And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains…When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him…the unclean spirits went out.[1]
This man is broken hearted, lonely (living in the tombs), and probably insane. He possesses supernatural power (even chains can’t hold him) and the people in the area are frightened of him and want nothing to do with him. In our day and age, he would be locked up in a mental hospital with a life time sentence, addicted to anti-depressants, and visited by no one.
He has only one hope—Jesus. He runs to Jesus and falls before him. He prostrates himself before Jesus and worships.
Don’t miss the point of our passage. Don’t gloss over the essence of why Mark included this in his gospel. This man worships at the feet of Jesus and something happens. When he does so, the demons lose their grip over his mind and heart.
Worship loosens the grip of demons.
In an Old Testament story, Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon, experiences the power of demons in his life. He looks out over his kingdom and is filled with pride (the root of all evil), and he is filled with the self-glory,
The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! [2]
He then goes insane. For the next seven years, because of pride in his heart, Nebuchadnezzar loses his mind, eats grass like a cow, his hair grows out like a bird, and his fingernails become like claws. But I want you to watch what happens when he comes to his senses. Don’t miss this.
And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,[3]
Nebuchadnezzar lifts his eyes to heaven and starts worshipping God. When he begins to praise and worship the Lord, his sanity returns, his mind is restored. Demons lose their grip on Nebuchadnezzar’s mind when he humbles himself and starts worshipping God.
Whatever you’re going through, whatever darkness you are walking in, lift your eyes to heaven and worship Jesus. Focus on Jesus. Run to Jesus. Our worship releases power in the fourth dimension that controls the three-dimensional world. From a poor man living in the tombs to a king living in a palace, God will release his power if we will come and worship him.
On the Road,
Steve
[1] The New King James Version. 1982 (Mk 5:1–13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[2] The New King James Version. 1982 (Da 4:30–31). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[3] The New King James Version. 1982 (Da 4:34). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
