Sermon Synopsis
In Mark 5:1–20, we see more than a dramatic miracle—we are given a glimpse of Jesus’ true mission, identity, and the cost of following Him. This passage reveals that Jesus came not only for the Jews, but for all people, especially the lost and spiritually unclean. His divine authority and deep compassion are displayed as He restores a broken man and demonstrates the value of one life over material wealth. Finally, the account challenges believers to consider the sacrifices involved in discipleship and to follow the Lord wherever He leads.
Please note: This transcript is provided as a reading aid and is not a verbatim record of the sermon.
The Mission, Identity, and Cost of Following Jesus
Mark 5:1–20
Introduction: Locating Ourselves in Mark’s Gospel
This morning we continue our study in the Gospel of Mark, and our passage for today is Mark 5:1–20. I trust that most of us have already read these verses, but we began by revisiting them together to remind ourselves of the full narrative: Jesus crossing the sea, encountering the demon-possessed man, casting out the unclean spirits, and sending the healed man to proclaim what the Lord had done.
When Linus started this series, he mentioned that it would comprise ten speakers over twenty-eight weeks. If anyone is counting, I am speaker number five, and this is week eight. As with any long series, it is useful to pause occasionally and take stock of where we are.
So far in Mark’s Gospel, we have been introduced to who the Lord Jesus is, the authority by which He spoke, taught, and performed miracles, and—just as importantly—the responses of the people to Him.
At first glance, Mark chapters 5 to 8 can feel like a sequel offering more of the same. Jesus continues to heal the sick and cast out demons, things we have already seen in chapters 1 to 4. But I believe the real value of these chapters is that they set the stage for the turning point in Mark chapter 8, where Jesus’ true mission becomes explicit and where the road to the cross begins.
Taken together, chapters 5 to 8 give us a glimpse of the deeper mission of the Lord Jesus.
A Personal Illustration: Understanding Mission and Expectation
I want to begin with a short and rather mundane anecdote.
Some of you may know that I recently retired formally from the SCDF. Having reached 50 years old, I am now officially what they call a laojiao. As such, seeing that my opportunities to use stories from my army days are now numbered, allow me to share one more.
About fifteen years ago, when I was a lieutenant colonel, an officer from the army’s diplomatic branch approached me and asked whether I was available to be part of the army’s delegation for a golf competition with a foreign military. This was part of an annual tradition.
I replied politely that I was not able to go because I did not know how to play golf.
The officer paused, looked at me, and then asked,
“Sir, do you have a better reason?”
At that moment, I wasn’t sure whether he thought I was trying to skive, or whether he was trying to help me answer to the boss.
In the army, we used to joke that if you are a young captain and you are always playing golf, you are probably slacking. But if you are a lieutenant colonel and you are not playing golf, you are surely slacking.
You see, building friendships and mutual understanding between countries is an important aspect of deterrence—just as important as fighting capability. But at that time, I did not understand that. I did not clearly understand the mission I was supposed to play, nor did I realize the informal expectations that came with my role and rank.
I still don’t know how to play golf, by the way.
I share this analogy because clarity of mission and expectations puts everything into proper perspective. If I had not understood the real intention behind the game, I would have thought they simply wanted me to play golf.
Likewise, if we do not read these twenty verses in Mark 5 with the right lens, we may treat them as merely an interesting story and miss the rich lessons beneath the surface.
Earlier, I mentioned that Mark chapters 5 to 8 serve as a stage-setter for the essence of Mark’s Gospel. So this morning, we will try to see this passage in that context.
Three Key Insights from Mark 5:1–20
In the short time we have this morning, I would like to focus on three key insights from these verses:
Insight One: Piecing Together the Mission of Jesus
The Significance of the Destination
Let me begin where Kenneth left off last week, with Jesus calming the storm as He and His disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee. My focus, however, is on the destination.
