This verse shows the dramatic contrast between a shattered life and one made whole by Jesus, emphasizing that His authority brings true freedom.
“They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the ‘legion’; and they became frightened.” (v.15) This scene takes place shortly after Jesus, who lived from around 4 BC to AD 30/33, freed a tormented individual in the region known as the country of the Gerasenes, located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. In Mark’s account, the man previously exhibited uncontrollable strength and desperation under demonic power, even dwelling among tombs and crying out night and day (Mark 5:2-5). Now, as the people arrive, they see him completely transformed—“clothed” and restored to sanity—causing them to react with fear because they recognized the incredible power Jesus wielded over evil forces.
By calling these demons “Legion,” the Gospel highlights that the man’s possession was severe. Freed by Jesus’s command, he finally sat calmly, no longer bound or suffering from the cruel oppression that had driven him away from normal life. The townspeople’s fright at this moment underscores how radical His power truly was, for it upended their expectations and showed Jesus’s authority over the spiritual realm. Many in that Gentile-influenced region were unsure how to respond to such a demonstration of divine intervention, especially given the suddenness and thoroughness of the rescue.
The man’s restored condition also underscores the compassion Jesus has for those in bondage, revealing His role as the Messiah who liberates and transforms lives. He offered wholeness where there had been despair, proving that no evil is too great for His sovereignty. It is a powerful reminder that the kingdom of God brings peace and healing, even to places once ruled by darkness.
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Mark 5:15 meaning
“They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the ‘legion’; and they became frightened.” (v.15) This scene takes place shortly after Jesus, who lived from around 4 BC to AD 30/33, freed a tormented individual in the region known as the country of the Gerasenes, located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. In Mark’s account, the man previously exhibited uncontrollable strength and desperation under demonic power, even dwelling among tombs and crying out night and day (Mark 5:2-5). Now, as the people arrive, they see him completely transformed—“clothed” and restored to sanity—causing them to react with fear because they recognized the incredible power Jesus wielded over evil forces.
By calling these demons “Legion,” the Gospel highlights that the man’s possession was severe. Freed by Jesus’s command, he finally sat calmly, no longer bound or suffering from the cruel oppression that had driven him away from normal life. The townspeople’s fright at this moment underscores how radical His power truly was, for it upended their expectations and showed Jesus’s authority over the spiritual realm. Many in that Gentile-influenced region were unsure how to respond to such a demonstration of divine intervention, especially given the suddenness and thoroughness of the rescue.
The man’s restored condition also underscores the compassion Jesus has for those in bondage, revealing His role as the Messiah who liberates and transforms lives. He offered wholeness where there had been despair, proving that no evil is too great for His sovereignty. It is a powerful reminder that the kingdom of God brings peace and healing, even to places once ruled by darkness.