The Demoniac Proclamation of the Messiah
Demon possession fascinates me. Perhaps that’s the reason I’m drawn to the story of the Gerasene demoniac.
It’s not a healthy fascination. More likely it’s a weakness.
A bad sift in the broken human mind. Forever drawn to the smoking wreckage alongside the road.
Yet there’s something more potent in this story. That drives the heart of a Christian to it.
The Demon-Possessed Man
You have a man. In broken chains. Who lives among the tombs. Who roams about the mountains.
He shrieks, barks, growls. And gashes himself with stones. Strips saplings of bark. Sleeps under sycamores in pouring rain.
Women toting water jars steer clear. Children heading for the sea taunt and run. And young men tease, fists clenched tightly around driftwood.
All fear him. But Christ.
The Confrontation with Christ
When Jesus and his disciples climbed onto the shore, the demon-possessed man rushes them. He falls to the ground and rivets his eyes on Jesus and asks:
“What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me!”
The man confesses he’s possessed by a legion of demons: “We are many.” Perhaps 4,000. Maybe even 6,000. A legion of Roman soldiers were known to be that large.
But maybe as low as 2,000, since that’s the number of pigs they eventually possess.
What can’t be missed, however, is the immeasurable power of the man–the demons.
Perhaps it rivals the cyclone Jesus just conquered. But in a supernatural sense.
The Real Fascination
Which brings us to the point of the narrative: Who is this that natural storms obey? That vast, supernatural armies cower beneath?
An unregenerate mind fixates on the demon. The suffering. The horror.
The regenerate mind, on the other hand, sees through to the real fascination: Jesus, the Son of God.
The one to whom all thrones, dominions, authorities and powers–whether natural or supernatural–bow down to.
And a Savior with teeth. One worthy of worship. Veneration. And adoration.
So, the question for you is…who do you obey: Your mind? The market? Or the Messiah?
**Part of The Messiah: Eleven Meditations from the Book of Mark series.**
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6 Comments to The Demoniac Proclamation of the Messiah
I used to have a fascination that was also a fear (make sense?) After witnessing this “phenomena” first hand, I can say one thing, without Christ, it is as scary as hell.
With Christ, amazing things can happen.
But it was never like the movies.
KimberlyJuly 16, 2009
What was it like, Don?
Yes, I want to hear, too…
Interesting insight, I enjoy reading your blog.
Of all your work, the posts that let the reality of Jesus Christ shine before the reader are by far the most convicting and inspiring to me. This post, as well as the previous one dealing with Jesus and the storm, display Christ as real, “the one to whom all thrones, dominions, authorities and powers–whether natural or supernatural–bow down to.” Because He is.
You spark life to the story that lazy readings of scripture often fail to recognize is there. Sometimes I am lazy. Sometimes your posts wake me up to go search. Because the real Jesus can indeed be found in the Word. A Lord who is more real than we dare imagine at times.
Demian FarnworthJuly 17, 2009
In fact, Daniel, these are probably my favorite ones to write…because they force me not to be lazy. Good insight, friend.
Hal: Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate the support!
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July 16, 2009