THE BEST DEVILED HAM

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MARK 5:1-20—THE BEST DEVILVED HAM

The healing power of Jesus is surely no secret. Unambiguously, Jesus is God and, thus, possesses the same healing power as the Father and the Spirit. One of the most unique accounts of Jesus’ healing is told in the fifth chapter of Mark’s Gospel, and it might double as the first report of deviled ham in history. A man who is possessed by a demon understands the power and authority of Jesus in this telling and, therefore, offers a grateful response of worship because of his healing, which could not be accomplished apart from Jesus Christ. In the same way, Jesus is the answer to all the world’s problems. Without Christ, everyone would live to their own perpetual destruction. It is, nevertheless, the power of Jesus that heals, for only Jesus may take a person’s devil and turn it into deviled ham.

Mark 5:1-21

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon

 ¹ They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. ² And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. ³ He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, ⁴ for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. ⁵ Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. ⁶ And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. ⁷ And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” ⁸ For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” ⁹ And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. ¹¹ Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, ¹² and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” ¹³ So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

¹⁴ The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. ¹⁵ And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. ¹⁶ And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. ¹⁷ And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. ¹⁸ As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. ¹⁹ And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.[1]

Here is an account of Jesus’ authority and recognition, several responses to Jesus, and the first recipe for deviled ham in history. To the first two elements (Jesus’ authority and recognition), a call is offered to everyone: what will you do with Jesus? Ultimately, everyone will give an answer to what they did with the Son of God, and when that answer is short, Jesus will respond to them with, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt 7:21).

The Authority of Jesus (vv. 1-5)

The set up of the chronicle here denotes Jesus and his Disciples going to “the other side of the sea, to the country of Gerasenes” (v. 1). What would be so important about this detail that Mark’s Gospel would include it? In New Testament society, Jewish and Gentile life was so distinct that both parties lived and worked on opposite sides of the Galilee Sea: Jews primarily on the western side and Gentiles primarily on the eastern side.[2]

At first read, such a detail might not protrude, but what should foster a question in the account is the pigs. To Jews, pigs were unclean so why were there pigs? It is because Jesus and his Disciples were on the Gentile side of the Sea, which indicates a broader gospel truth: Jesus calls his people to discomfort rather than comfort—Jesus’ call disregards kind bulwarks of safety and bids his followers come and die (Luke 9:23, Gal 2:20, Mark 8:35). Since Christ is shown strongest when his people are at their weakest (2 Cor 12:9-10), the glory of God is most revealed in such moments—in the darkest and most vulnerable places.

The first five verses of this Mark 5 reveal the consummate authority of Jesus. In the narrative, the demon-possessed man lived “among the tombs” (v. 3).[3] This possessed man’s state was so dire that no one could even bind him anymore—not even with chains (vv. 3-4). Demonic entities had so possessed this man, in fact, that he lived every day crying out and cutting himself with stones (v. 5).

Even in such a condition, the man knew his only hope was Jesus. Jesus, however, was (unfortunately) the last resort. He and others had exhausted their resources (e.g., chains and likely exorcisms) trying render help, but nothing worked. Thus, they resorted to trying Jesus. Why is Jesus the last option for many people? He is God[4] so why would one assume he cannot work? Even professing Christians (those who claim his Lordship over their lives) fail here by effectively trusting their own judgments and abilities more than that of Jesus’.

A worship song that was popular when I was a child says, “Jesus is the answer for the world today.” Such a claim is often not realized and, therefore, not engaged by the people of God. If anyone should go to Christ for answers first, it should be his own people: the church. In the Mark narrative here, the authority of Jesus is clearly seen; when everything else fails, Jesus does not. Only Jesus had the authority to heal a demon-possessed man when everything else had been tried. A lot of time could have been saved if Jesus had been sought first.

The Recognition of Jesus (vv. 6-12)

The second piece visible in the text is the recognition of Jesus. While Jesus is the most influential person to ever walk planet Earth, his recognition transcends mere human fame, for Jesus holds eternal and supernatural recognition. The Apostle James teaches that even hell believes in God and shudders at his name (Jas 2:19), which is precisely why transformation aims beyond mere belief, for if evil believes in God, mere belief is not what changes someone but only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in which he is Lord. In the Mark text, Jesus is recognized by the demons, of which there were many, hence the name of Legion (v. 9). Not only did the man and the people engaged in the situation recognize Jesus but also the demonic entities that possessed the man knew who Jesus is and what he could do. In fact, the demons likely knew of Jesus’ power even more than the people in the situation including the possessed man.

