Daily Devotionals

Trouble Maker Week 7: Thursday

A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Mark 5:15

My friend recently told me the cutest story about her daughter. Her daughter’s teacher sent home a report that her little girl was telling all of her friends, “My mom can do anything!” My friend laughed at her daughter’s flattery, knowing that, of course, her mom could not do anything. The truth is, no human being can do anything, but we have a God who can. One of the attributes of God is that He is all-powerful. When Jesus performed miracles during His time on earth, He demonstrated His power. 

Mark 5 tells us about a time when a demon-possessed man encountered Jesus. The man told Jesus his name was Legion because so many demons were inside of him. These spirits begged Jesus “not to send them to some distant place” (verse 10). There was a herd of pigs nearby, so the demons begged Jesus to send them there (verse 12). Jesus gave them permission to enter into the pigs, and they did just that. There was a herd of about 2,000 pigs that they entered and “plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water” (verse 13). The demon-possessed man was completely healed and restored (verse 15). This was an incredible miracle where the power of Jesus was on full display.

What strikes me is that even though this man begged to follow Jesus, Jesus told him to stay. He encouraged the man to share his story of transformation with others. The next time Jesus came around, there were over 4,000 men in attendance to hear Jesus preach. 

Friends, God is still all-powerful today. He is in control. Even in the darkest and most difficult circumstances where it seems like everything is against us, God is still in control. No matter how locked up you may feel, Jesus wants to set you free. He wants to use you and your story of transformation to change the world.

Moving toward action

What area of your life do you need God’s power? Spend some time praying. Tell Him you know He can do anything, and ask Him to work and act in that area of your life. Tell Him that you trust Him. Remember, He may not always work in the way you hope or expect, but He always works for your good and His glory.

Going Deeper

Mark 5:1-20 (NLT)

"So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.

6 When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 7 With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”

9 Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”

And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” 10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.

11 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. 12 “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”

13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

14 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. 15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 16 Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. 17 And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them."