From Chains to Freedom: The Epic Transformation – Mark 5 v 1-20

Verse 1-5: “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 any more, 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.”

Jesus and the disciples land on the other side of the sea, and out comes this dude, living in the tombs, possessed by an unclean spirit. He is a wild, untamed force—breaking chains, impossible to control, and stuck in a cycle of pain and despair.

Verse 6-8: “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!'”

As soon as the possessed man sees Jesus, he runs to Him and falls down. The unclean spirit inside him recognises Jesus. The spirit begs Jesus not to torment him, and Jesus commands the unclean spirit to leave the man.

Verse 9-13: “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.”

Jesus asks the unclean spirit for its name, and it replies, “Legion,” because there are many spirits inside this guy. They beg not to be sent out of the country, so Jesus allows them to enter a herd of pigs. The pigs go wild, rush into the sea, and end up taking an unexpected swim.

Verse 14-15: “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.”

The herdsmen run to town, spreading the news. People rush to see what’s going on, and there he is—the guy who used to be a living nightmare, now sitting, clothed, and in his right mind. But instead of cheering, the people are freaked out.

Verse 16-17: “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.”

Instead of throwing a party, the people—maybe because they’re scared of this kind of power—beg Jesus to leave. It’s like they’re more comfortable with the familiar chaos than the unpredictable transformation in their midst.

Verse 18-20: “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 marvelled.”

The guy who went from chains to freedom wants to walk with Jesus. But Jesus has a different plan. He tells him to go home and share the incredible story of what the Lord has done for him. And guess what? This transformed man spreads the news far and wide.

This is a radical transformation. From breaking chains to sitting in his right mind. Jesus reminds us that he is more powerful than the forces of darkness. But notice the people are scared, not ready for this kind of power. And the transformed guy, Jesus has a mission for him!