Delivered and Sent
You know, it's funny how our culture deals with the idea of demons and spiritual evil. We kind of swing between two extremes, don't we? On one hand, you've got people who roll their eyes at anything supernatural. "Demons? Come on, that's just ancient superstition!" Then on the other end, you've got folks who see a demon behind every headache and bad day.
C.S. Lewis nailed it when he said that people make "two equal and opposite errors" when it comes to demons. Either they don't believe they exist at all, or they become unhealthily fascinated by them. It's like Lewis said in the preface to The Screwtape Letters – demons "hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight." The devil's equally happy if you don't believe in him or if you're obsessed with him. In fact, I was watching a documentary recently about the effect that horror movies have had on pop culture, and it was fascinating to see how Hollywood has shaped how we think about spiritual warfare. People were lining up to see these films – not really for any sort of spiritual aspect, but for the thrill and shock value. Meanwhile, many modern churches barely mention the spiritual realm at all, as if that part of Scripture was just something we hide away in the closet and don’t talk about. Well, both approaches miss the balanced biblical view.
Context
So, let's set the scene here. This story happens right after Jesus calmed that crazy storm in Mark 4. Remember that? The disciples are freaking out in the boat during this massive storm, Jesus stands up and says "Peace, be still!" and everything goes quiet. And they're like, "Who IS this guy? Even the wind and waves obey him!" Well, now in chapter 5, we're about to get another answer to that question from a really unlikely source – a legion of demons. Jesus and the disciples have crossed the Sea of Galilee and landed on the eastern shore in what Mark calls "the country of the Gerasenes."
This area is Gentile territory – a region known as the Decapolis or "Ten Cities" – and for Jewish people like Jesus and His disciples, this was considered ritually unclean. They've gone from Jewish territory to a foreign land with different customs, different gods, and different values. It's a place with tombs (which were ritually unclean for Jews) and even pig farms (also unclean animals according to Jewish law). Jesus has deliberately sailed into what any religious Jew would consider contaminated territory. It's like He's crossing a boundary that most religious folks wouldn't touch. And that's where this dramatic showdown is about to happen.
Big Idea
Here's the central truth I want you to grasp today: No one is beyond the transforming power of Jesus Christ. And as we walk through this story, we’re going to be following four movements:
the desperate condition of the possessed man,
the powerful confrontation between Jesus and the demons,
the fearful reaction of the local people,
and finally, the transformed mission of the delivered man.
I. The Desperate Condition: A Man Bound by Evil (Mark 5:1-5)
Living Among the Dead (v.2-3)
Read with me in Mark 5:1-3:
“They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain,”
Let's start by getting our bearings. Where exactly is this "country of the Gerasenes"?
Jesus and His disciples have just crossed from the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, likely from the Capernaum area where He was staying in teaching, as we learn in Mark 1, 2, and 4 - to the eastern shore. This is Gentile territory – part of what was known as the Decapolis or "Ten Cities" region. It's significant that Jesus deliberately sailed into what any religious Jew would consider contaminated territory – a land of Gentiles, tombs, and as we'll see later, even pig farms.
As soon as Jesus steps ashore, "immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit" (v.2). This detail is significant - this man didn't live among the living but had made his home in the tombs, among the decaying dead.
For Jewish readers, this would immediately signal extreme ritual impurity. According to Numbers 19:16, touching a grave or a corpse made one ceremonially unclean. The tombs in this region were likely cave-like chambers cut into rock outside the city limits. This image is from outside Jericho, but I wanted to show yo to get an idea of the kinds of tombs we’re talking about here.
By dwelling there, this man lived in complete isolation from normal community life - cut off from family, society, and any possibility of worship in the synagogue.
Mark emphasizes that "no one could bind him anymore, even with a chain" (v.3). The community had tried restraining him repeatedly for his own safety and theirs, but human restraint had utterly failed. This paints a picture of complete desperation: socially banished, spiritually unclean, and humanly uncontrollable.
