Mark 5:7, commentary and pictures

When Jesus was met at the tombs by the possessed men, the outcry was uttered not by the men themselves but by evil spirits speaking through them as their mediums. In it they recognized Him as the Son of the Most High God, confessed His authority over them, and in fear that He had come to punish them begged Him not to torment them. Even as the demons seized their speech to resist Him, the men themselves dimly perceived One who could save them from torment, and fell at His feet to worship and entreat mercy. By His word He compelled the spirits to release their captives, making visible His supremacy over Satan and restoring the sufferers from madness and self-destruction to calmness and health. The cry thus exposes evil spirits as real, intelligent agents of great malignity whose power no human strength can overcome, yet whose working is overruled for good under the Saviour's control.

Encounter at the Tombs

In the early morning after the tempest, as Jesus landed on the shore, two demon-possessed men rushed out to meet Him from among the caves and tombs where they lived. They came with broken chains, bleeding flesh, and beast-like appearance, so fierce that they made the road nearly impassable. They shrieked to resist Him as He approached, fearing His interference with them.

Jesus did not flee but stood calmly before them. He stopped them with His raised hand so they could come no nearer, and with authority commanded the unclean spirits to come out. His words penetrated their darkened minds, so that the men dimly realized One was near who could save them from the tormenting demons. They fell at His feet to worship Him and beg for mercy.

The cry, What have I to do with Thee and torment me not, was spoken not by the men themselves but by the demons speaking through them, using the men as mediums of communication. When the men opened their mouths to entreat mercy, the demons took their speech and cried out in resistance. The men were left raging but helpless before Him. In that cry the demons recognized Jesus as the Son of the Most High God, the Son of God, acknowledged His authority over them, and feared He had come to torment them. They pleaded with Him not to torment them, while the man himself needed deliverance from their tormenting power. The healing of the demoniacs at Gadara happened just before Jesus returned and met Jairus whose daughter lay at the point of death.

Victory and Witness

At the word of command the demons were compelled to release their captives and come out of their victims, and the madness with its tearing and cutting of self came to an end. The men were restored to calmness and soundness and health, seated and clothed in their right mind. In that restored condition they could listen to Jesus, praise God, and fall at His feet to worship Him.

What took place there made visible supremacy over Satan and over the prince of darkness, with power and mercy triumphing in the deliverance of the tormented. Even the power of demons is under the Saviour's control, and the working of evil is overruled for good. The demons when expelled were permitted to enter the herd of swine, which rushed headlong to destruction in the sea. Satan designed that destruction to turn the people away from the Saviour and to prevent the preaching of the gospel in that place, but the event instead roused the whole country, drew attention to Christ, and opened a door to the gospel throughout that region.

Though they witnessed this display of authority, the people of Gergesa and Gadara rejected Jesus and entreated Him to depart, because they feared financial loss and further loss of property. He did not abandon them to the darkness they chose in their ignorance, but left light among them through those to whom they would listen. The healed men were changed from channels of darkness into channels of light and messengers of the Son of God, left as living witnesses to His power. Restored and able to testify from personal experience what the Saviour's power had done, they obediently carried the good news of His power to save to their households and neighbors and throughout Decapolis. When He returned to Decapolis, thousands from all the surrounding region flocked to Him and for three days heard the message of salvation.

The account shows evil spirits to be real, intelligent agents of great number and malignity, able to inflict severe suffering, with Satan commanding many active evil angels. Their number and power cannot be overcome by human wisdom or strength alone, yet their activity gives no cause for hopelessness or discouragement because Christ commands them. The same complete possession that tore and cut the man at the tombs can take hold of one who gives soul, body, and spirit to Satan in order to rule another in mind and body and to make life a reign of terror.