SERMON: Out of Ashes | Mark 5:1–20
Out of Ashes | Mark 5:1–20
Shaun Marksbury | Quacco Baptist Church
Sunday Evening Service | 16 July, 2017
I.
Introduction
II.
Destruction Wrought from Evil (vv. 1–5)
III.
Deliverance by Christ from Evil (vv. 6–13)
IV.
Depravity Resulting from Evil (vv. 14–17)
V.
Duty of the Delivered from Evil (vv. 18–20)
VI.
Final Thoughts
Shaun Marksbury | Quacco Baptist Church
Sunday Evening Service | 16 July, 2017
Thankfully, even though evil is around us, Jesus came “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8). This evening, we’re going to notice 1.) the destruction wrought from evil (vv. 1–5), 2.) the deliverance by Christ from evil (vv. 6–13), 3.) the depravity resulting from evil (vv. 14–17), and 4.) duty of the delivered from evil (vv. 18–20).
Video:
Sermon Notes
Out of Ashes | Mark 5:1–20
Shaun Marksbury | Quacco Baptist Church
Sunday Evening Service | 16 July, 2017
Shaun Marksbury | Quacco Baptist Church
Sunday Evening Service | 16 July, 2017
I.
Introduction
In his book, The
Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis famously said, “There are two equal and
opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to
disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an
excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased
by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”[1]
So, on the one hand, in this era of science and logic, we
might be tempted to disparage the account before us. Some commentators have wondered if this man
weren’t simply a mentally-ill individual, running and yelling and scaring
pigs. Incidentally, I sometimes wonder
why someone would go to the trouble of writing a commentary on the Bible if
they don’t believe what it says!
On the other hand, Christians shouldn’t be superstitious
about the demonic. The recent animated
movie “Trolls” (2016) got me to thinking about a presentation I heard as a
young Christian. Among other things, the
preacher said that if you bring troll dolls into your house, you were inviting
demonic spirits. He told stories of how
one families heard noises in their houses and experiencing paranormal activity,
and it was because people had brought cursed objects into their homes, like
troll dolls.
The truth is that, when you treat objects as though they
have good and evil energies, you’re engaging in something more akin to New Age
paganism than Christianity. That kind of
superstition and should have no place in the Christian life. Christianity presents a world in which God is
in control, and He has told us all we need to know in Scripture.
Therefore, we can’t overemphasize Satan’s power (which is
where a lot of superstitious practices originate), nor can we ignore it. This is perhaps why Mark devotes so much
space to this one account. We have this
vivid picture of the depths of evil in the world around us, and we need to see
it for all its wickedness.
Thankfully, even though evil is around us, Jesus came “to
destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8).
This evening, we’re going to notice 1.) the destruction wrought from
evil (vv. 1–5), 2.) the deliverance by Christ from evil (vv. 6–13), 3.) the
depravity resulting from evil (vv. 14–17), and 4.) duty of the delivered from
evil (vv. 18–20).
II.
Destruction Wrought from Evil (vv. 1–5)
They came to the other side of the
sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And
when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the
tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He
lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a
chain, 4 for he had
often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart,
and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among
the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself
with stones.
They disembark into Gentile territory, if it’s not clear from
the grazing pigs on the hillside. This marks
the first of many Gentiles cities where Jesus performed miracles. Gergesa (modern day Khersa) is most likely
the name of the town, while what we have is Mark designating the region “the
land of the Gerasenes” (so named for the larger city to the southeast). It’s in the Decapolis, a confederation of ten
cities east of the Sea of Galilee.
This account follows the storm at sea, which itself came at
the end of the Lord’s busy day of teaching in chapter four. They’re just arriving at the eastern shore in
Gentile territory. Jesus had said that
they needed to cross over (4:35), but He gave no reason. They survived the storm at sea only because
He had miraculously silenced it. Even
so, they still don’t know why they are there, and no reason is directly given
in the text.
The best guess is to help this man and plant a seed of
ministry in Gentile territory. Sometimes
we don’t know why the Lord directs our lives as He does, but sometimes we can
see that He helps and changes sinners because of it. Even so, there will be no rest for the
disciples, who are undoubtedly still reeling from the storm and the realization
of how powerful Christ actually is.
This man had to live away from his family (v. 19) and
others, considering his violent and uncontrollable behavior. The hillside near Khersa has tombs carved
into it, and that’s where he lived—an unclean place for these unclean
spirits. Matthew 8:28 points out a
second man, but Mark focuses perhaps on the more vocal of the two.
Now, when we read that he “had” the unclean spirit, we are reading
that he was possessed or controlled by it.
Luke 8:30 says that the demons had entered him. This isn’t the way in which demons typically
work—they deceive (cf. 1 Cor 10:20–21; 1 Tm 4:1). Let’s be clear: he didn’t suffer from psychosis;
he was demonized.