The phrase "unclean spirit" already signals the man's plight - he is under demonic influence. Demon possession in Scripture indicates a person whose mind and body are dominated by an evil spirit. Here, that influence has driven him to a living death among the dead. Imagine the trauma for his community: he was once likely a member of their town - a son, perhaps a husband or father - but now he's feared and avoided, lurking in a graveyard.
In the next couple of verses we see just how terrible his condition really is. Read with me in v. 4:
A Portrait of Spiritual Terror (v.4-5)
“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.”
We're talking incredible, supernatural strength here – snapping iron restraints like they were twigs. And check this out – the word Mark uses for "subdue" (δαμάζω, damázō) is the exact same word you'd use for taming a wild animal! This isn't about calming down an upset person – it's the word you'd use for trying to tame a lion or a tiger. As Bible scholar R.T. France puts it, "Mark's description is more fitting of a ferocious animal than of a human being." The same word shows up in James 3:7 talking about taming the tongue.
It's like this poor guy had been reduced to something less than human – a tragic distortion of what God created him to be.
Verse 5 paints an even more heartbreaking picture:
“Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.”
Can you imagine that? The constant screams echoing through the night, the self-harm, the blood. This is severe, relentless torment. The demons weren't just bothering this guy – they were systematically destroying him. What did Jesus say about Satan in John 10:10 – "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy."
This man was completely cut off from society – "no one could tame him." He lived in constant agony – "crying out... cutting himself." And he was dangerous to himself and everyone else. Society's only answer was to try to chain him up, and that didn’t even work.
It makes me think: where do we see such desperation today? Maybe your neighbor, maybe a family member. Maybe you? Because many live in equally desperate bondage - whether to addictions that it seems like "no one can subdue," destructive behaviors you can't seem to break, or mental torment that is just isolating at its core.
Because the truth is that we live in a fallen world. In a world broken by sin. And behind much self-destructive behavior lies the influence of the enemy who still seeks to enslave and deface God's image-bearers. The Gerasene's condition is a reminder that human solutions alone, apart from God and apart from His will, often come up short against spiritual problems. Our battle is ultimately spiritual (Eph 6:12). The good news: where our strength ends, Christ's begins.
Dr. David Wood’s Story
Let me tell you about a man named David Wood. By his own admission, he was a diagnosed sociopath. He didn’t feel sorrow, guilt, or empathy. When his childhood friend died in an accident, David felt nothing. When his dog died, same thing. Eventually, that coldness turned violent—he tried to murder his own father with a hammer. He ended up in jail, completely isolated from the world and seemingly unreachable.
But in that jail cell, God put someone in his path—a Christian named Randy. David mocked him, taunted him, tried to humiliate him. He even competed with him to see who could fast longer, just to prove a point. But Randy wouldn’t flinch. He didn’t match David’s venom. He just kept reading his Bible, praying, and showing quiet strength. And it got under David’s skin.
So what did David start doing? Reading the Bible. Not for the reason you might think—he wanted to prove it wrong. But as he kept reading, something shifted. The Jesus he found in the pages wasn’t weak and passive. He was compelling. Unshakable. Someone who could walk straight into darkness without fear. David said it felt like Jesus could see every broken and violent part of him.
Eventually, lying in a solitary cell, emaciated and 80 pounds lighter than when he went into prison, physically broken and spiritually exhausted, David prayed:
“I don’t know if I’ll believe in you tomorrow, but I believe right now. If you can do anything with me—you’re welcome to it.”
He said when he opened his eyes, the world looked different. He felt peace. He felt rest—for the first time in his life.
Today, David Wood is a Christian apologist. He speaks to skeptics, engages with other worldviews, and tells his story as living proof that Jesus still sets people free. Society gave up on him—but Jesus didn’t.
It’s Mark 5 all over again.
But here's the beautiful irony in our passage today – what all of human society couldn't control or fix, Jesus is about to completely restore. Let’s look now at what happens when that man meets Jesus face to face.
