Mar 8, 2026
Preacher: Greg Thompson
Mark 5:1-20
1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2
When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came
from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no
one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had
often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and
broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue
him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry
out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees
in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you
want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t
torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man,
you impure spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he
begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The
demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into
them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out
and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number,
rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and
countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15
When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by
the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind;
and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what
had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as
well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their
region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been
demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him,
but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the
Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the
man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had
done for him. And all the people were amazed.