Mark 5:1-13 Jesus is Lord of Hell

The Text

Mark 5:1–13 (CSB)
¹ They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.

² As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him.

³ He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain—

⁴ because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough 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 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him.

⁷ And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!”

⁸ For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

⁹ “What is your name?” he asked him. “My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.”

¹⁰ And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.

¹¹ A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside.

¹² The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”

¹³ So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.

The Devotion

If Christ has shown his power and knowledge in the heavens and on the earth, what does that say for under the earth--namely, what the Old Testament refers to as Sheol or what the New Testament refers to as Hades where Christ describes it as "where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched," and "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Curious. Why is it that God is the only one who can actually describe Hell?

Psalms 139:6-8 (CSB) This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. 7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB) Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 5:11-14 (CSB) Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! 13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Listen, Christ rules and reigns Hell. If you do not believe and obey the Son of God, the wrath of the Son remains on you. (John 3:36) That is hell.

Matthew 5:30 (CSB) And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Christ has given you and me the gospel command: repent and trust in him.

Christ has already subdued and conquered Satan and his demons:

Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

Turn to Christ and confess that he is your all in all. Christ is building his church--and the gates that holds Satan, demons, and unbelievers will not be able to contain. But that doesn't mean you automatically get in.

Matthew 16:16-18 (CSB) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.