COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON 49
“ Mark 5:6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure Thee by God, that Thou torment me not. 8 For He said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.”
(Mark 5:6-9; Matthew 8:29; Lk 8:28-30)
THE GADARENE DEMONIAC, #2
INTRODUCTION
The Gospel of Christ, as recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, provides a glimpse of the wide range of human responses to the Son of God, as well as the reactions of Satan and demons. The type of human responses that are recorded are still representative of Adam’s race. There are people who simply reject the Person and message of Christ, seeing no value in either. There are religious people like the Pharisees who have no heart for Christ, considering Him to be a threat to their cherished systems. There are Bible scholars who are confused and threatened by Him, like the scribes, and lawyers. There are political powers like Pilate and Herod who see Him as a threat to their political system. There are people like the multitudes He fed, who see Jesus as a sort of novelty, who breaks the monotony of life, but is really not essential to it. Others, like the blind, halt, and lame perceive Jesus as an answer to their problems, yet do not consistently follow Him. Still others, like His disciples, perceive Him as the Son of God, and pursue Him intently, willing to forfeit all competing influences for His fellowship. In this text, we will be exposed to the response of certain people to Christ’s presence and work. We will also catch a glimpse of the response of the spiritual underworld to Him. We will find there is considerable understanding concerning the Person and mission of God’s Son among these fallen spirits. They also fear Him and always obey Him.
THE CONFRONTATION
“ 5:6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him, 7a And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God?”
HE SAW JESUS AFAR OFF. The waiting wild man was deranged, but had not lost all of his intelligence. He had times when he ran shrieking into the mountains or wilderness, but there were also times of lucidity. Here it records that the man saw Jesus, yet the demons spoke through him. There was a sort of oneness that had taken place between the demons and the man. They were, in a sense one, even though it was the demons who had the dominance. There is a sense in which the human spirit joins together with whatever spirit has the dominance over the individual, whether an evil spirit or the Holy Spirit. Man is not an independent being, or a totally free spirit.
HE RAN AND WORSHIPPED HIM. The man, dominated by demons, knew whom he saw. This gives us an idea of the high order of intelligence that exists in Satan’s kingdom. It also confirms how obvious the Person of Christ really is. Mark says the man “ran and worshipped” Jesus. Luke says he “cried out and fell down before Him,” as though acknowledging the superiority of the Lord, even though robed in obscuring flesh (Lk 8:28).
There is an aspect of Christ’s Person here that is most arresting. It is as though whoever recognizes Him is drawn to Him, being compelled to worship Him because of who He is. This is true of the hosts of heaven. When John saw heaven opened, and the Lamb of God taking the book of Divine purpose, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before him (Rev 5:6-8). The angels did the same (Rev 5:11-12). Then, in one grand panoramic view, John sees every living person acknowledging the Lamb. “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever”(Rev 5:13). That is what happens when the Son of God is perceived! It always happens, and never fails to happen.
Here the man, ruled by demons, runs to Jesus, falls down, and worships Him, acknowledging that He is, in fact, the Lord. Here the word “worship” means to prostrate oneself in homage, to do reverence to, adore.” STRONG’S It is an outward action driven by an inward persuasion. It was a visible acknowledgment that Jesus was recognized as the Lord. The demons did not retreat from this recognition, but drove the man to run and fall down before Jesus – not in willing honor, but in dread and fear because their nature was contrary to that of the Lord Jesus, and they knew it.
Even the devil himself is not brash before Christ. See how docile the devil appears before the Son of God! This is Satan, who had run roughshod over humanity, enslaving the whole race, and deceiving every man. But how does he conduct himself before the Son of God? He can only hurl the feeble arrow of temptation at the humbled Word: “If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread . . . If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He will give His angels charge concerning Thee . . . All the things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matt 4:3-9).
WHAT HAVE I HAVE DO WITH THEE? Other versions read, “What do you want with me?” NIV “What business do we have with each other?” NAU “Why are you bothering me?” NLT and “What is there in common between us?” AMPLIFIED These demons knew that Jesus was not just passing through the area. They knew that when Jesus is present, it is always for a purpose. They also were keenly aware of the fact of their contrariety to Jesus. His presence was a threat to them. Jesus is always a terror to those whose nature differs from His own. Those who sense this always call out for mercy – even the demons.
There is apparently considerable communication among the fallen spirits. These demons, as well as others, had functioned with little restraint for as much as four thousand years. Yet, commensurate with the beginning of Christ’s ministry, their diabolical world had been invaded and violently disrupted. These formerly dominating spirits were being forced to give up human hostages they had held for years – and there was not a one of the number that had offered the slightest bit of resistence.
