The Guy in the Graveyard

Urban Legends

The word is out. Don’t go anywhere near the graveyard. As if the cemetery isn’t spooky enough, local lore says that’s where It lives.

We know all about urban legends. Those horror stories you hear at sleepovers and campouts. The killer with the hook hand. Bloody Mary. The Boogie Man. (I’m not sure why I brought this up. Looks like I’m sleeping with the light on tonight.)

It Lives in the Graveyard

But there’s a huge difference between those tales of terror and the story Mark tells in his biography of Jesus (Mk 5:1-20). You see, this one is true. This one is real. Very real. And that makes it even more horrifying.

It goes a little something like this. There’s something dangerous in graveyard. It’s only vaguely human. More It than man. It’s naked, bleeding, and fiercely powerful.

How powerful? Witnesses describe the beast wearing broken shackles and chains from futile attempts to tie it up. Even when you don’t see it, you can hear the creature’s bloodcurdling howls.

A Scary Storm Story

That all changes when a radical Rabbi/Carpenter and His crew from the far side of the Sea of Galilee land on the shore near the cemetery. They’ve got their own scary story of surviving a nasty nighttime storm on their trip across the big lake (Mk 4:35-41).

Jesus may have just calmed a squall on the water. Now He’ll have to quiet the spiritual tornado swirling inside the monster living among the tombs.

Christ’s Encounter in the Boneyard

The story of Christ’s encounter in the boneyard is so famous that you’ll find it in not one, but three of His biographies we call the Gospels. Matthew (Mt 8:28-9:1) and Luke (Lk 8:26-40) also include their own versions of it.

Nothing agains Matt and the Good Doctor, but I’m partial to what Mark has to say. Why? The early followers of Jesus believed John Mark’s Gospel is actually Peter’s eyewitness account of all that went down in his three years with Christ.

Gerasenes, Gergesenes, or Gadarenes?

The story begins with our Savior and His personal posse dragging their boat onto the beach “at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes” (v1). They had set sail at sunset from from their home region of Galilee (Mk 4:35-36). As they’ll soon find out, they’re clearly not in Kansas anymore.

Your Bible lets you know there’s some debate about exactly where they’ve landed. Was it the Gerasenes, Gergesenes, or Gadarenes? Matthew says it’s the Gadarenes. Different ancient manuscripts say different things. What’s the dealio?

Bible Inconsistencies?

Is this an example of the inconsistencies and errors that critics of the Bible are always talking about? If that’s you and this is the moment you’ve been waiting for, you might want to slow your roll.

Believe it or not, they might ALL be right. The easiest way to understand this is that those are all locations on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It just depends on which maps you’re reading or who you’re talking to. Let’s chat.

A Lesson in Local Geography

Jesus and His disciples land not far from the lakeside village of Gergesa. Today it’s known as Kursi which sits on the water at the foot of the Golan Heights. That’s where we get the description of Gergasenes.

Gadarenes comes from the name of the next larger town of Gadara, about 35 miles to the south. But the largest and most famous city in that part of the world at the time was Gerasa. Hence the Gerasenes. We know it today as Jerash in the nation of Jordan.

Welcome to G-Vegas

There’s a another G we need to be aware of. This is also a mostly Gentile area. There are a few Jewish people living there, but they are in the minority.

Call it any one of the four Gs and you’re good to go. I prefer G-Vegas. And if you can’t sort them out, don’t sweat it. I’m pretty sure it’s NOT going to be on the final.

A Filthy Spirit

Things escalate quickly as the boys arrive on the beach. “When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet Him” (v2).

It’s interesting that the original Greek language actually calls this an “unclean (Gr. ακαθαρτος/akathartos)” spiritual entity. This being doesn’t just need a shower. Mark wants us to know whatever’s inside this guy is filthy, vile, and disgusting.

A Spiritual War

We need to remember there’s a war in the spiritual realm we can’t see. It makes World War II look like a water balloon fight. Satan and his unholy horde are using every weapon in their demonic arsenal to corrupt our relationship with God.

