freedom from a legion of demons

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    DISCUSSION ON MARK 5 : 1 - 20(A discussion between five friends about an incident recorded in the Bible i.e

    in the Gospel of Mark chapter 5 verses 1 to 20)

    Roshan : Welcome to all for this discussion on Mark 5:1-20

    All : Hi

    Roshan : If you have your Bible please turn the pages to the portion

    where Mark 5:1-20 is or else you can read from this printout. Rohit will

    read it aloud for us. Others please listen & follow carefully.

    Rohit :

    The story of the man who was set free from a Legion of Demons.

    Mark Chapter 5 Verses 1 to 20(NKJV)

    1.Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the

    Gadarenes.

    2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him

    out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

    3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind

    him,not even with chains,

    4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the

    chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken inpieces; neither could anyone tame him.

    5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs,

    crying out and cutting himself with stones.

    6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

    7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, What have I to do with

    You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You

    do not torment me.

    8 For He said to him, Come out of the man, unclean spirit!9 Then He asked him, What is your name?

    And he answered, saying, My name is Legion; for we are many.

    10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of

    the country.

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    11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.

    12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, Send us to the swine, that

    we may enter them.

    13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits

    went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and

    the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned

    in the sea.

    14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the

    country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.

    15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-

    possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.

    And they were afraid.

    16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had

    been demon-possessed, and about the swine.17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

    18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed

    begged Him that he might be with Him.

    19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, Go home to

    your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you,

    and how He has had compassion on you.

    20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus

    had done for him; and all marveled.

    Roshan : Before we continue, let us just say a small prayer.

    Our Loving Heavenly Father, we pray that you would open our eyes to see

    the wonders in your word. Please speak to us. In Jesus Name we pray.

    Amen

    I think all of you would have understood the story that we read. Please

    spend a few minutes reading silently.

    Rohit : This story is also recorded in two other gospels i.e in Mathew8:28-34 and in Luke 8 : 26-39. There seems to be a contradiction

    between the account in Mathew and in the other two gospels. In

    Mathew there are two demon-possessed men while in Mark and Luke

    there is only one man.

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    Roshan : I dont think there is any conflict between the gospels, for

    Mark and Luke accounts have apparently focused their attention on the

    most striking of the two demon-possessed men.

    Pooja : I dont believe demons or evil spirits exist. In those days

    psychology was not developed hence they may have called mental illness

    as Demon Possession.

    Rahim : I think demons do exist, the presence of those who practice

    witchcraft shows that there are good spirits and evil spirits.

    Preeti : As long as scientists keep searching for aliens & extraterrestrial

    beings it means that they have not ruled out the existence of other forms

    of life. Spirit beings are also living beings.

    Pooja : I think it is the horror movies & the movies like The Exorcist,

    which keep our beliefs about demons alive. I think the belief in demons

    is only a superstition.

    Preeti : Just because we cannot prove the existence of demons with the

    level of technological advancement that we have today, it does not mean

    that they do not exist. Maybe in future some equipment may be

    invented for detecting/identifying the spirit beings.

    Rohit : I believe angels & demons exist because Bible says so. Bible is

    the Word of God. It is fully accurate and reliable.

    Roshan : My Dad also used to believe that demons do not exist. He used

    to look down on people with the opposite belief and tell them that their

    belief is superstitious. But one day he had a direct encounter with a

    demon.

    Rahim : I bet his belief would have changed after that.

    Roshan : Yes. He used to tell that a dark figure would try to strangle

    him at nights when he was sleeping alone in his room. But after he

    committed his life to Jesus & prayed that he be delivered, he found

    freedom and new life.

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    Rohit : Jesus is alive even today what he did when he was on earth two

    thousand years ago, he is still doing today.

    Roshan : Let us come back to the passage that we read a short while

    ago. Jesus and his disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee and went

    eastward to the region of Gerasenes. Can you locate this on the map

    shown here

    Rohit : The Gadara or Gerasa & Decapolis (verse20) are in another

    country.

    Roshan : Yes. Immediately after reaching the shore, Jesus met a man.

    What do we know about him from verse2 to v5

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    Rahim : He was living in the tombs outside the city. Why didnt he live

    in a house? Didnt he have family members to take care of him?

    Rohit : I think the demons inside him were driving him outside the

    house into the tombs and forcing him to do things that only a mad man

    would do.

