Mark 5:1-20  Having crossed the sea,   Jesus and His disciples came to Gerasenes.  "Immediately".. Mark takes us right to the action.. "a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him..."   Mark takes a little time to help us see the whole picture;

The man lives among the tombs.. had a legion of demons in him.. was so strong that he broke shackles and chains to pieces.. and was in such anguish that he cried out and cut himself with stones..  This is a picture of someone who was frightening.. a man with no hope.. an outcast.. violent and desperate.. until Jesus came.. 

"And seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him;"  He ran to Jesus.. even as the demons inside him screamed.. "What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" 

Jesus spoke first to the demons.. telling them to come out of the man. He asked "What is your name?" and it was the demons that answered.. "My name is Legion; for we are many."   This "Legion" pleaded for Jesus to send them into the swine.  They "entreated" Jesus.. they earnestly sought for mercy from the One they knew was God's Son.  Jesus granted their request and they rushed into the swine.. and the swine rushed into the sea. 

The man.. set free.. was given clothes.. and now was "in his right mind." Meanwhile, the herdsmen ran to the city.. the city people came to see things for themselves.. and they all became "frightened".  Seems they were more frightened of Jesus than they had been of the Legion of demons that He had just sent away. They pleaded for Jesus to leave.. even while the healed man pleaded to go with Him!  

Jesus answered the plea of those who sent Him away.. but gave a different answer to the one who would have followed Him.. "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He had mercy on you."  This  formerly demonized, destructive, and hopeless man became an evangelist who proclaimed "in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him and everyone marveled." 

We come to these scriptures with a desire to know Jesus more and more.. and this passage reveals so much about Him.. Jesus crossed the sea in a severe storm..calmed the wind and sea... and then stayed only long enough  to help one desperate, violent, demon-possessed man in a cemetery.  What love and kindness!  What power and authority!  Jesus caused the demons to flee.. and brought the man back to sanity and peace.. He restored his soul and gave him a purpose and mission.  Oh what grace our Savior pours out on those who will come to Him.   We see the power of Christ.. over the "legion".. but we see also His love for one man in great need.  We also see that Jesus left those who refused Him.  He will not force us to believe.. but He will bless us so much when we do! 

Father in heaven, we are so thankful for such a Savior as this! You see us in our greatest need, in our most desperate situations.. and You deliver us from the evil one.  We exalt Your Name!  Praise be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!  Amen!