We see this when v. 3 emphasizes his supernatural strength with
a triple negative, which we could ackwardly translate, “and not even with a chain, no
one was able no longer to bind
him.” He was often bound and could rub
apart and crush his shackles (v. 4). He
also demonstrates supernatural knowledge in knowing Jesus’s name (v. 7). Mark doesn’t tell us how he came to be so demonized, but what he says is heartbreaking.
The demonic activity
made him an outcast. Though people
cared for him (v. 19), he could no longer live in civilized society. The word in v. 4 could be translated “tame,”
as one might tame a wild animal (Garland, Mark,
202). No one can tame evil through
personal effort—only the grace of God through Christ Jesus can deliver us from
evil. Though it’s not good for a man to
be alone (Gn 2:18), he (and his co-suffering demoniac) lived isolated and
naked, completely dehumanized.
The demonic activity
made him injure himself. He spent his
time shrieking and purposefully gashing himself—self-mutilation. Luke adds, “For a long time he had worn no
clothes” (Lk 8:27). “The man’s nakedness
not only indicated sexual perversion (cf. Lev. 18:16–19; 20:11, 17–21) and
shame (cf. Gen. 3:7; Rev. 3:18), it also illustrated the physical torment he
suffered at the hands of the demons who possessed him, since he was constantly
exposed to the elements” (MacArthur, Mark
1–8, 242–43). Evil is always
self-destructive, and the demonic attack on man is an attack on the image of
God.
One commentary points out, “He is a microcosm of the whole
of creation, inarticulately groaning for redemption (Rom. 8:22)” (Garland, Mark, 203). His story is dramatic, but the fact is that
he pictures anyone under the control and influence of the prince of the power
of the air. He represents a life apart
from Jesus Christ, and he bears the scars of Satan’s wicked influence. Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (Jn
10:10), on the prowl to devour (1 Pt 5:8–9).
His demons likewise seek to slowly or quickly destroy (cf. Mk
9:22).
It’s at this point that Jesus steps into this man’s
life. He wasn’t seeking the Lord. Matthew
8:28 says that the demoniacs were “so fierce that no one could pass that way.” However, as he screeches and run up to the
boats, he meets the group, not with violence, but with prostration before Jesus
Christ. That brings us to the next
point:
III.
Deliverance by Christ from Evil (vv. 6–13)
6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell
down before him. 7 And
crying out with a loud voice, he said, “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 was saying to
him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He
replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out
of the country. 11 Now
a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the
pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So
he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs;
and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the
sea and drowned in the sea.
The demoniac bows before the Lord and uses an honorific
title, but that isn’t genuine worship.
Remember that terrifying passage from the Sermon on the Mount—Jesus
doesn’t just say that He will cast out unbelievers,
but also many calling Him “Lord, Lord” (Mt 7:21–23)! The Roman soldiers would also bow down, but in
mockery (15:19). Assuming a physical
position of kneeling or bowing before Jesus does not fool Him into thinking
worship is occurring, and God isn’t obligated to hear the prayers of sinners (Jn
9:31; Js 4:3).
It takes the Lord stepping into our sinful state. Notice how quickly the demons realize that
they’re outmatched! MacArthur notes here, “What no human being
could tame, even through the use of ropes and chains, Jesus restrained with
nothing more than His presence” (MacArthur, Mark
1–8, 243).
The demons have no
advantage over Him. They claim to be
a legion in number, a Latin term for a military division of 6,000 men. Only 2,000 pigs were possessed (v. 13), so
it’s possible that this is meant in the metaphorical sense meaning a great host. We can’t put it past demons to lie and exaggerate. Still, only one man had this many demons.
Now, such a host would frighten any of us, but Jesus effortlessly
holds this satanic army at bay. Indeed,
He didn’t need its name to gain footing
in order to expel them; He cast other demons out without any such inquiry. He only asks to demonstrate His authority
over even such an amassed army of angelic creatures.
The demons are
reduced to begging to Him. Matthew
8:29 reveals that they know that a time of torture comes for them. That’s why the demons shudder (Js 2:19). They knew the Lord could cast them down into
the abyss with but a word (Lk 8:31; cf. Rv 9:1ff). Moreover, v. 10 reveals
that they specifically wanted to remain in the country, and did not want to
wander in in dry places (Mt 12:43; Lk 11:24).
The best option they contrive is to leave from the man into unreasoning
animals—unclean pigs (cf. Lv 11:7–8) for these unclean spirits. But they anxiously await Jesus’s permission
to do even that.
He allowed them an opportunity to cause such chaos to
demonstrate just how powerful He is. Don’t
believe dualistic nonsense or fear the power of the devil. Satan is not God’s all-powerful opposite, for
his demonic dominion of darkness bows before the will of Jesus Christ. Trust in the all-powerful Lord of
Scripture. As stated in the third verse
of Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress is Our God:”
And though this world, with devils
filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
What else do we see about Christ’s deliverance here?
First, Jesus cared
more for the demonized man than the swine.
It’s not that Jesus didn’t care for this expensive herd of animals. God notices all His creatures, and Jesus
said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to
the ground apart from your Father” (Mt 10:29).