II. The Powerful Confrontation: Jesus vs. "Legion" (Mark 5:6-13)
A Recognized Authority (v.6-7)
“And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.’”
When the demon-possessed man sees Jesus from a distance, he runs and falls before Him. The Greek word—προσεκύνησεν (prosekynēsen)—comes from proskyneō, meaning “to bow down” or “show reverence.” It can refer to worship, but more broadly, it signifies submission to authority. In this context, it’s not worship from devotion—it’s fear. What may look like worship on the surface is more likely an involuntary act—an acknowledgment of Jesus’ authority even by the demons.
Then he shouts at the top of his lungs: “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”
Let's stop and think about this for a second.
First off, notice who is recognizing Jesus correctly here. The disciples had just watched Him calm a storm and were left asking, “Who is this?” But the demons know exactly who He is: “Son of the Most High God.” No confusion, no hesitation. James 2:19 comes to mind: “You believe that God is one; good. Even the demons believe—and shudder.” These evil spirits have perfect theology about who Jesus is, but it doesn't save them—it terrifies them!
Second, did you catch that bizarre phrase "I adjure you by God"? In pagan, ancient Near Eastern false religions, it was though that if you learned the name of a god - then you could manipulate or control it. We see this specifically with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. And what’s happening here? The demon is essentially trying to put Jesus under oath by invoking God's name. Talk about irony!
It's like watching a cornered criminal trying to use a police officer's own handcuffs against them. It's a desperate, last-ditch trick that shows just how panicked these demons are in Jesus' presence. The demons are terrified and trying to negotiate their way out.
And there’s a sobering lesson here to be learned here for each of us: Acknowledging Jesus intellectually is not enough. These demons had correct doctrine about Jesus' identity, but it brought them terror, not salvation. Many people today acknowledge Jesus as a great teacher, yet, ironically still resist His rule (and ultimately what He teaches). The difference isn’t recognition, but submission in faith. And this whole exchange happens as Jesus is already confronting the demons—verse 8 gives the backstory.
Revealing the Enemy's Name (v.8-9)
“For he was saying to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!’ And Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion, for we are many.’”
Let that sink in. A “legion” in the Roman army was a massive force—5,000 to 6,000 soldiers. This isn’t one demon tormenting the man—it’s thousands. No wonder he was in agony. No wonder chains couldn’t hold him. No wonder he screamed and cut himself day and night. And “Legion” isn’t a name—it’s a deflection. When Jesus asks, “What is your name?” the reply is basically, "Name? Name? We're a whole army." And this is sneaky on their part - it’s a clever evasion - they're revealing how many they are, but not who they are.
It’s like if a child breaks something in the house, and a parent asks "who broke this?" and instead of giving a name, the kid says "umm…it was…all..of us." It’s evasive!
And even further, for Jewish people living under Roman rule, a "legion" of soldiers represented the force that controlled their land. But here's what I find amazing - even though there are thousands of these demons, they're still completely powerless before Jesus. They all speak through one voice and they're all cowering before one man. So when you feel overwhelmed by life's problems, remember this scene: even a legion of demons is no match for Jesus. Not even close.
Demons Begging and Pigs Plunging (v.10-13)
The conversation takes a weird turn now. Read with me in verses 10-13:
“10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.”
- Mark 5:10-13 (ESV)
These demons start begging Jesus "not to send them out of the country" (v.10). Luke's version gives us more detail - they're terrified of being sent to "the Abyss" (Luke 8:31), which was understood as a kind of prison for evil spirits.
As Jesus is clearly going to evict them from this man, they frantically come up with Plan B: "Send us into those pigs over there! Let us enter them instead!" (v.12). Mark tells us there's a huge herd of about 2,000 pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. Jesus gives them permission with just a word, and instantly the demons rush out of the man and into the pigs.
What happens next? The entire herd goes crazy, charges down the steep bank, like this one on the eastern shore of Galilee, plunges into the Sea of Galilee, and drowns.
One minute a man is in chains, the next he's sitting there peacefully while 2,000 pigs drown themselves in the lake.
