What Jesus Did! 'They Knew They Were Whipped' — Mark 5:10-12

Friday, March 22, 2024

Then the evil spirits begged [Jesus] again and again not to send them to some distant place.

There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. "Send us into those pigs," the spirits begged. "Let us enter them."

— Mark 5:10-12 NLT

Key Thought

"The evil spirits begged!" While the evil spirits overpowered the man and struck fear in the people who lived nearby, they begged Jesus! They knew they were doomed in the face of Jesus' power. Rather than face Jesus even as a legion of evil spirits versus one man of God, they begged to be sent into unclean pigs. Reminds me of an old song: [1] "He signed my deed with his atoning blood. He ever lives to make his promise good. Though all the hosts of hell march in to make a second claim, they all march out at the mention of his name. ... Jesus!"
[1] Author of the song, "He Signed My Deed," appears to be unknown. This song was often sung by youth groups in the 1970s and 1980s and was thought to have arisen out of the Jesus movement of the late 1960s.

Today's Prayer

Holy God, forgive me for not staying near to your Son when I faced temptations in the past. Please remind me to stay near to him, so I'll have the needed strength when I am tempted in the future. Give me the courage, dear Father, to confess the name of Jesus and to know that even the mention of his name in faith has great power. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Matthew 10:32
  • James 4:5-8
  • Hebrews 2:14

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Illustration

Illustration of Mark 5:10-12 NLT — "Send us into those pigs," —— "Let us enter them."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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