What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me ... (v. 28)
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I believe this is the voice of the demons talking through the wild man. The man had lost his mind. He did not have control over himself. The tormented man didn't know who Jesus was when Jesus got out of the boat and came to him.
But the demons knew. They recognized Jesus as the Son of the Most High God. And they didn't want to be tormented. They didn’t want to be ordered to leave the man, so they began begging, realizing Jesus' power over them. When Jesus asked the name of the demon, they answered, "Legion." A legion was 6,000 Roman soldiers.
There had to be a time when this man of the tombs became possessed. We can only guess, but perhaps it involved war, either experiencing the violent deaths of his family or being a soldier himself, killing others. Satanic worship, drugs, alcohol addiction, extreme anger, bitterness, resentment or fear born of great physical and emotional trauma can be openings for demons to enter. Whatever the cause, Jesus came to the man, just as he was, with the cure. He ordered the demons to leave. The result: The man was found in his right mind, free of demonic possession.
So what is the point for all of us? Most likely no one reading this is possessed by demons. But if Jesus could free this violent man, he can free us, just as we are, from whatever addictions, hurt feelings, fears and angers we harbor within our minds, hearts and souls. When Jesus comes to us, we can allow him to free us so that we end up in our right mind.
The restored man wanted to follow Jesus, but Jesus told him, "Return to your home and declare how much God has done for you." So the man did. And so should we. When we come to Jesus and he frees us, heals us, cleanses us, restores us, we should go home and tell everyone just how much Jesus has done for us.
Dear Jesus, I open my mind, heart, and soul to you for cleansing. Remove all thoughts, addictions, influences, attitudes, and emotions that are not truthful, helpful, and full of God’s light and love.
The Rev. Paul Reimers, retired
