Sunday, February 02 || THE DEMONS FLEE AT THE MENTION OF JESUS’ NAME

Read : Mark 5: 1-13

“... Come out of this man, you evil spirit.” - Mark 5: 8

Ray Pritchard writes, “Three worlds meet in this strange story - the underworld of evil spirits, the visible world of human experience, the upper world of divine control.” This incident of deliverance of demon possessed man made quite an impression on the disciples because it is found in three gospels - Matthew, Mark and Luke. Here we see a horrible picture of demon possession and a perfect picture of the Savior’s grace. The demon possessed man lived in tombs and was bound with shackles and chains in his hands and feet, but he snapped the chains off and no one had the strength to control him. He was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, hurting himself with stones. But when Jesus met him and commanded the unclean spirit to come out, he was delivered at once. The “many devils” by whom he had been possessed, left him immediately. No longer was he running around, crying out and cutting himself. He was calm and was seated beside Jesus. What a change! No longer was he naked, but he was clothed! Where there had been turmoil and agitation, there was now perfect peace. He was changed spiritually, physically and mentally.

Dear friends, our Lord Jesus’ dominion over the devil should be a cheering thought to all of us. To feel that we have ever near us the invisible spiritual enemy, working day and night to destroy us, would make us lose hope if we did not know the Protector and Deliverer, our Lord Jesus. He is stronger than that “strong man armed.” He is able to deliver us from the devil. He triumphed over him gloriously on the Cross. He will never let him pluck us out of His hand.