So - here’s a question for all of us: why would Jesus allow this? Why say yes to demons? There are a few things that help us make sense of this:
First, what happens to the pigs shows us exactly what these demons wanted to do to the man all along. While they possessed him, they drove him to hurt himself, but they couldn't actually kill him. The moment they enter animals with less resistance, they immediately drive the whole herd to destruction. As Bible scholar William Lane points out, Jesus may have allowed this to expose the true destructive nature of these evil spirits - to show everyone watching that their "real purpose was the total destruction of their host."
It's like if a doctor finally removes a tumor and shows it to you - "This is what was making you sick." The drowned pigs were visible proof of how deadly these spirits were and what a miraculous deliverance had just happened.Now second, and most importantly, this shows us Jesus' priorities crystal clear: one man's freedom and restoration mattered more to Him than the economic value of 2,000 pigs. How valuable is a human soul to God? More than an entire herd of animals. Jesus would later teach, "How much more valuable is a person than a sheep!" (Matt 12:12).
I've heard people get hung up on the pigs - "Why did Jesus kill innocent animals?" But that misses the whole point. Because Jesus didn't kill the the pigs - the demons did. And Jesus considered one man's deliverance worth the material cost. That tells us something powerful about how much we matter to God.
You know, there's something else fascinating happening throughout this whole story. Have you noticed a word that keeps showing up again and again? It's the word "begging,” “adjourning,” "pleading" in our English translations. In the original Greek, it's παρακαλέω (parakaleō), and Mark uses it like a thread weaving through this entire narrative:
In v.10, the demons beg Jesus not to send them away (this is out of fear)
In v.12, the demons beg Him to send them into the pigs (this is out of self-preservation)
In v.17, we'll see the townspeople beg Jesus to depart (this is out of fear and rejection)
In v.18, the delivered man will beg Jesus to go with Him (this comes from gratitude and devotion)
It's the same exact word each time, but with completely different motivations.
So what does all this mean for us today?
First, this confrontation with "Legion" should absolutely strengthen our faith in Jesus' complete authority over evil. No spiritual force - no matter how numerous or powerful - can stand against even a single word from Christ. This is the same Jesus we worship and serve today - risen, exalted, with "all authority in heaven and on earth" (Matt 28:18). We don't need to live in fear of evil powers. As 1 John 4:4 reminds us, "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." The One who lives in you through His Spirit is the same One who sent thousands of demons fleeing with just a word.
Let that sink in next time you feel overwhelmed by darkness.Also, look at how Jesus handled this situation - one man's deliverance mattered more to Him than a huge economic loss. Sometimes in our own lives, Jesus may allow a temporary loss - maybe of comfort, certain relationships, habits we cling to, or material things - to secure our spiritual freedom. When Jesus confronts strongholds in our hearts, it might feel costly or disruptive at first, but it's ultimately for our healing and liberation.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
The question isn't whether Jesus has the power to break chains in your life - this story proves He absolutely does. The question is: are we willing to let Him?
III. The Fearful Reaction: The People Reject Jesus (Mark 5:14-17)
Shock and Awe in the City (v.14)
Now let's see how the locals respond to all this in vv. 14-15:
“The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.”
A Miraculous Transformation on Display (v.15)
This is the same guy they knew as the naked, screaming madman of the tombs! But look at the transformation:
He's calmly seated, not roaming frantically anymore
He's dressed (Luke 8:27 mentions he had been naked before)
Most importantly, he's "in his right mind"
The change is so complete it's almost unbelievable. This man went from chains and screaming to sitting quietly at Jesus' feet like a normal person, a student.
You'd think the people would be celebrating, right?
"Our nightmare is over! This demon-possessed uncontrollable man is healed!" But look at their reaction: "and they were afraid."
What?!
They're not rejoicing; they're terrified. Why fear when a man's life has been saved?
Several things might explain this:
First, they've just encountered supernatural power way beyond anything they've ever seen. That's unsettling. It's like when the disciples feared after Jesus calmed the storm – divine power can be scary when you're not used to it.
