Read: Mark 5:1-20
Mark 5:16-17 – Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
Jesus is the Great Liberator, powerful even over demons.
Jesus displays His authority by restoring a demon-possessed man. This man who had been demon-possessed for a long time, lived among the dead and decaying like a sub-human, had supernatural strength, and uncontrollable, self-tormenting, destructive behaviour. But Jesus displays His power over the many demons who had possessed the man, by liberating him and restoring his humanity back to him.
The demons knew exactly who Jesus was, they call Him “the Son of God” and recognise the fact that He has the power to cast them out. They also recognise that they are appointed for final torment, and wonder if Jesus has come to start that final judgment.
Jesus is the Son of God, is the Great Liberator, who is triumphant over unclean spirits. He conquers the devil and sets the prisoner free. Jesus ministering in gentile territory reflects the fact that His ministry is going global (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus delivers and sets free all the peoples of the world.
For all the power that Jesus displayed in restoring this man, the response of the people was to dismiss this Great Liberator over a herd of pigs? Jesus conquers the devil and sets the prisoner free, but He also takes away the livelihood, wealth from some in the community and that forced a choice, a choice between money and Jesus, human resources over divine power. They chose to dismiss Jesus.
That remains a choice that each of us need to make in our lives – the power and grace of Jesus to give life and hope or the ‘wealth’ to be had from the ‘pigs.’ Jesus can free you and me from our prisons of sin, fear, doubt, insecurity or anything else that holds us captive. The choice is ours. We need to choose between Jesus, the life-giver, devil-defeater, the hope-giver and the ‘pigs’ in our lives.
Have you chosen the Great Liberator, the Chain Breaker?
Ponder
- What is keeping you imprisoned? Have you ever dismissed Jesus or His message in favor of something else?
- What are some of the “pigs” in your life that may be distracting you from following Jesus and experiencing the life and hope that He offers?
- What can you do to cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of Jesus as the Great Liberator in your life, and how can you share that message with others?
Scripture Writing: John 8:36
For more daily devotions like this – At the Potter’s Wheel (Kindle)