Irresistible Jesus

Mark 5:1-5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, 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. 
 
CAN you imagine anything so horrible? This man lived among the dead. He was insane. He was supernaturally strong and violently opposed all who came near him. He cut himself with stones.
   The man’s condition aptly describes the devil’s hold on the unredeemed soul. He cuts into the mind to infect mankind with a nature that aggressively rejects God’s commands. He chains the world with the acts of the sinful nature that are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21a) Human power cannot subdue Satan. He corrupts the image of God, isolating humanity from God who is love. Our only salvation from the devil’s hold on the world is God’s grace to free us.  
   That’s what Jesus did that day in the region of the Gerasenes. In God’s providence, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee to engage in a battle against the Evil One through the demon-possessed man. The Sovereign God is more powerful than Satan. The Savior comes ashore as the liberating army of God come to rescue the lost. The Holy Spirit moved the demon-controlled man to go to the irresistible Son.
   The gospels use such phrases as great crowds, many people and large numbers went to see him. God’s Son, the Holy One of God, ministered in the Spirit’s power, and many came to him.
   Then the Son commanded. Suddenly disease was gone. The Teacher taught. Listening ears heard his authority. Jesus called. Men dropped their nets, left the tax collector’s booth, stood up from their idleness, put aside their politics, and they followed.
   Even the demons could not resist him. The demons controlled this man. But they do not run from Jesus’ authority. When the LORD comes, they must go to him. He is LORD of heaven and earth. The rebellious spiritual realm must submit to his lordship. These demons know he is their Master. That day the Holy Trinity was at work in the region of the Gerasenes. In the Spirit’s power, the demons went to Jesus to await his commands.
   How good it is to live under Jesus’ commands in the Spirit’s power. The sinful nature is dead. God’s nature is producing living fruit:  Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Praise God he has delivered you unto life.