Mark 5:9-14: a reflection

9He asked him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding. 12All the demons begged him, saying, “Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.” 13At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea. 14Those who fed the pigs fled, and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what it was that had happened.

When Jesus asks the tormented man his name and he answers, my name is Legion, for we are many, Jesus delivers him completely, showing that no multitude of forces is too much for his authority to overcome. He asked him, what is your name, the account says; and he answered, my name is Legion, for we are many. The man was held not by a single force but by a multitude, a legion, an overwhelming number of powers that had seized and tormented him. By any human measure, so many forces against one man was hopeless. Yet Jesus, with a word, delivered him completely; the whole multitude that held him was cast out at his command. However many the forces against the man, Christ's authority overcame them all. This shows that no multitude of forces is too much for Christ's authority. However many the forces against you, Christ's authority can overcome them all. No multitude of troubles or powers is too much for Christ. Christ delivers completely, not partially, over overwhelming forces. The sheer number against you does not overmatch Christ's authority.

Notice the significance of the name and the completeness of the deliverance. When Jesus asks the man his name, the answer reveals the scale of his bondage: my name is Legion, for we are many. He was held not by one power but by a multitude, a legion, an overwhelming number. This was no small or manageable affliction; it was a vast host of forces that had seized and tormented him. By every human measure, a person held by so many forces was beyond help, overwhelmed, hopeless. Yet Jesus was not daunted by the multitude. With a word, he delivered the man completely; the whole legion that held him was cast out, and the man was freed entirely. However many the forces against him, Christ's authority overcame them all. This holds a hope for us when we feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of what is against us. Sometimes our troubles, our fears, the forces arrayed against us, seem not single but many, a whole host of things, overwhelming in their number, more than we could ever overcome. And the sheer multitude can make us feel hopeless, overmatched, beyond help. But no multitude of forces is too much for Christ's authority. However many the troubles or powers against us, Christ is able to deliver, and to deliver completely, not partially; his authority is not overmatched by the number of what opposes us. The man held by a legion was set completely free; and no host of forces against us is beyond Christ's authority to overcome. We do well to trust that Christ's authority can overcome even a multitude of forces against us, delivering completely. Trust that no multitude of forces against you is too much for Christ's authority. However many your troubles or the powers against you, Christ can overcome them all. Christ delivers completely, not partially, over overwhelming forces. The sheer number against you does not overmatch the authority of Christ.

That is worth taking to heart, for no multitude of forces is too much for Christ's authority, which delivers completely, as Jesus freed the man held by a legion. We can feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of what is against us; but Jesus, with a word, delivered completely the man held by a legion. Christ overcomes all. When you feel overwhelmed by the multitude of troubles or forces against you, do not think them beyond Christ; his authority can overcome them all and deliver completely. Trust that however many the forces or troubles against you, no multitude is too much for Christ's authority, which delivers completely and not partially, as when Jesus asked the tormented man his name and he answered, my name is Legion, for we are many, Jesus delivered him completely, showing that no multitude of forces is too much for his authority to overcome; for the man was held not by a single force but by a multitude, a legion, an overwhelming number of powers that had seized and tormented him, so that by any human measure a person held by so many forces was hopeless and beyond help, yet Jesus with a word delivered him completely and the whole multitude that held him was cast out at his command, Christ's authority overcoming them all however many they were, which holds a hope for us when we feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of what is against us, since sometimes our troubles, fears, and the forces arrayed against us seem not single but many, a whole host of things overwhelming in their number and more than we could ever overcome, and the sheer multitude can make us feel hopeless and overmatched, but no multitude of forces is too much for Christ's authority, which is able to deliver and to deliver completely however many the troubles or powers against us and is not overmatched by their number, so that the man held by a legion was set completely free and no host of forces against us is beyond Christ's authority to overcome, and we do well to trust it.

Lord Jesus, when you ask the tormented man his name and he answers, my name is Legion, for we are many, you deliver him completely, showing that no multitude of forces is too much for your authority to overcome. He asked him, what is your name, the account says; and he answered, my name is Legion, for we are many. The man was held not by a single force but by a multitude, a legion, an overwhelming number of powers that had seized and tormented him. By any human measure, so many forces against one man was hopeless. Yet you, with a word, delivered him completely; the whole multitude that held him was cast out at your command. However many the forces against the man, your authority overcame them all. Show me the significance of the name and the completeness of the deliverance. When you ask the man his name, the answer reveals the scale of his bondage: my name is Legion, for we are many. He was held not by one power but by a multitude, an overwhelming number. This was no small or manageable affliction; it was a vast host of forces. By every human measure, a person held by so many forces was beyond help, overwhelmed, hopeless. Yet you were not daunted by the multitude. With a word, you delivered him completely; the whole legion was cast out, and the man was freed entirely. However many the forces against him, your authority overcame them all. This holds a hope for me when I feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of what is against me. Sometimes my troubles, my fears, the forces arrayed against me, seem not single but many, a whole host, overwhelming in their number, more than I could ever overcome. And the sheer multitude can make me feel hopeless, overmatched, beyond help. But no multitude of forces is too much for your authority. However many the troubles or powers against me, you are able to deliver, and to deliver completely; your authority is not overmatched by their number. Take that to my heart. When I feel overwhelmed by the multitude of troubles or forces against me, keep me from thinking them beyond you; help me trust, Lord, that your authority can overcome them all and deliver completely, that no host of forces against me is beyond your authority, as you set the man held by a legion completely free.