Second, there's economic fear: 2,000 pigs just drowned! That's a massive financial loss to the community. Jesus' presence has proven "costly." If He stays, what else might happen? They’ve missed the point altogether - because they're focusing on what they lost rather than who was rescued.
Third, there's cultural discomfort: Jesus, a foreigner and Jew, wielding such power in their region undoubtedly makes them nervous. They don't know what to make of Him.
And it’s these things that should make us think about our own reactions to God's work. When God radically transforms a person or situation, do we rejoice, or do we get uncomfortable because it upsets our normal routines? These townspeople had adjusted to life with a demon-possessed man. They managed by trying to chain him up, but just resorted to avoiding that area of town. They had their system. Now here comes this Jesus guy and messes all that up.
John Newton’s Story
This reminds me of John Newton's story. Most people know the hymn Amazing Grace, but fewer know the man who wrote it. John Newton spent years as a slave trader. He trafficked human beings, treated people like cargo, and lived with no moral compass. He mocked religion and lived a life that could only be called self-enslaved.
One night, during a fierce storm at sea, Newton thought he would die. For the first time in years, he cried out to God. That moment didn't immediately make him a saint—but it started a change. He eventually left the slave trade, came to real faith in Christ, and became a pastor. He helped mentor William Wilberforce and became part of the movement to abolish slavery in England.
The man who once traded lives now preached about the Savior who redeems lives.
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..." That's not poetic license—that's Newton's confession. It's also the Gerasene man's story. It's your story. And it can be anyone's story who's been met by Christ and made new.
But here's the thing—not everyone responds to grace that way. Newton embraced the disruptive power of Jesus in his life. He let go of his old ways, his old livelihood, his old identity. But some people, when faced with Jesus' authority and mercy, don't run toward Him—they pull back. Sadly, sometimes people prefer familiar misery to disruptive grace. We get attached to our problems, even find a strange comfort in them, because at least they're predictable. We know how to navigate them. Welcoming Jesus' deliverance means stepping into the unknown.
So the townspeople are afraid, how do they respond?
"Please Leave!" - Rejecting Jesus (v.16-17)
“And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.”
"They began to beg Jesus to depart from their region" (v.17). There’s that word "beg" (parakaleō). They urgently plead with Him to go away.
Think about this for a second. The most powerful healer in the universe is standing in their midst – someone with authority over the worst evil – and their reaction is basically, "Jesus, please leave." This has to be one of the saddest requests in the Bible.
And do you know what's frightening about it? It gets answered – Jesus doesn't force Himself on those who reject Him. He gets into the boat to leave (v.18). They'd rather have their pigs, the possessed guy, and their normal life back than have Jesus among them, and that’s heartbreaking. They loved their swine more than the Savior. And thank goodness we’re not at all like that, right?
Or are we?
Are we ever guilty of asking Jesus to leave some "region" of our lives? Perhaps He works in someone next to us and it convicts us, and instead of rejoicing we distance ourselves. Or He challenges our priorities – like how we spend our money or our time – and we resist letting Him have full control in those areas.
Maybe it's
a habit we don't want to give up.
a relationship that's unhealthy but in the predictableness of it, it’s comfortable.
a business practice that's profitable but “questionable.”
our routine that we don't want disrupted, even by God.
I’ll put it this way, Maybe we all have our own herd of "pigs.” Here, Jesus personally encounters the pushback from the community and is literally asked to leave town.
But instead of asking Jesus to limit His work to what feels comfortable to us, what if we opened every area of our lives to His transforming power? What if we said, "Lord, there is no area of my life that’s off-limits to you–I’ll follow you, anywhere. Even if it costs me"?
So Jesus turns, and begins to board the boat, v. 18:
IV. The Transformed Messenger: From Demoniac to Missionary (Mark 5:18-20)
Longing to Be With Jesus (v.18)
“As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him.”
