Mark 5:1-20 Go home to your friends
About Mark: This story introduces us to new landscape, to the rugged clifflands on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, to the land of the Gerasenes, Gadara, and the Decapolis (ten cities). Modern tourists often visit the ruins of Jerash, one of the ten cities of Decapolis.
Another unusual thing in the landscape of this story is the person whose life is possessed by demons. The background of the man's disturbance is not explained, only his torment and the failure of all attempts to help him. That is, until Jesus appeared. Demonic possession is more common in some societies than others, often depending upon the openness of the people to demonic influence, acceptance of animist and spiritist phenomena, and satanic religion. Much mental illness has physical and psychological origins. Even so, there are some cases which experienced practitioners attribute to the possession of these spirits similar to what is described here.
Certainly, the radical restoration portrayed here is not typical of severe mental damage. This is a case of deliverance, where the demons are subdued by the authority of Jesus.
About Mark: This story introduces us to new landscape, to the rugged clifflands on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, to the land of the Gerasenes, Gadara, and the Decapolis (ten cities). Modern tourists often visit the ruins of Jerash, one of the ten cities of Decapolis.
Another unusual thing in the landscape of this story is the person whose life is possessed by demons. The background of the man's disturbance is not explained, only his torment and the failure of all attempts to help him. That is, until Jesus appeared. Demonic possession is more common in some societies than others, often depending upon the openness of the people to demonic influence, acceptance of animist and spiritist phenomena, and satanic religion. Much mental illness has physical and psychological origins. Even so, there are some cases which experienced practitioners attribute to the possession of these spirits similar to what is described here.
Certainly, the radical restoration portrayed here is not typical of severe mental damage. This is a case of deliverance, where the demons are subdued by the authority of Jesus.
Bible: Mark 5:1-20, Jesus heals the Gerasene Demoniac
1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. 3 He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; 4 for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; 7 and he shouted at the top of his voice, "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 had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." 10 He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; 12 and the unclean spirits begged him, "Send us into the swine; let us enter them."13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.
14 The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But Jesus refused, and said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you." 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
14 The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But Jesus refused, and said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you." 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.Comment: GO HOME TO YOUR FRIENDS
THE demoniac was sitting there, clothed and in his right mind. His deliverance from demons was comprehensive and complete. As Jesus was getting into the boat the man begged Jesus that he might remain in his company (18). But Jesus refused. Why?
Perhaps in conversation with the other disciples the man had learnt that they had all left their homes to follow Jesus. Perhaps as a new disciple he thought he should do the same. And so Jesus was correcting this misconception about discipleship.
Perhaps Jesus saw in the man a depth of understanding that assured his progress in discipleship. Although the confession in verse 7 is probably the demons' recognition of Jesus, the man must also have recognised the sovereignty of the one who had released him. And "Lord" in verse 19 is the equivalent of the Hebrew Jahweh, the name for God, possibly reflecting that Jesus knew the man understood that God had entered into his situation to restore him.
But probably most importantly for this man, peace (shalom) and salvation involved being restored into normal social relationships - from which he had been alienated for so long. Jesus sends him back to his family. We should note in Mark's story how disciples are linked with their families. Andrew and Peter are brothers. Mark told us about Peter's home and mother-in-law. James and John’s parents - Zebedee and Salome - are part of Mark's story. Matthew's conversion is immediately celebrated in his house with his colleagues present.
Mind you, for this man going home might have been a harder option than following Jesus. It is unlikely he could have reached his desperate state without causing a lot of grief to his family. And so that was where the reality of his restoration must first be shown, at home with friends, family, and home-cooked meals.
Mind you, for this man going home might have been a harder option than following Jesus. It is unlikely he could have reached his desperate state without causing a lot of grief to his family. And so that was where the reality of his restoration must first be shown, at home with friends, family, and home-cooked meals.
Discipleship today: Putting this in today’s setting we see Jesus treated this man as an unique person, as he does for all of us. We see the power of Jesus over evil spirits and its unexplained impact on the pigs, the immediate change in the man’s demeanour, and the advice to return home rather than follow with Jesus.
Our own journey to discipleship may not copy anyone else’s. Jesus meets people with a wide range of personal features and needs, and uniquely and personally gives them freedom and new life.
Contrary to popular belief, all true encounters with Jesus are liberating. So we wonder at the contrast between Jesus and his care to liberate us, while others want only to get rid of him and stop him interfering further in human affairs. It puts the focus on our own real attitudes to Jesus.
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