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Mark 5:1-20 - Jesus heals a man with a demon

This story here is another interesting one. At the other end of the lake, there were this bunch of tombs where Jesus disembarked His boat. Then this demon-possessed man comes out.

This man is feared by the local people - he could not be bound, he could not be subdued, and was known to be violent (even to himself). Yet when he saw Jesus, he ran and fell down before Him - asking what Jesus wanted with Him, and pleading for Jesus not to torment him.

The man says - "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?"

Again, Jesus's identity declared by a demon.

Jesus, interestingly, asks for the demon's name, and the demon tells Him that it is Legion, for it is many, and begs Jesus to let it go into the pigs. Jesus gives the demon permission, and the pigs commit suicide.

The curious thing that happens next is that the people begin to fear Jesus, instead of the ex-possessed man. Where Jesus is shunned and asked to depart, the man is welcomed back and everyone marvels at his story of how Jesus rescued him.

What does this episode suggest?

1. Jesus's identity of Lord over all is re-established, even the demons require His permission to enter the pigs.

2. The rejection of Jesus continues, as the people fear Him like they feared the demon possessed man.

Many things are revealed to us by God, but have we often taken these revelations as a bad thing? Have we taken God's good action to be a evil thing, labeling it superstitious and dirty?

Can we be more discerning and responsive to God's action in our lives?
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