And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
When Jesus asked the afflicted man his name, the evil spirits answered through him that his name was Legion. The name means that many devils had entered him, and as a Roman legion numbered from three to five thousand, it reveals the great number and power behind his tormenting bondage. By His authority Jesus forced the spirits to release their victim and leave, freeing him from torment and restoring him to calmness, intelligence, and gentleness. The encounter was a visible meeting of the Prince of Light with the Prince of Darkness, proving divine power supreme and demonic power under the Saviour's control. The healed man became a messenger to his household and throughout Decapolis of Christ's power to save from Satan's bondage, yet the people, seeing only their loss of property, begged Jesus to depart, and He left where He was unwelcome.
Legion's Meaning and Context
When Jesus asked the afflicted man his name, the evil spirits answered through him that his name was Legion. The reply came not from the man himself but from the demons speaking through him and using him as their means of communication with Jesus. Legion was the name by which the indwelling presence identified itself.
The name Legion meant that many demons, many evil spirits or devils, had entered into him. It revealed the great number behind his condition and the extent of the tormenting enslavement and bondage from which he needed deliverance. As a Roman legion numbered from three to five thousand, the name shows the demons belonged to a company numbering at least a legion, indicating their great number and power.
In speaking through the men the demons pleaded not to be sent away and not to be sent out of the country. They asked instead to be allowed to enter a nearby herd of swine, and Jesus allowed it. By His authority He then forced the spirits to release their victims and leave, freeing the men from torment and from the devastating effects of possession. Those delivered were restored to calmness, intelligence and gentleness, and left secure in His presence.
Victory Witness and Rejection
The meeting at the tombs was a visible meeting of the Prince of Light with the Prince of Darkness, giving open evidence of Satan's power among the people and of Christ's work against satanic agencies. In that conflict the supremacy of divine power was shown, with demonic power placed under the Saviour's control when He cast out the demons and healed the men. The deliverance by a word or the touch of His hand proved that One was among them who could control the very elements, cast out demons, and heal the diseased and helpless.
Those freed from demons had been instruments of darkness under the power of darkness, but restored they became messengers and witnesses to Christ's saving power. They carried to their households and neighbors and to people throughout Decapolis and the region the good news of His power to save from Satan's bondage. Their healing helped convince the people that He was the Son of God. The destruction of the swine had been intended by Satan to turn people away from Jesus and stop the gospel being preached there, yet instead it drew attention to Christ and helped bring the message of salvation to the region.
Those who had crossed the lake told the people of the peril of the previous night and the miracle of stilling the tempest, but with eyes blinded by worldliness they saw only the magnitude of their loss of property and feared additional loss. They refused to consider the advantage of His presence and begged the Son of God to depart from their coast. He gratified their wish and left, for He never urges His presence where He is unwelcome. The sense of Legion as many devils entered into one man applies likewise to describing the many varieties of scrofula as legion.
When Jesus asked the afflicted man his name, the evil spirits answered through him that his name was Legion. The name means that many devils had entered him, and as a Roman legion numbered from three to five thousand, it reveals the great number and power behind his tormenting bondage. By His authority Jesus forced the spirits to release their victim and leave, freeing him from torment and restoring him to calmness, intelligence, and gentleness. The encounter was a visible meeting of the Prince of Light with the Prince of Darkness, proving divine power supreme and demonic power under the Saviour's control. The healed man became a messenger to his household and throughout Decapolis of Christ's power to save from Satan's bondage, yet the people, seeing only their loss of property, begged Jesus to depart, and He left where He was unwelcome.
Legion's Meaning and Context
When Jesus asked the afflicted man his name, the evil spirits answered through him that his name was Legion. The reply came not from the man himself but from the demons speaking through him and using him as their means of communication with Jesus. Legion was the name by which the indwelling presence identified itself.
The name Legion meant that many demons, many evil spirits or devils, had entered into him. It revealed the great number behind his condition and the extent of the tormenting enslavement and bondage from which he needed deliverance. As a Roman legion numbered from three to five thousand, the name shows the demons belonged to a company numbering at least a legion, indicating their great number and power.
In speaking through the men the demons pleaded not to be sent away and not to be sent out of the country. They asked instead to be allowed to enter a nearby herd of swine, and Jesus allowed it. By His authority He then forced the spirits to release their victims and leave, freeing the men from torment and from the devastating effects of possession. Those delivered were restored to calmness, intelligence and gentleness, and left secure in His presence.
Victory Witness and Rejection
The meeting at the tombs was a visible meeting of the Prince of Light with the Prince of Darkness, giving open evidence of Satan's power among the people and of Christ's work against satanic agencies. In that conflict the supremacy of divine power was shown, with demonic power placed under the Saviour's control when He cast out the demons and healed the men. The deliverance by a word or the touch of His hand proved that One was among them who could control the very elements, cast out demons, and heal the diseased and helpless.
Those freed from demons had been instruments of darkness under the power of darkness, but restored they became messengers and witnesses to Christ's saving power. They carried to their households and neighbors and to people throughout Decapolis and the region the good news of His power to save from Satan's bondage. Their healing helped convince the people that He was the Son of God. The destruction of the swine had been intended by Satan to turn people away from Jesus and stop the gospel being preached there, yet instead it drew attention to Christ and helped bring the message of salvation to the region.
Those who had crossed the lake told the people of the peril of the previous night and the miracle of stilling the tempest, but with eyes blinded by worldliness they saw only the magnitude of their loss of property and feared additional loss. They refused to consider the advantage of His presence and begged the Son of God to depart from their coast. He gratified their wish and left, for He never urges His presence where He is unwelcome. The sense of Legion as many devils entered into one man applies likewise to describing the many varieties of scrofula as legion.