They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Question 1
Do you think there are some people who God cannot save?
Question 2
Why do you think the people want Jesus to go away at the end of the story?
Try to imagine for a minute that you live during the first century in a small village in the Middle East. One day you raise your eyes into the distance and see a man walking towards you. Your heart starts beating faster and you start to worry because you know this person – he’s famous, and not for good reasons. This is the wild man who calls himself ‘Legion’ because he is under the control of so many spirits. He is completely disruptive, he lives in a cemetery, he is so strong that he can tear chains, he runs around without wearing any clothes and he often hurts himself. But, as it gets closer, you realise something is different about it. He isn’t acting like he used to. He doesn’t run around shouting. He even wears clothes! He looks, well, normal!
As he reaches you the man greets you politely and begins to explain with a huge smile that something amazing has happened to him. The other day he met a man named Jesus of Nazareth. Although no one before had managed to control or help him, a word from Jesus was enough to make all the spirits that had agitated him so long leave him.
Now imagine how you would react to that man’s story. Considering the extraordinary change that took place in his life, would you be happy or sad for him?
Question 3
When you think about the authority of Jesus Christ and all he did for this man, do you think he can help you?
Question 4
Jesus wanted the man to tell the story to his own people. What does this mean for us?
Pray
that God’s work in your life will be as impressive as it was in the life of Legion