JESUS, THOU SON OF THE MOST HIGH. Now, Jesus comes into the territory of the demons of Gadara, and they are concerned about it. They know precisely who He is – “Jesus, Thou Son of the most high God!” It is a shame that men have haggled about Christ’s Sonship, when the world of demons know full well about that matter. Matthew reads, “Jesus, Thou Son of God” (Matt 8:29). For demons, this confession means doom. For men who confess it, it means salvation: “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15). These demons know that Jesus’ presence brings no good to them! For them, it was a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”Heb 10:31).
THE REQUEST
“ 7b . . . I adjure Thee by God, that Thou torment me not. 8 For He said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.”
How do demons speak to the Lord Jesus – even when He is robed in concealing flesh? Do they hurl aspersions at Him, like men who rejected Him? – “He hath a devil and is mad . . . He is beside Himself . . . Crucify Him . . . This man is not of God . . . Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews” (John 10:20; Mk 3:21; 15:12; John 9:16; 19:2). No such challenges will come from these demons!
I ADJURE THEE BY GOD. Other versions read, “I implore you by God,” NKJV “Swear to God,” NIV “I will that Thou swear to me by God,” GENEVA “In God’s name,” NJB and “I solemnly implore you by God.” AMPLIFIED In English, the word “adjure” means “to urge or advise urgently.” In Greek it means “to take an oath.” THAYER Here, the demons ask Jesus to take an oath by God – to make a favorable commitment to them before God, and by His power.
First, we see that these demons know full well that God is “above all and through all” (Eph 4:6). They also know that nothing can contravene what Jesus determines. They know that it is true of Jesus, just as surely as it is true of God Himself, “I work, and who will reverse it” NKJV (Isa 43:13). Again, it is true of Jesus, just as it is of the Father, “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” (Isa 14:27). We know this is the case, because “the Man Christ Jesus” is “the Lord of hosts.” Those hosts – all of the holy angels – are called “His (Jesus’) angels” (Matt 13:41). These demons, plead with Jesus to make a commitment before God – a commitment that will hold true, and which it would be impossible to reverse or nullify.
TORMENT ME NOT. Matthew reads, “are thou come to torment us before the time?” (Matt 8:29). Luke reads, “I beseech thee, torment me not!” (Lk 8:28). There are several things that can be seen here. First, these demons know their condition is irreversible – that cannot be changed, and they cannot be blessed or experience mercy from God. They have been consigned to “chains of darkness,” and are “reserved unto judgment” (2 Pet 2:4) – and they know it. They are “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 1:6) – and they know it. For them “the time” (Matt 8:29) is the dreadful day of judgment, when they will be cast into “the lake of fire,” or “everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41).
Second, the knowledge of their future has made them no better. They fear, yet still wreak havoc upon the earth. They treat their victims no better – whether in the presence of Christ (Mk 9:20, or apart from it.
Third, they associated Jesus with judgment. They appeared to have no sense of any delay in judgment when the Son of God came into their territory. They concluded this was the end for them, and they would enter into eternal torment. Therefore they pled with the Lord to make a vow before God not to torment them “before the time.”
APPLICATION. There is a sense in which sinners reason after this manner when they become aware of the Lord Jesus. Their plea is more in keeping with Christ’s purpose among men. That is why they call, “Have mercy on me” (Lk 18:39), “Save me” (Matt 14:30), and “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6).
A person who is not reconciled to God is stricken with fear when becoming aware of the Person of Christ. Upon perceiving Christ’s Person, Peter once said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Lk 5:8). No person whose sins remain unforgiven is comfortable in the perceived presence of the Lord. Even though Jesus is Savior, there is a vast gulf between Himself and sinners. Only the dispensing of mercy will enable the sinner to survive, and the sinner knows it all too well. When the professing church tailors its services for the comfort of the sinner, it has, by that very action, required that Jesus leave the house! It is the perception of Jesus as “The Christ, the Son of the Living God,” that provokes the sinner to flee “for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us” (Heb 6:18).
HE HAD SAID. Prior to the dialog we are now considering, Jesus had said, “Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit!” Luke reads, “For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man” (Lk 8:29). These demons, therefore, had concluded that when they left the man, they would be going directly to their appointed destination. Here is an example of a point made in James’ salient remark about demons: “Even the demons believe; and tremble!” (James 2:19). They knew the word that Jesus spoke could not be resisted! They knew they had to do what He said, and thus sought for some temporary consideration. For “a long time” they had possessed this poor man (Lk 8:27). Now, however, at the word of the Master, that possession was brought to a grinding halt. Jesus did not wrestle the man down to the ground, but only said a word. He did not shout out a secret formula, but merely effectively commanded the “unclean spirit” to “come out” of the man he had long inhabited and dominated.