There’s that word, "begged," again, but now expressing the right desire. This man wants nothing more than to stay in Jesus' presence. And this is the language of true discipleship - to "be with" Jesus was exactly what Jesus called the Twelve disciples to do (Mark 3:14).
What a place we’ve ended up from where we’ve started. Just hours ago, this man was shrieking in demonic fury; now he is at Jesus' feet, clothed and sane, never wanting to leave his Savior's side. Please don’t miss this: this is the natural response of a grateful heart that has been set free - "Jesus, I want to follow You wherever You go!" While everyone else is pushing Jesus away, this man is desperate to stay with Him. Why? Because he's experienced something the townspeople haven't - the transforming power of Christ's mercy. And once you've been truly set free, you don't want to go back to chains.
Now let’s read Jesus’ response in v. 19:
Commissioned to Tell His Story (v.19)
“And he did not permit him but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’”
But surprisingly, Jesus "did not permit him" to come along in the boat. Instead, He said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you" (v.19).
This is so cool: This is actually the first missionary commissioning we see in the Gospels - and it's given to a Gentile man in Gentile territory! Jesus sends him back to his own people to be a living testimony. And notice Jesus' careful wording: "how much the Lord has done for you." Jesus likely uses "Lord" here to refer to God, directing the man to point people to Israel's God. Yet in the very next verse, Mark tells us the man went and proclaimed "what Jesus had done for him" - equating Jesus' work with God's work. This is a subtle but powerful Christological statement: Jesus is the Lord who had mercy on this man.
What's fascinating is that this commission stands out in contrast to Jesus' normal pattern, too. Usually, He told healed individuals to "tell no one" (like in Mark 1:44 and later in 5:43). But here, among these Gentiles, there's no risk of messianic misunderstandings or political rebellion. In fact, this man becomes a forerunner to later Gentile missions. Jesus knew He'd be asked to leave this region, so by leaving this man behind as His witness, He ensured the good news would continue to echo there. The early church historian Eusebius later wrote that this region around the Decapolis had believers at the time of the Apostles, possibly seeded by this man's testimony. And interestingly, when Jesus returns to Decapolis in Mark 7:31-8:9, great crowds come to Him. One wonders if the groundwork was laid by the former demoniac's preaching.
Charles Spurgeon emphasized how powerful personal testimony can be:
“Soul-winning is generally accomplished not by argument, but by testimony... Hearts are won by witness-bearing.”
This healed man in our passage had no theological training - but he had a story of God's mercy that could touch hearts. See, Jesus' instructions to this man apply to us too: "Go to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you."
Start with those who know you best - in your home, your circle of friends, your workplace. Sometimes that's the hardest place to witness, because people remember your "former self." Yet it can also be the most powerful testimony: "Is this the same person who used to be so angry/addicted/broken? Look what God has done!" Your story of Christ's deliverance is unique, and God can use it. Like this former demoniac, you don't need to have all the theological answers first. Jesus didn't say "Go take a course, get your degree, then you can tell someone about me." No - what he told the man is way more simple "go and tell what God did for you." Sometimes the most effective mission field is literally next door or even in your home at the dinner table.
So Jesus leaves, v. 20:
Mission to the Decapolis (v.20)
“And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.”
He didn't just go to his hometown; he became an itinerant evangelist! His message was Christ-centered - he proclaimed what Jesus had done. The result: "everyone marveled." People knew this wild man of the tombs; seeing him now and hearing his testimony left them astonished.
This reminds me of a man I talked to who had been in and out of prison multiple times. During his last incarceration, he encountered Christ, started reading the Bible, and became a believer. The transformation was so profound that when he was released, he told me he "couldn't just not tell people about Him. And what He's done in my life."
He felt so compelled to share the gospel that he approached a church and asked if he could go on staff as a campus pastor to start a campus near where he lived. When they told him they didn't have the budget to pay him, what did he do? He did it anyway - for free, starting in his own home. The group quickly outgrew his living room, so he started another group in another home. Then another. And another.
Eventually, those home groups grew to the point that the church decided to officially launch a campus, and on their first Sunday, they had 700 people show up! From prison cell to church planter - all because one transformed life couldn't help but tell others about Jesus.