That’s why we must put on the spiritual armor Jesus has issued to each one of His followers (Eph 6:11-17). He’s given us a truth belt, righteous body armor, Gospel boots, faith shield, salvation helmet, and Spirit sword. Don’t forget to put on your gear every single day.

We need His supernatural protection. Why? The very moment we place our trust in the Lord, we become a target for the enemy. Forget the American Express card. When it comes to the armor of God. Don’t leave home without it.

Cracking the Door for the Demonic

This disgusting demon has corrupted this man whom God created in His own image. We have no idea what he did to open himself up to satanic attack. Just know that it CAN and DOES happen.

We don’t just crack the door for the devil with seances, tarot cards, and Ouija boards. My pastor Mike Lee warns that we invite the enemy inside with anger, pride, greed, and lust. And once he gains entry, he does serious damage.

Easy Targets

Mark tells us the level of destruction the devil can do in someone. “This man lived in the burial caves” (v3). Whether it was by his own choice or because the people of the town have kicked him to the curb, he’s alone.

God says loneliness is NEVER a good thing (Gen 2:18). He created us for community. We need each other. Our enemy loves it when we’re all alone. Solo targets are easy targets.

Breaking Chains and Smashing Shackles

Long before Stan Lee cooked up the Incredible Hulk, the demons torturing this man gave him strength that was out of control. While this man may not be green, he “could no longer be restrained, even with a chain” (v3).

Folks have tried to tie him up several times in the past. Yeah, that didn’t work. “Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles” (v4).

Stepping into the Octagon

I’m telling you, this is a bad man. A very bad man. Think Drago, Andre the Giant, and Brock Lesnar all rolled into one. Mark says this monster is undefeated. “No one was strong enough to subdue him” (v4).

Stepping inside the octagon with the beast is a very bad idea. Well, except for one Man. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Howling and Self-Harm

Just because restraints can’t hold him doesn’t mean he’s not in bondage! Don’t believe me? Listen for yourself just how miserable he is. “Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones” (v5).

Can’t you just hear his horrible screams? Imagine the agony and torture. It’s so bad he resorts to self-harm. Mark uses a Greek verb we translate as “cutting (Gr. κατακοπτω/katakopto),” which means to gash, slice, hack, or slash into pieces with a sharp object.

Something Less than Human?

He’s a disgusting sight. Covered in fresh blood, open wounds, and ugly scars. Dr. Luke adds how the man “had been homeless and naked” (Lk 8:27). You can easily understand why locals see him as something less than human.

Too many times, we do the same thing. Admit it. You know it’s true. You pass a homeless woman on the sidewalk mumbling to herself. The panhandler at the bottom of the exit ramp. The vet in the wheelchair with PTSD. The Alzheimer’s patient at the nursing home.

They make you uncomfortable. They’re broken. They’re messy. They’re needy. But guess what? So are you and I. Despite it all, we’re each masterpieces in the eye of our Maker (Eph 2:10). And we all desperately need Jesus. It’s just a little more obvious for others than it is for some.

A Cry for Help?

Meanwhile back on the beach, Mark tells that the demon-possessed dude made a mad dash for Jesus. He sees Christ from a distance and then “ran to meet Him, and bowed low before Him” (v6).

No, he didn’t try to intimidate or threaten Jesus. Could there be a sliver of something human still in him who desperately knows he needs God’s help. What a great reminder that nobody is too far gone even when they may look and act like a lost cause.

The Demon Speaks

But what appears to be a cry for help suddenly goes south. “With a shriek, he screamed, ‘Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?’” (v7). Suddenly the evil spirit is back in in control and appears speaks for itself.

The demons know EXACTLY who Jesus is. John MacArthur points out “the Most High God” is the title used by all people of the Greco-Roman world to identify the one, true, and living God of Israel from all the other false and minor league deities of the day (Gen 14:18-20; Num 24:16; Dt 32:8; Ps 18:13; 21:7; Is 14:14; Dan 3:26; Lk 1:32; Heb 7:1).