    Pooja : He seemed to possess super human strength. If he was bound by

    chains he would pull it apart. The shackles were broken to pieces. He

    could not be tamed by anyone.

    Preeti : He was crying out day & night and was injuring himself with

    stones. If this man was living today he could have been controlled by a

    psychologist by using a suitable sedative.

    Roshan : He was a maniac. He was probably considered a nuisance to

    the society. He was helpless and his condition was pathetic. He could

    break physical chains & shackles but he was bound by unseen demonic

    forces. There was nobody to help him

    Rohit : The demons inside the man were totally controlling him. It

    appears that he doesnt have a personality of his own.

    Roshan : What did Jesus say to the maniac.

    Rahim : He said Come out of the man, unclean spirit!.

    Rohit : He is actually speaking to the man but he addressing the spirits

    controlling the man. The man who was uncontrollable ran &

    worshipped Jesus.

    Roshan : What did the maniac tell Jesus?

    Preeti : What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the most High God? I

    implore you by God that you do not torment me.

    Rohit : Are the demons telling the truth about Jesus?.

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    Rahim : I think that the demons believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

    But you had told that God is the Father & we are his children. If Jesus

    is also Gods son then he should be our elder brother and he cannot be

    God. It could also mean there is one most High God and other smaller

    Gods isnt

    Roshan : You are right partially but let me tell you that Jesus is indeed

    divine and we are human. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. Since

    he became man and underwent all the pains, trials that we go through it

    is right to tall him elder brother. The Bible says that there is only one

    God but he is triune namely Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

    Preeti : Why is the man telling Jesus not torment him?

    Rohit : I think the demons are afraid of Jesus

    Roshan : It is ironic that the demons which are tormenting the man are

    requesting Jesus not to torment. The demons are posing as if the man is

    talking. That is why Jesus asks, What is your name?

    Pooja : The man answered My name is Legion; for we are many.

    What is Legion?

    Rohit : I have read that Legion is the word used for a Roman armytroop having upto 6000 soldiers.

    Roshan : The demons beg earnestly that Jesus would not send them out

    of the country, in the parallel account of this incident in Lukes Gospel

    it says that they begged him that he would not send them to abyss

    Pooja : What is abyss?.

    Preeti : I think abyss means Hell.

    Roshan : Absolutely. Bible says that Hell is a place that God has

    created for the punishment of Demons. Just like we have prisons for the

    criminals in this world, God has designed Hell for the Devil and the

    demons with him. But the saddest part is man can also go to Hell.

    Rahim : How does a man go to Hell?

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    Roshan : Let me tell you a Biblical Truth. The Bible says that all men

    aresinners and are therefore separated from God. Because of the sinful

    nature in man we are with the devil and are therefore destined for Hell

    since birth but the good news is Jesus, the Messiah has provided a way

    of escape from Hell. He did this by offering himself as a sacrifice on the

    cross for our sins.

    Rohit : But the escape from Hell is not automatic. We need to repent of

    all our sins, ask him to forgive us and transform our lives.

    Preeti : What you say is difficult to for me to agree

    Roshan : Let us continue discussing the passage

    Rohit : Jesus agrees to the request of the demons. But nobody could

    have seen the movement of the demons from the man to the pigs isnt it?

    Rahim : Yes, the effects are there for all to see. But legally no one can

    prove that Jesus was responsible for the destruction of demons.

    Preeti : The number of pigs is about 2000, if we assume one person is

    responsible for herding 100 pigs then there should have been 20 persons

    who were taking care of the pigs. It appears these people didnt doanything to prevent the pigs from drowning into the sea.

    Rohit : The demons would have caused the pigs to move violently.

    Remember when these demons where in the man he was uncontrollable.

    If you do a simple math then 3 demons should have entered each pig.

    Man is able to live albeit miserably with 6000 demons inside while pigs

    are not able to live with only 3 demons.

    Roshan : What are the changes you can immediately see in the demon

    possessed man?

    Rahim : He was mad earlier, now he is of sound mind. He was naked

    now he is clothed. He was crying out aloud and hurting himself now he

    is calm. The changes are dramatic

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    Preeti : The news of the change in the man must have spread like wild

    fire. If there were newspapers or TV in those days then there would

    have been a good coverage for this incident. People who heard of the

    news must have come to witness a miracle. I thought they must have

    been happy to see the maniac tamed and in his right mind but they are

    afraid. I dont know why?

