How should believers respond to Jesus' power over evil as seen in Mark 5:11? Setting the Scene “Now there on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding.” (Mark 5:11) The verse drops us into the middle of the dramatic account of the Gerasene man possessed by a legion of demons. Jesus has just commanded the unclean spirits to leave, and they beg to enter the pigs. That single sentence in v. 11 reminds us that demonic forces are real, but so is the sovereign presence of Christ standing before them. What the Verse Reveals about Jesus’ Power • The demons know they must obey Jesus (Mark 5:8–10). • They seek permission to enter the pigs—His authority sets their boundaries (Job 1:12; Luke 22:31). • The herd’s presence highlights the visible proof that evil cannot stay where Jesus reigns (Mark 5:13). Right Responses for Believers Today 1. Acknowledge His Absolute Authority • Marvel that even thousands of demons submit instantly: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10). • Refuse to fear demonic activity; revere the One who commands it. 2. Stand Clear of Compromise • The pigs picture what happens when unclean forces are entertained—destruction (John 10:10). • Guard heart and home from openings to darkness: entertainment, occult practices, habitual sin (Ephesians 4:27). 3. Seek and Celebrate Deliverance • If Jesus can free a man society chained and abandoned, He can free any believer from bondage (Romans 6:14). • Testify to His rescue; the healed man was told, “Go home…tell them how much the Lord has done for you” (Mark 5:19). 4. Rest in His Protective Presence • The herd’s stampede shows evil’s chaos when unrestrained; Christ keeps His people secure (Psalm 91:1–4). • Daily place yourself under His covering through Scripture and obedience. 5. Worship with Holy Awe • The townspeople begged Jesus to leave; the delivered man begged to go with Him (Mark 5:17–18). Choose the latter posture—cling to the Savior who conquers darkness. • Let worship drive out worry: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Living It Out This Week • Read Mark 5:1–20 aloud; underline every display of Christ’s supremacy. • Identify one area where fear of evil lingers—replace it with a promise from God’s Word. • Share a personal testimony of Jesus’ power with someone who needs hope. Jesus’ authority displayed by a hillside herd still calls for a response: fearless faith, uncompromising holiness, grateful worship, and bold witness. |
    |