The Poll Position

The filthy spirit answers the question the Dirty Dozen just asked after Christ calmed the storm on the lake the night before. “Who is this man?” (Mk 4:31). That’s the big idea of the Book of Mark…who is Jesus?

SPOILER ALERT! Jesus is the Son of the Most High God!! He holds the top spot. He’s in the poll position. There’s no other god above Him in the supernatural pecking order. It’s not even close.

Why Are You Interfering with Me?

Not only do demons know about God and who Jesus is, “they tremble in terror” (James 2:19). That’s exactly why they freak out every time He comes around or His name is mentioned.

The rude spirit in the nude dude wants to know, “Why are You interfering with me? (v7)” You might remember the evil spirt tormenting the man at the synagogue asks Christ the exact same question (Mk 1:24).

Have you noticed the culture is doing the very same thing? I’m sure you’ve know what I’m talking about. Unbelievers blow a gasket when confronted with Jesus and His Gospel. They can’t believe God would have the unmitigated gall to tell them how to live their lives.

On the Same Side as Satan

The folks at the Life Application Bible drive home a very powerful point. When we reject Jesus and His loving leadership, we put ourselves on the same side as Satan and are headed in the opposite direction from God. Let THAT sink in!

We all need to ask whether we’ll choose what we want that leads to destruction, or if we’ll choose the Lord’s guidance over my life? If so, He gives me an overflowing life (Jn 10:10) of forgiveness, healing from sin, cleansing, and true freedom. My answer has eternal implications.

A Holy Eviction Notice

One reason the disgusting spirit gets its demonic undies in a bundle is that Jesus has given it a holy eviction notice. “For Jesus had already said to the spirit, ‘Come out f the man, you evil spirit’” (v8).

At this point, the Lord asks for spiritual ID (v9). Just so we’re clear. Jesus already knew exactly what was inside the man. He wants everybody with a front row seat to know the complexity of the evil controlling the man.

Thousands of Demons!

The demonic response had to shock everybody there except Jesus and naked guy living in the graveyard. “My name is Legion” (v9). This is a common Latin term that defines a Roman military unit of 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers.

There are apparently THOUSANDS of demons attacking the man from the inside! Just in case we’re not paying attention, the spirits spell it out for those of us with a public school education. “Because there are many of us inside this man” (v9).

Outnumbered

I imagine it’s much like the movie “Split,” where the main bad guy had multiple personalities fighting for control over him. In this case, it’s not a couple of dozen. They number in the thousands. As the Message puts it, “Mob, I’m a rioting mob” (v9 The Message).

Despite this demonic horde totaling in thousands, they are still outnumbered. One Jesus wins every time…and it’s not even close. Best of all, they know the jig is up.

Frantic Negotiations

The Legion knows full well they can’t tell the Lord what to do. So they begin frantically negotiating with the King of Kings. “Then the evil spirits begged Him again and again not to send them to some distant place” (v10).

It’s at this point that some unsuspecting livestock become part of the story. “There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. ‘Send us into those pigs,’ the spirits begged. ‘Let us enter them’” (v11-12).

Inviting Non-Jews to the Party

Mark’s reminding us Jesus and the Dirty Dozen are on foreign turf. Jews wouldn’t have anything to do with the other white meat. Pigs aren’t kosher. There’s no bacon on the menu anywhere in Israel.

This is Gentile territory. For the first time in the second Gospel, the Jewish Messiah makes a point of traveling to non-Jewish people. Remember, heading across the lake was His idea in the first place (Mk 4:35).

I don’t know about you, but as a Gentile follower of Jesus, I’m VERY glad He came not just for the Hebrew people. He came to invite every people group on the planet to God’s party!

Getting God’s Permission

The demons plead with the Son of God to let them head for the pigs. That’s because Satan and his toadies have no authority to do anything on their own. They must get God to sign off on what they do. Chapter one of Job is a classic example.

When Pigs Fly…or Not!

Just when Jesus gives them okay (v13), things get even crazier. “The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water” (v13).