THE QUESTION
“ 9 And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.”
Here is a most intriguing occasion – Jesus Christ having a conversation with demons! Of course, He also held some abbreviated dialog with the devil himself (Matt 4:3-10). Keep in mind, according to appearance, Jesus is speaking with a man. Actually, however, He was addressing the unclean spirit within him – an apparent representative of a host of demons. The words that came from the man’s mouth were not his own, but the words of a demon.
HE ASKED HIM, WHAT IS THY NAME? The purpose of this question was not for Jesus to gain knowledge not known to Him. Jesus knew “what was in man” (John 2:25), including any demons that had taken possession of a person. If Jesus knows “the Father,” who is the ultimate Person (Matt 11:27), can there be any other person or realm He does not know? If He has knowledge of the realm of “thoughts” (Matt 12:25), can the notions of demons be withheld from Him? If He can perceive the “wickedness” of men (Matt 22:18), can it be that the wickedness of demons is hidden from Him? Jesus does not ask so that He will know.
Jesus is not alone with this possessed man. There were other people there with Him. Christ was there with His disciples (Lk 8:26), for “they came over” to this place (Mk 5:1). It is for their sakes that Jesus asked this question. By looking at the man, the watchers would have no idea of the greatness of his dilemma. The magnitude of the work Jesus was going to do would not have been fully appreciated. Therefore Jesus discovers to the people the case before Him.
What kind of question will Jesus ask? Once, when speaking with a father about his afflicted son, Jesus asked, “How long has this been happening to him?” NASB (Mk 9:21). Here, however, He does not ask about how long this possessed man had been in this condition. He rather asks, “What is thy name?” This is equivalent to asking, “What is your nature?” or, “What is your character?” The more a person knows of the condition from which they have been delivered, the greater will be their love and thankfulness. Thus Jesus said of a sinful woman whom He had forgiven, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little” (Luke 7:47). I do not doubt that eventually the man himself gained some knowledge of his condition that was formerly unknown to him.
MY NAME IS LEGION. It is interesting that the demon does not give a name that identified what was being done, but rather of the quantity of demons that were working together within this man. The word “legion” did not have a static meaning. In the rime of Romulus, a Roman legion consisted of 3,000 footmen and 300 horsemen. When Rome was increased in size, a “legion” was 6,000 footmen and 200 horsemen. Sometimes it was 6,200 footmen and 300 horsemen, or 5,000 footmen and 300 horsemen. Some have identified a “legion” as 6,666, and others as high as 12,500. JOHN GILL The point is that there was a great host of demons in this man – like a vast army of demons, or unclean spirits.
Luke adds this remark concerning the term “Legion,” “because many devils were entered into him” (Lk 8:30). What a dreadful plight for such a horde to be permitted to enter a single person, and control him for a long period of time. We do not know the reason for this condition, but it ought to stir us to give heed to the admonition, “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?” (1 Cor 10:22). At the very least, this confirms the extent to which men can fall, and the degree to which they can be dominated by the powers of darkness.
Matthew tells us that people were brought to Jesus, including “those which were possessed with devils” (Matt 4:24). Matthew also records, “they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with His word” (Mat 8:16). Jesus cast “seven devils” out of Mary Magdelene (Mk 16:9; Lk 8:2). The point is that there are increasing levels of corruption. There were people who were said to be possessed by a single demon – a “young daughter with an unclean spirit” (Mk 1:23). Multiple demons inhabited a man in a synagogue. When confronting Jesus the man cried out, “Let US alone” (Mk 1:23). Mary Magdelene was controlled by seven devils, and the man in our text with a legion, or very large number, of devils. Jesus spoke of a demon who garnered seven other demons worse than himself, and returned to inhabit some poor “man” (Matt 12:45).
When people willingly expose themselves to the domain of darkness, whether in immorality, drugs, the occult, or visual and audible representations of wickedness, they have entered an arena of unimaginable danger – a realm with which the human intellect cannot contend. Natural abilities wither in the world over which Satan presides, under the influence of “the rulers of the darkness of this world” (Eph 6:12). Today, using all manner of audio and video media, the devil is promoting an environment in which he can work more freely. It is not possible to adequately describe the condition of a person who has been exposed to the truth of Christ, yet chooses to walk in such realms. This man, whose record we are now reviewing, will no doubt rise up in the day of judgment to condemn those who chose to live in Gadara, when they had opportunity to live in Jerusalem.