My Name is Legion

​In the book of Mark, chapter 5 verses 1-20 is the story of a tormented man named Legion. I find this story very intriguing and interesting. 

One day, Jesus and his disciples traveled across the Sea of Galilee to Gerasenes. There they found a man possessed with demons; the man bowed down to Jesus. The demon possessed man said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus?” Jesus knew this man was possessed by demons. In this instance, it was also obvious that Jesus knew the demons, and the demons knew him. 

But if the man was full of demons, why did the demons bow down to Jesus? Did the demons fear him? It is obvious in many other Bible stories about demons that they knew and respected Jesus. In this way, we are protected from the evil one if we believe in Jesus. Another great reason to worship our Lord and Savior! 

Jesus asked the man, “What is your name?” The man answered, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” How many is many? Two, two hundred, two thousand? It must have been closer to thousands because Jesus cast the demons out of the man into 2,000 pigs. Or did 2,000 just mean many?

The demons further demonstrated their submission to Jesus by asking him to send them from the man and into the pigs. Unclean spirits cast into unclean animals. 

The people then saw that the man was healed, and they became afraid. They asked Jesus to leave. Why would the people ask Jesus to leave when he obviously helped them by healing the demonic man? Were they just that afraid of Jesus, wondering what he might do to them? Who was this man and how did he free the man from his demons? 

When Jesus was leaving, the man who was demonic asked if he could go with Jesus; Jesus said “no”. Jesus instead told the man to go and tell others what he had done for him. He did and then the people were amazed, now the people were accepting!

Does Jesus heal our demons today, yes! Sometimes demons come in the form of depression, alcoholism or other illnesses. In this instance, the man didn’t ask Jesus to heal him; he just went ahead and did it. If we open our hearts to Jesus and come closer to him, he will heal us even if we don’t request it. 

Among the many free gifts God gives us is grace, God openly fills our hearts with love. Jesus provides us with physical, emotional and spiritual healing, even when we aren’t actively seeking it. Open your heart, be close to God, and he will heal you. 

Dear God, we love you and worship you. Thank you for sending us the greatest gift of all, your son Jesus, so we may be healed  of our weaknesses and illnesses. 






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