The Healings of Jesus – 2026 – Part 17

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The notes from this Lesson come from the Teach Series entitled, “The Miracles of Jesus” by Pastor Rick Renner.

John 21:25 NKJV And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Jesus’s miracle ministry has never ended!

Hebrews 13:8 NKJV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

What Jesus did, He still does!

(I want to acknowledge the source of most of the material for these lessons is found in: The Miracles of Jesus Christ by Rick Renner. These video lessons can be found on Renner.org and on YouTube. The study guide may be purchased from renner.org.)

Jesus Casts a Legion of Demons Out of a Demoniac

SCRIPTURES

Mark 5:1-20 KJV (1) And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. (2) And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, (3) Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: (4) Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. (5) And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. (6) But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, (7) And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. (8) For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. (9) And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. (10) And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. (11) Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. (12) And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. (13) And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. (14) And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. (15) And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. (16) And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. (17) And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. (18) And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. (19) Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (20) And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

GREEK WORDS

  1. “immediately” — εὐθὺς (euthus): without delay; immediately
  2. “with an unclean spirit” — ἐν πνεύματι ἀκαθάρτῳ (en pneumati akatharto): in the grip of an unclean spirit; in the control of an unclean spirit
  3. “unclean” — ἀκάθαρτος (akathartos): unclean, impure, filthy, lewd, or foul
  4. “dwelling” — κατοίκησις (katoikesis): dwelling; habitation; residence; settled down and at home
  5. “bind” — δέω (deo): to bind, tie up, restrict, imprison, or put in chains
  6. “chains” — ἅλυσις (halusis): chains or handcuffs for the hands or wrists
  7. “fetters” — πέδη (pede): shackles on the feet; foot chains
  8. “plucked asunder” — διασπάω (diaspao): to tear in half; to sever; to tear to pieces
  9. “broken in pieces” — συντρίβω (suntribo): to crush, as in crushing bones or grapes; to smash
  10. “tame” — δαμάζω (damadzo): a word that means to domesticate, to subdue, or to bring under control; used to describe animal trainers who were experts at capturing and domesticating the wildest and most ferocious of beasts, such as lions, tigers, and bears; normally, these animals would maul or kill a person, but these skilled trainers were able to take the wildest animals and domesticate them
  11. “crying” (v. 5), “cried” (v. 7) — κράζω (kradzo): to scream, yell, exclaim, or cry out at the top of one’s voice; to shriek; pictures an urgent shout; a loud outburst of emotion
  12. “cutting” — κατακόπτω (katakopto): to cut downward; to gash down­ward; to mutilate
  13. “ran” — τρέχω (trecho): to run swiftly; to run speedily; to run without distraction
  14. “worshipped” — προσκυνέω (proskuneo): to fall forward to kiss; to fall upon on one’s knees in intimate adoration
  15. “adjure” — ὁρκίζω (horkidzo): to solemnly plead; used in a religious sense to plead to God
  16. “torment” — βασανίζω (basanidzo): to torment or torture; the form used in this verse denotes incessant torment and torture
  17. “said” — ἔλεγεν (elegen): literally, “He [Jesus] kept saying…”
  18. “asked” — ἐπερωτάω (eperotao): to interrogate; the tense depicts an ongoing interrogation
  19. “legion” — λεγειών (legion): a military term that denoted at least 6,000 Roman soldiers
  20. “many” — πολλοί (polloi): vast multitudes
  21. “besought” — παρακαλέω (parakaleo): pictures one who passionately pleads or begs; a word of prayer
  22. “much” — πολλὰ (polla): numerous times; over and over
  23. “ran violently” — ὁρμάω (hormao): to uncontrollably and wildly rush forward
  24. “choked” — πνίγω (pnigo): to choke; to strangle; to wring the neck; to take one by the throat
  25. “right mind” — σωφρονοῦντα (sophronounta): from σωφρονέω (sophroneo), pictures a delivered mind or restored intelligence (v. 15)
  26. “marvel” — θαυμάζω (thaumadzo): to wonder; to be at a loss for words; to be shocked and amazed; to be bewildered

SYNOPSIS

Located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, there stands a monas­tery to commemorate a miraculous deliverance wrought by Jesus during His ministry. It was built in the Fifth Century, and it marks the place where Jesus cast out the legion of demons from the demoniac of Gadara. With persistence and compassion, He evicted thousands of unclean spirits and sent them into a pack of pigs, which ran down the steep hillside and drowned in the sea.