Like the Gerasene demoniac, this man's testimony wasn't just words - it was his transformed life and his immediate obedience that spoke volumes. The before-and-after contrast was unmistakable, and the ripple effects touched hundreds of lives.
Also, notice both men's immediate obedience. The former demoniac "went away and began to proclaim" - no delay, no hesitation. The former prisoner didn't wait for a budget or official position - he just started sharing Christ. Have we perhaps stalled in obeying a commission from God? Jesus might be nudging you to share with a certain friend or to serve in a certain capacity. Don't hold back - your testimony might be the seed of someone else's salvation. If your story touches one person through God's will, your testimony, and the moving of the Holy Spirit – that's a wonderful and beautiful thing to be celebrated.
What a beautiful thing to live in God’s Will.
And what matters is our faithful obedience and love for Christ and others. Jesus didn't tell the former demoniac to go build a megachurch – He simply said "go tell." The man's faithfulness to that simple command had ripple effects he probably never could have imagined. But here me in this: It’s not our job to worry about the results; it's to be faithful with the mission that He’s given us.
No one would've picked the Gerasene demoniac to be an evangelist. He was literally the town nightmare. But Jesus saw past the chaos to the person underneath - a man worth saving, worth restoring, and worth sending as His messenger. And the same is true for you, for you, for you, for each of us. No matter our past.
Conclusion
This story puts a choice before us - are we going to respond like the townspeople who said "This is too much, please leave," or like the healed man who wanted to be with Jesus forever? If you're feeling trapped or hopeless today, this story shouts hope to you. The man's deliverance says loud and clear: There is hope in Jesus! No night is too dark, no chains too strong for Him.
As Jesus promised, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). I love that image of the man "clothed and in his right mind." That's what salvation looks like – Jesus gives us back our dignity and a sound mind - like Randy, the Christian in David Moore’s story. In a world that often feels crazy and chaotic, living with the mind of Christ speaks volumes without saying a word.
Perhaps you're here today and you've never experienced this freedom for yourself. Maybe you're still running from Jesus rather than to Him. Maybe you feel bound by things you can't seem to break free from. Or maybe you've been keeping Jesus at a distance, like those townspeople, worried about what it might cost you to let Him in completely.
I want to invite you to respond differently. Today could be your day of deliverance. Jesus crossed a stormy sea for one man; He came to earth and died on a cross for you. He's reaching out to free you, to clothe you, to restore your mind and your life. All you need to do is stop running away and run to Him instead. In just a moment, as we close in prayer, I'm going to give you an opportunity to respond.
If you want to receive Jesus as your Savior today – if you want to experience the freedom only He can give – I'll lead you in a simple prayer. But before we do that, I just want to say that it's not the prayer itself that saves you. The prayer is simply a reflection of what's happening in your heart – a sincere turning from sin and turning to Christ in faith as your Lord and Savior. Salvation comes through placing your trust in Jesus and what He did for you on the cross, not through any specific words. This prayer is just a way to express that decision.
Let's pray.
“Dear Lord,
Thank you for your incredible power that breaks every chain. We've seen today how even a legion of demons couldn't stand against your word. We're amazed that you would cross a stormy sea just to rescue one person from torment.
Help us to never push you away when your work disrupts our comfort. Give us the heart of the healed man, who wanted nothing more than to be with you. And like him, help us tell others what you've done for us - in our homes, our workplaces, our communities.
For those among us who feel hopeless or bound by things they can't break free from - remind them that you're the chain-breaker, the deliverer, the one who restores what's broken. No situation is beyond your reach.
For those here today who are ready to turn to you for the first time, I invite them to pray with me in their hearts:
Jesus, I come to you today just as I am. I acknowledge that I've been running away from you rather than to you. I believe you died on the cross for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sin and I trust you alone as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life, break my chains, and make me new. I want to be clothed in your righteousness and have my mind renewed by your Spirit. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Amen."
