Jesus has crossed the lake. His disciples have never been so terrified as they had been when the storm ended. As the boat keel scrapes the sand on the other side of the lake, the first person they encounter is a man identified as a demon possessed man, who is naked running through the tombs, and cutting himself. The verses don’t tell us who got out of the boat and who stayed in.
I guess they just aren’t going to get a break.I’m sure they didn’t want to get too close. But Jesus did. He approaches this man who has been tormented beyond belief. He is in pain and he is out of the control of society.
But Jesus doesn’t talk to the man at this point. He talks to his pain and agony. He identifies the spokesdemon for the man’s suffering and converses with it.
He tells the evil spirit to leave the man. What ensues is a conversation with the demons. They want to know why he is interfering. They explain that there are a lot of them inside of the man. They beg for Jesus not to send them to some “distant place.” And Jesus negotiates with them.
Jesus was in control, but he wasn’t heartless. Jesus had power beyond our understanding, and yet his power was tempered with grace and kindness. He literally strikes a deal with demons. He honors their request. In Jesus there is mercy, even for a demon.
Prayer: Help me never to wield power without the understanding that it is to be used in ways that promote mercy and kindness.
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