The Stronger Man Plunders the Devil

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 5:1-20.

Jesus makes His first foray into Gentile territory. There He confronts the same enemy who attacks the children of Israel. A man possessed by an unclean spirit meets Jesus as soon as He steps off the boat on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. This unclean spirit is the epitome of all that opposes the kingdom of God. Yet even the unclean spirit quickly recognizes that Jesus has authority over him. In a laughable irony, he takes the name of God upon his lips in an attempt to force Jesus’ hand. The legion of unclean spirits is quickly reduced to begging, however. In short-sighted foolishness, they ask to be sent into a herd of pigs, which leads to their demise. The reaction of the herdsmen and people of the town is one of fear at such raw power. Yet the man who has been freed from the devil’s reign is filled with faith. Though he is not given the vocation of one of Jesus’ apostles, he is sent to share the good news of what Jesus has done among his family and friends.

“The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel account, and he never lets up the pace. As one deed of Jesus comes right after another, always paired with His authoritative Word, St. Mark proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed conclusively by His death on the cross.