“And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.” (Mark 5:3-4)
Nobody tells the story of the demoniac like Mark does. His is the longest account – a full 20 verses in this Gospel. Luke’s account is only 13 verses and Matthew’s is a mere seven. But Mark includes the full detail to describe the healing of the demoniac as a full-scale battle between Jesus and an army of demons. Look at the lengths Mark goes to in order to explain that no one was strong enough to subdue the demoniac. Not even chains and shackles could hold him – for he repeatedly smashed them to pieces.
Then we find out why. This poor wretch is home to a legion of demons. Now, a Roman legion consisted of 6,000 soldiers. Is Mark, then, suggesting that thousands of demons had made this man their stronghold? Well, look at what they did to the herd of 2,000 pigs. Yes, this was a demonic hoard and Jesus was storming the beaches of the Gerasenes to assail and overthrow their stronghold. In fact, throughout Mark’s Gospel we read of Jesus casting out demons (Mark 1:22-27, 32, 39; 2:22; 3:11, 15, 22; 6:13; 7:25-29; 16:9, 17). Clearly, Mark portrays Jesus’ earthly mission as a great crusade against Satan, destroying his works and demolishing his fortresses.
Mark also goes to great lengths to describe the power and majesty of Christ in this battle. Note that the demons are terrified of Christ and beg Him not to punish them. They fall at Jesus’ feet and confess Him to be the Son of the Most High God. Then, when Christ commands them to depart from the man, they “beg” Jesus for permission to enter the pigs. Christ’s permission is required for demons to harass pigs? Most certainly. Neither the devil nor his demons can touch so much as a pig without God’s permission. How much less the blood-bought and Spirit-filled believer?
The hoard of demons drove those pigs to self-destruction. Just think of what they would have done to this man if they could have had their way. But Jesus saves him from their power. The ease with which Jesus won this battle must have unnerved Satan. But Jesus would hand Satan a far more lethal defeat at the cross. Though outwardly, Jesus’ crucifixion looked like a loss, through it Jesus rendered Satan powerless and stripped him of his armor (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8).
REFLECTION
- The oldest Messianic prophecy in the Bible promises that Jesus, will bruise the head of the “serpent” (Genesis 3:15). Does this foretell of Christ’s victory?
- Now under whose feet will God again crush Satan (Romans 16:20)?
- Christ promises to always lead us in His triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). Let’s follow Him in the power of His Holy Spirit.