In our last lesson, Jesus and His disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee heading toward the country of the Gadarenes. While en route, a massive windstorm arose and threatened their lives. It was a demonic attack designed to stop Jesus from reaching His destination. With a great display of authority and power, Jesus rebuked the wind and calmed the sea. “And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes” (Mark 5:1).

John 10:10 NKJV The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

When studying this story from Mark, always remember the end results that the devil is desiring to accomplish and that is, death and destruction. But also remember the end result Jesus desires to accomplish in a person’s life and that is an abundant life.

A difference in the details: The story of Jesus’ journey to the country of the Gadarenes (sometimes referred to as Gergesenes) is found in Matthew 8, Mark 5, and Luke 8. In Matthew’s account, it says two men were possessed by devils; in Mark’s and Luke’s tellings, only one man is mentioned. This is not a discrepancy in Scripture. There were two men delivered from demons. Mark and Luke chose to focus on the one who was most severely pos­sessed.

The unclean spirit had the man: Mark 5:2 says, “And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.” The word “immediately” is the Greek word euthus, meaning without delay; immediately. The instant Jesus set foot on land, a man “with an unclean spirit” met Him. The Greek actually says a man “who was in the grip of” or “who was in the control of” an unclean spirit. In other words, the man didn’t have an unclean spirit; the unclean spirit had the man.

The word “unclean” is the Greek word akathartos, and it describes some­thing that is unclean, impure, filthy, lewd, or foul; something sexually vulgar. Interestingly, we are told three times that this man under the control of an unclean spirit was dwelling among the tombs (vv. 2, 3, 5). The word “dwell­ing,” is the Greek word katoikesis, and it describes a dwelling, habitation, or residence. It means to settle down and make oneself at home. This man had settled down and made the graveyard his residence.

The significance of the tombs: The demon spirits living in this man had driven him to the brink of death. In fact, death dominated his thinking. Not only was he living in the dominion of death (among the tombs), he also desperately wanted to die. Again and again, he attempted suicide by cutting himself with stones, but he was unsuccessful at ending his life. At that point he had been living among the tombs the majority of his life.

No man could bind him: Mark 5:3 says, “…And no man could bind him, no, not with chains.” The word “bind” is the Greek word deo, which means to bind, tie up, restrict, imprison, or put in chains. The word deo (bind) describes a completed state, which means people had tried to restrain and chain this man on previous occasions, but they couldn’t keep him bound. The word “chains” here is the Greek word halusis, and it refers to chains or handcuffs for the hands or wrists.

Verse 4 continues saying “that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.” In addition to chains, we see the word “fetters,” which is the Greek word pede, and it describes shackles on the feet, foot chains.

This man had been handcuffed and chained around the feet many times. However, he had “plucked asunder” the chains on his hands. “Plucked asunder” is the Greek word diaspao, which literally means to tear in half; to sever; to tear to pieces. And the chains on his feet had been “broken in pieces,” which is the Greek word suntribo, meaning to crush, as in crushing bones or grapes; to smash. This man was so energized by demonic powers that he was able to tear his handcuffs in half and beat his legs against each other so forcefully that the chains were crushed.

Neither could any man tame him: The word “tame” in verse 4 is the Greek word damadzo, and it means to domesticate, to subdue, or to bring under control. It was used to describe animal trainers who were experts at capturing and domesticating the wildest and most ferocious of beasts, such as lions, tigers, and bears. Normally, animals like these would maul or kill a person, but these skilled trainers were able to take the wildest animals and domesticate them. That is what the word “tame” means. In other words, not even the most skilled wild-animal trainers could bring this demonically possessed person under control.

He was crying and cutting himself: Mark 5:5 says, “And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.” The word “crying” is the Greek word kradzo, which means to scream, yell, exclaim, or cry out at the top of one’s voice; to shriek. It pictures an urgent shout; a loud outburst of emotion.

The word “cutting” is the Greek word katakopto, and it describes a down­ward cut; a downward gash; or mutilation. The use of these words lets us know that this miserable man was trying to commit suicide. He proba­bly thought that was his only hope of escaping the hellish conditions he was enduring. No one could bind him in chains, and wild-animal tamers couldn’t bring him under control. His condition was beyond desperate.

