Come Out of This Man, You Impure Spirit! (Mark 5:1-20)
No one wants to live among the tombs. Yet, there are people in this world who do. Of course, this doesn't just mean physically living in a graveyard; it refers to being trapped under the bondage and dominion of demons.
In Mark 5:1-20, Jesus went to the region of the Gerasenes and met a man possessed by demons. Jesus commanded the demon to come out, saving the man. He then instructed him to go to his family and testify to the great mercy and grace God had shown him.
Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man (Mt 8:28-34; Lk 8:26-39)
1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. (Mark 5:1-5)
After the storm was calmed, the boat reached the region of the Gerasenes. This area was part of the Decapolis (the Ten Cities), where Roman legions were stationed. The pig farms in this region were a major business, supplying the Roman military.
The disciples had just been terrified of dying in the great storm. But as soon as the boat touched land, they were met by a man with an impure spirit coming out from the tombs. Even when bound with chains, he snapped them; he broke the irons on his feet, and no one could control him. He lived among the dead in the tombs, crying out night and day and cutting himself with stones.
It is a scene almost too tragic and horrific to witness. This man was possessed by demons. A demon had entered him, taking his soul captive, driving him to extremes, and tormenting him. Though demons are invisible, they are real.
An evil spirit, also known as Satan, appeared to the woman in the Garden of Eden to tempt her (Gen 3:1). In the story of Job, Satan incited God to strike Job’s children, his wealth, and eventually his body, plunging him into a horrific state (Job 1:9-12, 2:4-6). Satan even tempted the Lord Jesus Christ three times and mocked Him to "come down" while He suffered on the cross (Mt 4:1-11, 27:42).
The devil inflicts atrocious harm on people and feels no pity. Instead, he seeks to kill in the most vicious, cruel, and miserable way possible. He doesn't even blink an eye. There is no truth or goodness in him—only lies and murder (Jn 8:44). Because there is no goodness or truth in him, he is "impure."
While Satan attacked the woman and Job from the outside, the demon-possessed man of the Gerasenes was controlled from the inside. The demon lived within him, keeping him in bondage. This shows how violent, cruel, and mercilessly destructive the devil intends to be.
However, the devil is merely one of God's creatures. He has no choice but to submit to the authority and power of the Lord. Although Satan accused Job without cause to bring him down, the reality is that he couldn't touch a single hair on Job's head without permission. He operates only within the boundaries allowed by God. Yet, the moment God permits it, Satan strikes as ruthlessly as he did with Job.
God, who is love and grace, is not unaware of this. In fact, God was the one who first mentioned Job's faith and faithfulness to Satan. God already knew Satan was watching Job, waiting for an opportunity. God's permission to Satan was not for Satan's benefit, but for Job's refinement (Job 40:3-5).
Don't Torture Me!
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had been saying to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” (Mark 5:6-8)
The possessed man displays a very conflicted attitude. On one hand, he falls on his knees before the Creator and calls Him "Jesus, Son of the Most High God." Yet, at the same time, he begs Jesus to leave him alone and not torture him. He said this because Jesus had already commanded the impure spirit to come out of him.
This is exactly why Jesus came to this earth: to rescue those groaning and suffering under the bondage of demons.
Jesus was so busy doing good that he didn't even have time to eat, leading to rumors that he was "out of his mind" (Mark 3:21). Furthermore, when He drove out demons, the teachers of the law accused Him of being possessed by Beelzebul—the prince of demons—claiming He used that power to drive out spirits (Mark 3:22).
To this, Jesus responded that no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man (Mark 3:27). In this parable, the "strong man" refers to the demon. The demon uses its strength to enslave, torment, and ruin people. But Jesus, through the power of His blood, binds Satan and rescues people from his grasp.
What is Your Name?
9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. (Mark 5:9-13)
The man’s name was "Legion" because he was possessed by a vast number of demons. Of course, this wasn't his real name. Because the demons controlled him, he lost the name his parents gave him and his identity as a member of a family and society. He fell into extreme loneliness and pain among the tombs.
No one welcomed him or visited him. Instead, people avoided him out of fear. When people did approach him, it was only to chain him up. He was utterly ignored and abandoned by everyone.
Who would want to live in a dark, silent graveyard? The devil ruthlessly drove this man into a miserable state, crushing a human being made in the image of God. This is the reality for those caught in the deception of the enemy—the ruler of the kingdom of the air. It manifests as strife, fraud, violence, natural disasters, and global conflicts that create countless refugees.
The demons begged Jesus not to send them away. Even they must bow to the command of Jesus Christ, the Creator. They trembled in His presence. When Jesus permitted them to enter the pigs, the entire herd of two thousand drowned. Satan's ultimate target is humanity, but he is merciless toward anything—animals or property—to cause destruction (Job 1-2).
A Life More Valuable Than the World
The demons caused massive financial loss to the local pig industry. Yet, Jesus allowed this because nothing is more urgent than saving a person from the grip of the enemy. Jesus taught that a human life is worth more than the whole world (Matthew 16:26; Luke 9:25).
We aren't here by accident. God created us to rule over creation (Genesis 1:28; Ephesians 2:6). Though we are currently "lower than the angels" on this earth, we are crowned with glory and honor, with all things placed under our feet (Hebrews 2:7-9). Our time on earth is a "school time"—a pilgrim’s journey to heaven. Though temptations and pains persist, Jesus Christ binds the enemy through His blood and saves us.
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)
The People Pleaded with Jesus to Leave their Region
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (Mark 5:14-20)
When the townspeople saw the man healed, they were afraid. Because of their financial loss, they asked Jesus to leave. To them, their economic gain was more important than a soul being freed from the devil's chains. Their eyes were blinded to the value of life; they only sought immediate profit.
However, the man who was healed wanted to follow Jesus. Jesus instead told him to go home and testify about the mercy he had received. To keep the grace we've been given is to witness to it. To stay in that grace is to obey His word and follow the way of the cross.
Jesus endured the shame and pain of the cross to save this world from Satan's bonds. He saw our freedom as His joy (Hebrews 12:2). Proving God's mercy isn't just about words; it’s about how we live—following the Truth and rejecting the lies of the enemy.
We face many hardships, and the devil tries to plant a sense of loss or deception in us. But through the blood of Christ, we are already free! He may try to swallow us, but he cannot harm us. Amen!
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Amen!
February 8, 2026
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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.