Even so, God knows the number of hairs on a man’s head because he’s “of
more value than many sparrows” (vv. 30–31).
This man endured torment from these demons—and Jesus came to set him
free, even at the cost of a couple thousand pigs.
Know the love of God and how He values you—He laid down His
life for you (not an animal). That
should motivate you to do the same (1 Jn 3:16–18), and you can know you’ve been
converted by the love of God because of your love for fellow believers (v. 14).
Jesus values human life so much that He came
to set those captive to sin and Satan free, for God is love (1 Jn 4:8).
Second, Jesus
completely transforms the demonized man.
Down in v. 15, we see that He Who brought peace to the raging storm and
sea (4:39) transformed this violent, irrational individual. Remember that the demonic forces tormented
both his mind and body. He had no
dignity before Jesus set him free, lacking the simple principles of humanity
such as reason, modesty, and self-control.
All people without Christ live below their created worth, bearing the
image of God while ultimately ignoring and rejecting Him. Even so, we see that Christ can completely
transform even what, from a human perspective, we would call the hard
cases. He can justify and sanctify a
person who’s even under the control of a legion of demons!
Well, the townspeople witness the power and peace of the
Person of Christ. However, they don’t
react as you might suspect. That brings
us to our next point:
IV.
Depravity Resulting from Evil (vv. 14–17)
14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in
the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to
Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting
there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And
those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the
demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And
they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.
News of this was bound to spread, especially with the loss
of the herd. One study Bible notes here
that “Jesus bears no responsibility for the action the demons took; He did not
direct them to run the swine into the sea. Even today, two thousand hogs is a
very large herd. Their monetary value could easily have been worth a quarter of
a million dollars in today’s economy—a sizable loss for the owners.”[2]
Those who were feeding the pigs explained everything,
including that Jesus had been involved in the loss of the herd. The
townsfolk come to see what happened to the herd, and they’re stricken with
fear. Even though the “fear of the LORD
is the beginning of knowledge” (Pv 1:7), unfortunately, they didn’t move
forward in knowledge.
Interestingly, the same word in v. 10, parakaleo, is used of the townspeople here. The demons in the man
begged Jesus to have their leave of Him, and the people now beg Jesus to leave
away from them. A similar situation
occurred years later in Philippi—Paul commanded the demon out of the slave
girl, and her owners sought to silence their message because of their loss of
profit (Acts 16:16–24). Fear at the work of God is not a sign of
true faith.
All people without Christ live below their created worth,
bearing the image of God while ultimately ignoring and rejecting Him. This was obviously true of demoniac before
Christ stepped in and changed his life.
Even so, the town people also live in an unregenerate state.
They see Jesus as bad for business, meaning that they would
rather the man remain as he was. The
entire town was comprised of people who didn’t worship and live for the Most
High God. So, when they saw that Jesus
was destroying the works of darkness, they grew in fear. May it never be that we are satisfied with
evil, where we might tell Jesus to leave.
V.
Duty of the Delivered from Evil (vv. 18–20)
18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had
been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not
permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the
Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the
Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
By contrast, the demoniac, now set free, develops an instant
affection for the Lord. He wanted to
stay with the Lord. When Jesus instead
gives him a task, he spreads the truth about the work and mercy of the
Lord. This complements the healing of
the leper in the chapter one; the leper was to announce his cleansing to the
priests, and this man is to go and announce his cleansing from the demons to the
people.
He had information the leper didn’t. Jesus refers to His work as the work of the Lord.
In case there’s any doubt as to what He means by “Lord” here, the
parallel account reads “God” here (Lk 8:39), and in both places, the work of
God is understood to be the work of Jesus.
How fully he understood this is debatable, but his obedience meant that Jesus’s
next journey into Decapolis was welcome (7:31ff).
How have you responded to the Lord? Do you fear the Lord, having also a genuine
admiration for Him and a desire to follow His commands?
VI.
Final Thoughts
Christians, as you read this passage, you should arrive at
the conclusion that you need not fear the demonic, and certainly not demon
possession. Ephesians 1:21 says that
Jesus Christ is seated “far above all rule and authority and power and
dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in
the one to come.” He sent His Comforter,
the Holy Spirit, to indwell believers as a temple (1 Cor 6:19–20). And when we are warned about false spirits,
we read, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who
is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 Jn 4:4).
Don’t think that Christ isn’t powerful enough to overcome
your personal sin, either. He conquers
all the powers of Hell, and He can conquer that lust, that addiction, that
pride, that gluttony, that laziness. He
can overcome the sin nature that wars against His Spirit. He will destroy the works of darkness in your
life, saving your soul from Hell. Call upon
the name of the Lord.
Or would you rather the evil remain and Jesus depart? Some love their sin more than they fear the
Lord. Indeed, they fear what God might
take away from them. Don’t do what these
people did—allow Christ to confront the wickedness in your life. He seeks to save and deliver.
