“When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.” Mark 5.6-10
The man who was demon possessed ran towards Jesus. He could not help himself. As I wrote previously — he was like a moth to a flame. And he knelt in front of Jesus — which is where all will kneel, righteous and unrighteous alike. And he shouted..”What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most high God!”
What do you want with me? This was the cry of the demon inside of the mans body. And then he calls him by name, “Jesus,” and identifies him for who he is, “Son of the Most high God!” Even demons knew his name and had to submit before Jesus the Christ! Jesus asks him his name, “My name is Legion, for we are many,” and then the demon begged for mercy.
Jesus does not give mercy to demons. He will give mercy to people possessed by them, but not to the demons themselves. They have chosen the way of sin, death and destruction. They have rebelled against God’s love, but they are not made in his image. They do not seek nor will they ask for redemption.
We on the other hand are especially made to receive the fullness of God’s grace. We can receive the greatest gift of all, God’s Holy Spirit. We can be inhabited by him with the simplest of prayers and a heart devoted to his will and his way.
This past week in Zimbabwe I was ministering to a family in their house receiving a gift of food from One Child (www.hopeforzimbabwe.co) and Celebration Church (a non-denom, Spirit-filled global church network). The box was indeed heavy, perhaps 70 pounds which I carried from the truck to the pitiful one room house with dirt floors, no AC, no running water, no electricity. It was a sad sight.
And I brought to them this gift box of food for Christmas, a gift that I neither paid for nor prepared. I shared the beautiful story of the Gospel with them and about the gift of Jesus. I compared opening the food box to the gift of opening our hearts to Jesus. And all in the house prayed and received the gift of Jesus’ salvation into their hearts. It was a very special moment.
Friends, we are designed to receive and offer this gift of Jesus. The demons do not have that ability, nor should they. But we, who are made of flesh, softened by his grace, delivered by his love, captivated by his creation can come to him today, and say yes to the magnificence of his love.
Have you said yes to Christ? Have you opened the gift of Jesus this Christmas season? What are you waiting for? For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
“Thank you Lord for saving us. Thank you for the ability to say yes to you an walk in your ways. Thank you for the gift of Jesus that we might receive him into our hearts and fully know the love of God. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen