The Audience Mark Is Writing To
Mark writes to Roman believers familiar with power and dominance—and in this passage, where Jesus heals the man possessed by Legion, Jesus shows authority that no Roman legion could match. This miracle would have stunned readers with its display of supernatural dominance.
Key Focus of the Passage and Jesus’ Character
The focus is on Jesus’ authority over spiritual oppression. His character emerges as compassionate, commanding, and purposeful. He doesn’t avoid the tormented—He sets them free.
Scripture: Mark 5:1–20 (NASB)
“They came to the other side of the sea, into the region of the Gerasenes. And when He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, and he lived among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, not even with a chain…”
“…For many times he had been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and cutting himself with stones.”
“Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, ‘What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!’ For He had already been saying to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!'”
“And He was asking him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said to Him, ‘My name is Legion, because we are many.'”
“And he begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the region. Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding nearby on the mountain. And the demons begged Him, saying, ‘Send us into the pigs so that we may enter them.’ Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.”
“Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the countryside. And the people came to see what had happened. And then they came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed, and in his right mind, the very man who had previously had the ‘Legion’; and they became frightened.”
“Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the pigs. And they began to beg Him to leave their region. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was begging Him that he might accompany Him.”
“And He did not let him, but He said to him, ‘Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.’ And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.”
The People Jesus Interacted With
- The man possessed by demons (a Legion)
- The unclean spirits themselves
- The townspeople and herdsmen
What Happened in the Scene
Jesus arrives in Gentile territory and immediately confronts a violent, tormented man. Possessed by many demons, the man recognizes Jesus’ divine authority. Jesus commands the demons to leave, permitting them to enter nearby pigs. The herd rushes into the sea and drowns. The healed man is left calm and restored.
Mood and Tone of the Moment
The scene shifts from chaotic torment to astonishing peace. There is awe, fear, rejection, and transformation all colliding in one powerful moment.
What Jesus Said
“Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
“What is your name?”
“Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you.”
Jesus shows both compassion and command. He doesn’t only free the man—He gives him a mission.
The Response of the Others
- The demons beg for mercy.
- The townspeople are afraid and ask Jesus to leave.
- The healed man begs to go with Jesus—but instead becomes one of the first missionaries to the Gentile world.
The Lesson for Us in 2026
- No One Is Beyond Help — Even the most tormented life can be restored by Jesus’ power.
- Deliverance Has a Purpose — Jesus not only frees us but also calls us to share our story.
- Expect Mixed Responses — Some people fear change more than they celebrate freedom. Follow Jesus anyway.
If Jesus can free a man with a legion of demons, He can handle whatever you face. Tell your story and walk in your right mind—restored and sent.