A couple of thousand suicidal swine take a flying leap off a cliff into the Sea of Galilee. I wonder if this is where we get the slogan “when pigs fly?” In case you didn’t already know, they can’t.

Now I’m no math major but 2,000 dead hogs probably means there were a minimum of 2,000 demons in the dude. That number just reinforces the massive amount of evil controlling and torturing this man.

Breaking News

It wasn’t long before the pig farmers hightailed into town. Mark says they’re “spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened” (v14). Breaking news! Push alerts about the crazy events in the graveyard of G-Vegas, thousands of demons, a mass swine suicide, and Rabbi from Galilee.

When the crowd arrives, they can’t believe their eyes! “They saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid” (v15).

Jesus Makes All the Difference

What a difference Jesus makes!! One moment he’s a naked, bleeding, howling madman terrorizing anyone who dares enter the cemetery. The next moment he’s sane, sitting quietly, and dressed to the nines. Talk about doing a double take!

Eyewitnesses try to put into words what just happened to those who’ve just arrived (v16). He what? How many demons? Into the pigs? Are you SURE that’s the same guy?!?

Cancel the Parade

This is the part of the story where you expect the heartwarming happy ending. Hugs and kisses for the man freed from the demons. Carrying Jesus on their shoulders. Parades and confetti, right?

Wrong. The people suddenly turn on the miracle-working Rabbi. “And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone” (v17).

A Huge Financial Hit

Most Bible experts believe the locals are hot about loss of the hog herd. They’re more upset about the huge financial hit than the fact that this man’s life and sanity have returned after years of spiritual torment.

The people wanted life back the way it was. Bring back the status quo. And what do they do with this former demon-possessed guy? Life was easier when he was the It that lived alone in the cemetery. You’re telling me THAT GUY is moving back to town?

When Things Get Uncomfortable

We do the very same thing. But Jesus has a way of messing up our neat and clean little lives. He loves to shake things up and put us around people who aren’t like us and make us uncomfortable.

Micah Kiel puts it this way. When what we fear most is transformed and dumped in our lap, our natural inclination is fear and ridding ourselves of the change that we cannot explain.

You Can’t Stay Here

As a result, the people tell Christ He doesn’t have to go home but He can’t stay here. He and boys get back in the boat. But somebody wants to join their merry band. “The man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him” (v18).

He’s willing to chuck it all and follow Jesus wherever He goes. But Christ has a better idea. “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been” (v19).

Putting Family First

Notice a couple of important points. First of all, the guy has a FAMILY!! How long has it been since he’s seen them, hugged them, and kissed them?!? Our first ministry is always at home. Nothing at church or work takes priority.

Second, did you catch that Jesus refers to Himself as the Lord? So much for those who say He never admitted to being God.

The First Gentile Missionary

Our Savior wants this man to spread the word to his friends and family. So in Mark’s bio of Jesus, the first non-Jew He saves is a former naked, demon-possessed, bloody lunatic who lived in a graveyard who becomes the first Gentile missionary in history. You can’t make this stuff up!

The guy wastes no time. “So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things that Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them” (v20). The Ten Towns become ground zero for Gentile evangelism.

Your Story Is His Story

The man does what we should do. Tell our story. Tell our friends. Tell our family. The ones who’ve known us the best and longest are more able to see the change God is making in our lives.

I need to remember that it’s ultimately not my story. It’s God’s story that He’s writing in my life. Think about it. The Creator of the universe is still writing the most amazing story anyone will ever hear…and He’s using you and me to do it! What a privilege!!

Feeling Disqualified?

Maybe you think there’s no way Jesus can use you. Your rear-view mirror is full of shame and embarrassment…and it’s mostly self-inflicted. If Christ can transform a naked, bleeding, demon-possessed monster in graveyard of into a missionary, I’m pretty sure you’re not disqualified.

Jesus uses him to begin spreading the Gospel that will eventually change the world. Apparently what happens in G-Vegas does NOT stay in G-Vegas.