Then Jesus showed up: Mark 5:6 tells us, “But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him….” Normally, demons don’t run to Jesus; they run from Him. Yet in this case, the demon-possessed man “ran” to Jesus and “worshipped” Him.

The word “ran” is the Greek word trecho, which means to run swiftly; to run speedily; to run without distraction. This desperate man was moving his feet as fast as he could to get to Jesus. When he was in front of Him, the Bible says he “worshipped” Him. The word “worshipped” is the Greek word proskuneo, which means to fall forward to kiss; to fall upon on one’s knees in in­timate adoration. As soon as this man got close to Jesus, he took the posture of worship.

However, when he opened his mouth to ask Jesus for help, the demons seized control of his vocal cords and “…cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not” (v. 7). The word “adjure” is the Greek word horkidzo, and it means to solemnly plead. It is used in a religious sense to plead to God. The demons were literally praying to and petitioning Jesus. They asked Him not to “torment” them. The word “torment” is the Greek word basanidzo, and it describes torment or torture; the form used in this verse denotes incessant torment and torture. How was Jesus tormenting the demons? We discover the answer in verse 8.

Jesus spoke to the demon: “For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit” (Mark 5:8). Notice the word “said” in this verse. It is the Greek word elegen, which literally means, “He [Jesus] kept say­ing….” Again and again, Jesus commanded and demanded the unclean spirit to leave. This is what was tormenting the enemy.

Normally, when Jesus delivered someone of an evil spirit, He did so with a single word. In this case, however, the unclean spirit wouldn’t budge. That is why Jesus kept saying, “Come out of the man.” The more Jesus commanded them come out, the more the demons shrieked aloud. Yet unlike other peo­ple who had unsuccessfully tried to help the man break free of his spiritual condition, Jesus was committed to stay with him until the demons left and he was free.

Amazed at the resistance of the unclean spirit, Jesus asked him, “What is thy name?” Jesus answered, saying, “…My name is Legion: for we are many” (Mark 5:9). The word “legion” is a military term that denoted at least 6,000 Roman soldiers. The unclean spirit in the man was saying, “There are 6,000 of us in here.” This extremely large number of demons is confirmed by the use of the word “many,” which is the Greek word polloi, meaning vast multitudes.

The demons pleaded with Jesus: Mark 5:10-12 says, “And he [the demon] besought him much that he would not send them away out of the coun­try. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.” Initially, one demon acted as a spokesman on behalf of the thousands of demons within. But that one demonic voice quickly gave way to a concert of 6,000 demonic voices, as all the devils “besought” Jesus to send them into the herd of pigs.

The word “besought” is the Greek word parakaleo, and it pictures one who passionately pleads or begs; a word of prayer. Suddenly, all 6,000 demon voices began begging Jesus to give them permission to enter the pigs.

Jesus evicted the unholy horde: “And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea” (Mark 5:13). Here we see that the multitude of unclean spirits were kicked out of this man and “choked” in the sea.

The word “choked” is the Greek word pnigo, which means to strangle; to wring the neck; to take one by the throat; to choke to death. This is a clear pic­ture of the devil’s ultimate goal: to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10). Unlike human beings made in the image of God, pigs don’t have a free will to resist the enemy. Therefore, when the demons entered them, they immediately self-destructed.

The results of Jesus’ intervention: “And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid” (Mark 5:14, 15).

The Bible says the man who had been demon-possessed was now sitting clothed and in his “right mind.” The Greek here depicts a man who now has a mind that had been delivered; his intelligence had been redeemed. It is the picture of complete salvation. These are the results of a life that has been touched and transformed by Jesus.

And all who saw and heard what the Lord had done in this man did “marvel” (see Mark 5:20). The word “marvel” is the Greek word thaumadzo, which means to wonder; to be at a loss of words; to be shocked and amazed; to be bewildered. By delivering this man, the entire region of the decapolis was delivered from terrorizing fear and was opened to the Good News of Jesus.

The emphasis of this lesson:

Once Jesus and His disciples reached the region of Gadara, a man possessed by thousands of demons ran up to Him. Although they stub­bornly attempted to stay in control of the man, Jesus insisted they leave. The enemy’s strength was — and is — no match for Jesus’ power.