Sermon: Chainbreaker

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"  And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, "Send us to the pigs; let us enter them." So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."  And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. - Mark 5:1‭-‬20 ESV

Pastor Craig Garriott

The parable of the sower starts with a reference to birds that eat the seeds. These seeds are the WORD of God. The birds are Satan and demonic forces. They are an active opposing force.

Reality of evil spirits

Jesus was tempted in the desert by Satan. Jesus healed the demon possessed. Wherever Jesus went, it was like he brought demons came out of the woodwork.

The demon possessed man was naked. He rushed Jesus as he stepped out of the boat. He was likely scarred from self cutting and alienated from everyone around him. He could not be bound and was likely dragging chains.

Reign of Christ over evil spirits

"when he saw Jesus from afar, he (the demon possessed man) ran and fell before him."

Jesus is Lord. The demons don't run and hide. The demons plead that Jesus not torture them. They ask for permission to possess this herd of pigs. Jesus is the son of God. The demons recognize Jesus exactly as who He is. They also know that He holds authority over them.

Responses to Christ's authority over evil spirits

After the demons are driven out of this man, there are two pleading responses.

The people of that town ask Jesus to leave. They are concerned about the loss of the pigs; the disruption of their lives. They value the pigs or their worldly comfort over Jesus.

The demon possessed man begs to go with Jesus. He wants to follow the one who cured and saved him. But Jesus has a different plan. Jesus leaves him there to testify to the power of God in Jesus.

There are schemes to destroy lives. People in positions of power who desire the status quo. They don't want lives changed and people saved. They are real, but Jesus holds final authority over them as well.