Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. 22"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evila]">[a] spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
No one had been able to heal this young man. Jesus, however, drives out the demon with his power.
No demon is supreme over Jesus. No demon is more powerful, no demon has more authority, and no demon has more ability, because Jesus is supreme.
Paul promises us this in Romans 8:38-39:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)
Jesus is supreme! James tells us that even the demons believe there is only one God, and that makes them shudder and tremble (James 2:19). Jesus is supreme over all powers, over all the universe. He has power over demons, power over sickness and disease, power over death.
Jesus is LORD!
So why are we so afraid? Why do we live in fear of sickness? Why do we visit the witchdoctors when we need to turn to the LORD? Why do we wear the charms, amulets, and protective spells that are supposed to keep demons away?
If we believe and trust in Jesus, we have nothing to fear. We don’t need to be afraid of the demons, because the demons are afraid of Jesus!
If we are living in Christ, we have nothing to fear! We do not need to fear curses. We do not need to fear ancestors. We do not have to keep trying to make them happy; the only one we need to live for and make happy is Jesus Christ!
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