Hell is not fooled; hell understands that Jesus is God and that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him (Matt 28:18). Nonetheless, Satan not only understands who Jesus is but also who he (himself) is (i.e., Jesus is peerless and incomparable) but does not respond appropriately. Believers cannot accurately know who Jesus is without also knowing who they are both apart from and in Christ; such realization then requires a correct response: namely worship.

The demons in the account instantly recognize Jesus and even refer to him as “Jesus, Son of the Most High God” (v. 7), which suggests that someone might be able to know who God is and dishonor him with his or her life—recognition of Jesus alone does not stop demonic powers from engaging in evil and destruction. Recognition that results in obedience, however, infers life-change. Not only did the demons who possessed this man offer recognition of Jesus, they implored him to have mercy upon them and send them into pigs (vv. 11-12), which the text says Jesus allowed.

What is the difference then between demons who believe in God and Christians who believe in God? The demons absolutely knew the person of Jesus Christ, but they are still eternally damned. The disparity subsists in one’s condition—either in Christ saved or apart from Christ lost (i.e., a personal relationship with Jesus). Apart from Christ, humans are incapable of anything good since they are radically and totally depraved. In Christ, however, God’s people are continuously being made into the image and likeness of Christ—Jesus became sin on behalf of his people so that they might be in his righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). A fervent realization of humanity’s utter hopelessness should coincide with a grateful response derived from Christ’s unmerited salvation. Proper recognition of Jesus, therefore, accompanies not only a comprehension of the person of Christ but also of one’s sin and dire need for him.

The Response to Jesus (v. 13)

The final element to perceive in the text is the response to Jesus. Moreover, there are three different responses in the text:

1)      the response of evil,

2)      the response of onlookers, and

3)      the response of God’s people.

Each party here represents one to which every person may relate, and believers must assess into which category or group they fall.

The Response of Evil (v. 13)

All parties who can choose between good and evil will one day bow before the Kingship of Jesus Christ including those who do not yet know him. As such, the text here demonstrates the response of evil to Jesus. Having all authority, Mark’s Gospel reads that, “…he [Jesus] gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea” (v. 13).

Intrinsically, one might ponder the difference between Christian obedience and demonic obedience to Christ. The difference is rooted in that of obligation, desire, and motivation. Evil responds here to Jesus Christ by obeying him, but the demons who possessed the man would not have done so and did not do so out of a desire to please Christ but rather to appease him (i.e., the motivation of evil is never to honor God but to destroy people). Satan does well at making sin look glamorous and more desirable to the hearts of people, but the reality people often forget in considering the allure of sin is that what presents satisfaction never does what it claims. Nonetheless, the Son has all authority over creation and powers. Satan, thus, is obligated to obey Jesus.

Nothing happens apart from the will of God. The Apostle Paul says that “…from him and through him and to him are all things” (Rom 11:36). In essence, every roll of the dice in Las Vegas occurs by God’s sovereign will.[5] The demonic entities respond through obedience in the text but out of obligation rather than glad desire. A seemingly common thought is that Satan is the equal counterpart to God, but with certainty, such a concept is radically false. The power of God and the power of Satan do not begin to compare, as God is exceedingly and indescribably greater than Satan. Those who follow Jesus should obey not out of obligation but out of satisfaction. Obligatory obedience happens perpetually even from evil.

The Response of Onlookers (vv. 14-17)

The second party to examine is the onlookers. These are the people that Mark’s Gospel suggests have tried everything to render aid to the possessed man—everything and everyone but Jesus. When Jesus freed the man from his demonic prison and the people saw him “in his right mind,”[6] the people were confused and even afraid (v. 15). What should have been reason to rejoice became a controversy and a bruhaha. The people then begged Jesus to leave the region (v. 17), as the scene surely caused conflict among the people.

The response of the people was inadequate because they were unclear about what happened. Mindful of the fact that the gospel is foolishness to the world (1 Cor 1:18) and that the world hates Jesus (John 15:18),[7] God’s people should wear such animosity as a badge of honor in the Kingdom of God, for their suffering is for the sake and glory of Christ. The people in the narrative did not understand what happened to the demon-possessed man so their fear turned to avoidance—avoidance of Jesus. While their thoughts were perhaps considered logical (amongst each other), their natural thoughts could not comprehend supernatural healing so subsequently, they were afraid. Their solution then was to distance themselves from the one causing commotion.

