No Other Rock

And the unclean spirits went out. ~ Mark 5:13

Continuing with yesterdays musing about demon occupation, we consider it further. After reading today’s devotion, I thought it was best to review the full text of Mark 5:13. Here are a couple different translations”

• NIV - He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
• New Life Version - Then Jesus let them do what they wanted to do. So they went into the pigs. The pigs ran fast down the side of the mountain and into the sea and died. There were about 2000.
• New American Standard Version - Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.

I think it is important to consider these. Think of the dire situation for this man who was being occupied by 2,000 demonic entities. “Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.” ~ Mark 5:5.

He clung to Jesus as his saving hope. And the demons showed zero resistance. When given the chance, they fled to occupy filthy creatures, but that wasn’t enough as far as Jesus was concerned. Rather than to simply allow them to enter the swine, the swine descended into the water - drowning the demons.

How easy that was for Jesus! It’s amazing that - even after knowing how willingly the demons gave up occupancy of their host, we still cling to our sinful actions and sources of temptation. One might contend that we are not allowing Jesus to release that nature from occupying us.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will ask Jesus to route our impurities.