Authority over Demons (Part 2). Mark 5:7-13.
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.”For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, And they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.”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.
Dear Saints,
The demonic has already demonstrated that Jesus has authority over him by prostrating himself before Jesus. But there is more to his submission.
Recognition (v. 7). It is obvious from the speech that it is the unclean spirit speaking. He acknowledges that Jesus is the “Son of the Most High God.” He also clearly does not want a confrontation with Jesus. He knows what the outcome would be. In fact, he recognizes Jesus’ ability to punish (torment) him.
Resistance (v. 8). The unclean spirit did not want to leave the man. That Jesus “was saying” may indicate that he had commanded the spirit more than once. From the use of the word “torment” (v. 7) it is possible that the spirit feared that he was being sent to the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41). This may explain the futile attempt to remain in the man.
Request (vv. 9-12). The fear of immediate hell may also explain the strange request to enter the herd of swine. When Jesus asks his name, the spirit says “Legion.” Apparently, there was one spirit speaking on behalf of many. A Roman legion had between 3,000 and 6,000 soldiers. This is not to say that there were that many spirits in the man, but judging from the fact that there were about two thousand pigs and assuming that a spirit entered a pig each, that would have been a lot of spirits!
Respite(v. 13). The demons got their wish but the relief was brief. As soon as they entered the pigs, the whole herd ran down the hillside into the sea and drowned itself. It is likely that the spirits knew that the pigs would drown and may simply have wanted to be free from Jesus. But it is possible also that this was totally unexpected. Whatever the case, demons only destroy. They tormented the man and caused him to cut himself with stones; now they destroy a whole herd of pigs. It important for us to keep in mind that the sooner one is free from Satan and his demons, the better.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.