Jesus is influential. Anywhere Jesus is mentioned, he will cause either chaos or worship. Those who avoid such reactions are the people who Jesus will deny (Matt 10:33). A response of chaos is synonymous with a response of detachment. God’s people cannot worship Jesus and separate themselves from him simultaneously. Faith in Christ is bold or it is not faith. Such is the state of the people in Mark’s narrative.

The Response of God’s People (vv. 18-20)

Lastly, the response of God’s people is highlighted in the text through the action of the demon-possessed man.[8] The man, understanding the extremities from which he had been released, begged Jesus that he might be with him (v. 18). The response of Jesus, however, is striking and perhaps unexpected: “…he did not permit him but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you’” (v. 19). The command is not for the man to stay quiet and comfortable but to rejoice and tell what the Lord has done for him. The same Jesus who called his people out of comfort to uncomfortable settings and situations then is the same God who still calls his people to places of discomfort for the glory of his name and fame.

In total abandon, the people of God are to preach the gospel far and wide, in every place, and no matter the consequences. The text indicates that the man did as he was commanded. Doing so is the proper response of God’s people. When the church responds to Christ in the same way, worship occurs. Without a full vacation of selfish and worldly desires, one’s response is no different than that of the world. It is easy to obey Christ when there is not ridicule, persecution, or pain. Nevertheless, Jesus calls his people out of kind fortifications into the darkest places that need him most. Worship does not end in local congregations; rather, worship is a beginning place. The end of a worship service is historically known as the Sending, and it is the connection between corporate and private worship. The demons obeyed Jesus, but they were not sent to worship. The difference then between all other responses and the Christian response is the sending.

Jesus Fosters a Response of Worship

When God’s people recognize Jesus for who he is in his supreme authority as God, the only fitting reaction is worship. Nonetheless, genuine and sincere Christian worship may not occur without the authority of Jesus, the recognition of Jesus (his person rather than his hand and work), and an appropriate response to Jesus—when all three elements are aligned with the purpose and will of God, only then does Christian worship happen and, moreover, glorify triune God. The man released from demonic power realized that Jesus alone had the power to heal him, as he still possesses the power to heal today no matter what the ailment (e.g., shackles of evil and sin, sickness, broken relationships, depression, etc.). As such, Jesus fosters an attitude, posture, and act of worship offered by his people.

“Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.”[9]

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[1] All biblical references are taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

[2] “The incident occurs near Gerasa, a small town by the sea (to be distinguished from the larger Gerasa [Jerash], which is 34 miles [54 km] away from the sea). Matthew 8:28 specifies that this was in the region of Gadara. A fifth-century church excavated in Kursi possibly marks the traditional location of this event, on the eastern shore of Galilee” (Bayer, 8095).

Bayer, Hans F. “Mark—Note on 5:1,” in ESV Study Bible, eds., Lane T. Dennis, Wayne Grudem, J.I. Packer, C. John Collins, Thomas R. Schreiner, and Justin Taylor (Wheaton, IL: Crossway. 2008), 8095.

[3] This phrase is a reference to the fact that this man was completely isolated from society, deeply unclean, and living in a state of spiritual and social death.

[4] Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is one with the Father and Spirit and operates in a co-eternal and co-equal manner. Since he is God then, the first person to whom Christians should turn is Christ, for he never ceases interceding before the Father on behalf of his people (Rom 8:34).

[5] The response of evil and righteousness hold disparities because of choice with which the Doctrine of Sovereign Grace is compatible. Choice is vastly different than free will, which may not be surmised from Scripture without a stretch of biblical truth. While human logic certainly inclines toward free will, Scripture is clear that such a concept is false, but there surely is choice in that human choice is always naturally sin until and unless awakened by the Holy Spirit.

[6] That is properly functioning as an image bearer of God.

[7] While seemingly hyperbole, since the world persecutes Christians because it persecutes Jesus, the term, hate, is accurate (i.e., if a professing believer is not hated by the world —2 Tim 3:12—, the possibility of his or her conversion is questionable).

[8] God’s people may relate to the possessed man in that everyone was once utterly lost and in desperate need of Christ just as the man was. Any hope and chance that subsists is derived only from Christ.

[9] “Sunday Closest to August 10,” The Lectionary Page, July 26, 2026, https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp10_RCL.html.