    Rohit : They must have sensed that something mysterious has

    happened. It was a big financial loss for those who were doing the

    business of rearing pigs. They would have probably felt that if Jesus is

    there with them for some more time they would have to face more loss.

    His presence was like a bad omen for them.

    Pooja : Jesus should have driven the demons into the abyss instead of

    into the pigs. Then the loss could have been averted. What happened tothe demons after the pigs died?

    Roshan : I do not know why Jesus did what he did. But I have heard

    someone tell me that the owners of the pigs must have been Jews. As

    per Jewish law pigs were unclean animals & they were not supposed to

    rear pigs. Hence Jesus allowed the pigs to be destroyed. But I do not

    know how far this is true. As far as the next question is concerned I

    think the demons would have roamed that area looking for somebody to

    possess.

    Preeti : In India even today many people particularly in tribal villages

    are killed on the suspicion that he or she is a witch. These people take

    law into their own hands.

    Rahim : Yes. Nowadays many business men & politicians are

    approaching those who practice witchcraft and black magic to settle

    scores with their rivals.

    Roshan : The Bible clearly forbids practicing of witch craft, black magic& other occult practices. Though those who approach them seem to be

    gaining in the short term the evil spirits will soon be back to haunt

    them.

    Pooja : Do you think there is Demon Possession today?

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    Roshan : Yes definitely. Maybe the type of possession that the maniac

    had was extreme and quite rare. Most of us may not be Demon

    Possessed but the probability of being oppressed by Demons is quite

    high. We need to avoid extremes, as far as our views on Demons are

    concerned. I have read a quote by C.S Lewis in this matter

    Rohit : The quote is There are two equal and opposite errors into

    which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their

    existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy

    interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors,

    and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight

    Roshan : Demons are like virus. You dont keep looking around for

    viruses to avoid. You just maintain a healthy life style then the immune

    system in your body will take care of it. If you are infected you just goto a doctor who prescribes a suitable antibiotic for healing. Reading the

    Bible & praying to God are the healthy life styles for a good spiritual

    life.

    Rohit : I cant understand why Jesus who agreed to the request of the

    demons & the request of the people of the country did not agree to the

    request of the man who was freed from the Legion of demons

    Roshan : Jesus gave him a better assignment. It would be moreeffective if he told what happened to him to those who knew his former

    way of life. The man obeyed Jesus and did what was expected of him.

    His obedience was an expression of gratefulness for the love &

    compassion that Jesus showed on him. If Jesus visited the region again

    there would have been many people to welcome him as a result of what

    the man did there. Tell me what have you learnt from this passage?

    Rohit : I dont need to be afraid of Jesus. Even a single person is

    valuable to Jesus. He went across the sea to another country for the

    sake of helping one person. I commit myself to obey Jesus. I know thatJesus has given me authority over the demons and I am excited about it.

    Roshan : We should rejoice that our names are written in heaven rather

    the fact we have authority over demons. We should not be hasty in

    helping those who are oppressed my demons. The ministry of

    deliverance should be done with much prayer and as a team. First of all

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    we need to learn more about spiritual discernment from those who are

    already experienced.

    Pooja : Though I am not fully convinced about the existence of demons,

    I appreciate the fact that love was the motive for the healing of the mad

    man. I think we should not be so money minded; we should be ready to

    lose some money for a good cause.

    Rahim : I think we should not be like the workers herding the pigs. We

    should be responsible & put full effort in whatever we do. We are quick

    to blame others when something goes wrong instead of looking inside

    ourselves.

    Preeti : I learnt a lot about demons. I think giving hope to a hopeless

    man and help to a helpless man is the greatest service we can do.

    Roshan : We all want to be independent. But more than that we need to

    be set free from Demonic oppressions, addictions etc. You can trust

    Jesus to set you free.

    Rahim : When I think of our country, we seem to have a Legion of

    problems. Many times the leaders of our country have no clue about

    tackling the problems facing our nation.

    Roshan : We need to pray for our nation. May He give wisdom to our

    leaders. May God rise up many people without the love of money as

    leaders of our nation. May there be more leaders in our country with a

    heart of compassion for the needy & suffering. May God deliver India

    from the Legion of problems that we are facing today. May I request

    Rohit to pray for all of us.

    Rohit :

    Loving Heavenly Father, I pray that you would set us free from

    everything that enslaves us and from all oppression of the Devil. InJesus Name I pray. Amen

    Roshan : May all of us experience Gods love reaching out to free us.

    Bye to all. See you soon.