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.”
Comment: Discussion of demon possession, because strongly held different opinions can cause heated disagreement. C.S Lewis noted that Satan tries to make people either deny or over-emphasize evil spirits in order to stop people having a true balanced view. As a medical student years ago, I remember that a significant percentage of the mentally disturbed had ‘religious mis-perceptions’ about things. I remember meeting several people who were convinced that they were the Messiah and were being persecuted. We still see people using straight jackets from time to time to control people. I am happy to accept this as a true story of real events.
- There is a demon possessed man.
- He acts in a disruptive, destructive way, living in a cemetery.
- All attempts to control him have failed.
- The man recognizing Jesus for who He is – the Son of the Most High God – comes and falls at Jesus feet, pleading that Jesus doesn’t torment him. I ask does this cry come from the man or the possessing evil spirit(s)?
This episode raises the question ‘Is there is another reality beyond what we can see with our eyes, which runs parallel to our daily experiences? The whole issue of God, Satan, angels, evil spirits underlies this. It suggests that maybe talk about ‘time and eternity’ is based on there being both seen and unseen worlds.
Prayer: Help me not to hide behind presuppositions or half truths. Enlighten me to Your True Truth, please.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this passage. I believe that we live in a world where there are unseen spirits. We cannot see God, nor Jesus, nor His Holy Spirit, but I know that they are real because I believe the Bible tells us the facts which are true. I believe that there are unseen spirits who are evil, and we can see the evil things which some people are capable of doing, and these too are facts which are contained in the Word of God. 1John 4:4 says, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” So we need to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising its shame and is set down at the right Hand of God.” Hebrew 12:2. God bless you.
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