Key Thought

In the Gospel of Mark, we learn that the demons know Jesus' true identity. They fear Jesus and know he has power over them. The man we meet among the tombs in the cemetery—a man whose name we never know because his identity has been stolen by the demons inhabiting him—does not speak. Instead, the demons speak through his voice. Their terror at their own defeat at Jesus' hands is revealed. As God's presence in human flesh—God's Son—Jesus is superior to all beings, heavenly and earthly, good and evil. Not only while he was on earth and also now at the Father's right hand, he holds the power over them. They cannot and will not defeat him. Even in the Cross he triumphs over them because of his sacrificial obedience which purchases our freedom, pardon, and righteousness.

Today's Prayer

Holy God, Almighty Abba Father, I praise you for Jesus' power over all things and all beings. Give me faith to believe this and live accordingly. While I know I will struggle against the power of Satan and his angels, I truly believe that through Jesus, victory is mine. I praise you and thank you in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus and his followers went across the lake to the area where the Gerasene people lived. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man came to him from the caves where dead people are buried. This man had an evil spirit {from the devil} living inside of him. This man lived in the burial caves. No person could tie him. Even chains could not keep this man tied. Many times people had used chains to tie the man's hands and feet. But the man broke the chains on his hands and feet. No person was strong enough to control him. Day and night the man walked around the burial caves and on the hills. The man would scream and cut himself with rocks. While Jesus was far away, the man saw him. The man ran to Jesus and bowed down before him. Jesus said to the man, "You evil spirit, come out of that man." So the man shouted with a loud voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you to promise to God that you will not punish me!" Then Jesus asked the man, "What is your name?" The man answered, "My name is Legion, because there are many spirits inside me." The spirits inside the man begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of that area. A large herd of pigs was eating on a hill near there. The evil spirits begged Jesus, "Send us to the pigs. Let us go into them." So Jesus allowed them to do this. The evil spirits left the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd of pigs ran down the hill and into the lake. All the pigs were drowned. There were about 2,000 pigs in that herd. The men that had the work of caring for the pigs ran away. The men ran to the town and to the farms. They told all the people what happened. The people went out to see what happened. The people came to Jesus. They saw the man that had the many evil spirits. The man was sitting and was wearing clothes. He was in his right mind again. The people were afraid. Some people were there and saw what Jesus did. These people told the other people what happened to the man that had the demonsliving in him. And they also told about the pigs. Then the people began to beg Jesus to leave their area. Jesus was preparing to leave in the boat. The man that was freed from the demons begged to go with Jesus. But Jesus did not allow the man to go. Jesus said, "Go home to your family and friends. Tell them about all the things the Lord did for you. Tell them that the Lord was good to you." So the man left and told the people in the Ten Towns about the great things Jesus did for him. All the people were amazed.

Related Scripture Readings

Christ obeyed God, so God raised Christ to the most important place. God made the name of Christ greater than every other name. God did this because he wants every person to bow for the name of Jesus. Every person in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth will bow. Every person will confess (say), "Jesus Christ is Lord (Master)." When they say this, it will bring glory to God the Father.

When you were baptized, {your old self died and} you were buried with Christ. And in that baptism you were raised up with Christ because of your faith in God's power. God's power was shown when he raised Christ from death. You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self. But God made you alive with Christ. And God forgave all our sins. We owed a debt because we broke God's laws. That debt listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. God took away that debt and nailed it to the cross. God defeated the spiritual rulers and powers. With the cross God won the victory and defeated those rulers and powers. God showed the world that they were powerless.

And God never said this to an angel: "Sit at my right side until I put your enemies under your power. "