Verse 1 tells us that they arrived on the other side of the sea, in the region of the Gerasenes. This area was located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and was part of the Decapolis, a group of ten Greek-speaking cities.
In short, this was Gentile territory, not considered Jewish land. The presence of a large herd of pigs—unclean animals in Jewish eyes—confirms this.
Why is this important?
It tells us that God’s plan was not only for the Jews, but also for the rest of the world. This was not an accidental landing after the storm. Every action of the Lord is intentional, and I believe it was intentional that He came to this region.
In fact, Jesus would spend time in this Gentile region until about chapter 8, when He would then make His way toward Jerusalem.
At that time, many Jews believed the Messiah’s mission was Jewish-centric—that He had come to free the Jews alone. But we know this is not true. The Messiah’s mission was to free everyone from the bondage of sin.
This event, though not obvious to the disciples at the time, was already setting the stage for the Great Commission. It reveals the first piece of Jesus’ mission: He came to save all people, not Jews alone.
Saving the Spiritually Unclean
The second piece of Jesus’ mission is revealed through His encounter with the demon-possessed man.
The Jews were extremely meticulous about spiritual cleanliness. Everything about this scene would have been a Jewish nightmare:
It was a perfect storm of spiritual uncleanness.
Mark builds on something we have already seen in Mark 2:17, when Jesus said,
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus was not here to save those who thought they were righteous, but sinners—those who were spiritually lost.
While the Jews may have disapproved of His actions, Jesus understood clearly that this was His mission: to save the lost, the sick, and the unclean. In other words, those who were spiritually separated from God—which is all of us.
This is the second part of His mission: to save us from the penalty of sin.
The Ultimate Plan of Redemption
The third piece of Jesus’ mission is more subtle.
In verse 7, the demons cry out,
“What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”
Parallel accounts in Matthew and Luke reveal that the demons feared being sent to the abyss before the appointed time. They understood that a final judgment was coming.
With the hindsight of the full Scriptures, we know that through His death on the cross, Jesus would defeat sin and evil. Satan knew that his end was inevitable.
This encounter hints that Jesus had come to fulfill the ultimate plan of redemption.
When we put these three pieces together, we see that Jesus’ mission was nothing less than the redemption of the world.
Insight Two: Knowing the True Identity of Jesus
This event also gives us a glimpse into the true identity of Jesus as the Messiah. We see this from three angles.
In verse 7, the demons call Him “the Son of the Most High God.” Earlier, in Mark chapter 1, He was called “the Holy One of God.”
Contrast this with the disciples, who after witnessing Jesus calm the storm, asked,
“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Ironically, the demons recognized Jesus immediately, while the disciples struggled to understand who He truly was.
Throughout Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ authority is emphasized. In this passage, we see it clearly:
He never struggles, hesitates, or repeats commands. His authority is complete.
Finally, we see Jesus’ compassion.
This story is not merely about demons or pigs. It is about a man who had suffered terribly, living among tombs, cutting himself, and isolated from society.
By asking the demon’s name, Jesus exposed the true enemy and restored the dignity of the man. By allowing the demons to enter the pigs, Jesus demonstrated that one human life was worth more than material wealth.
This compassion foreshadows the cross, where Jesus would give His own life for all.
Insight Three: The Cost of Discipleship
The final insight concerns the cost of following Jesus.
The disciples crossed into Gentile territory, risked their lives in a storm, and encountered real danger. Following Jesus often leads us outside our comfort zones.
After witnessing the miracle, the people begged Jesus to leave because of the economic loss—about 2,000 pigs.
Sometimes, doing the Lord’s work brings rejection rather than gratitude.
The healed man wanted to follow Jesus, but Jesus sent him home instead. As a result, he became a witness to ten cities.
We may not always get to do what we want, but the Lord knows where we are most effective.
Conclusion and Reflection
Mark chapters 5 to 8 serve as a bridge in the Gospel. In Mark 5:1–20, we are given a preview of three critical truths:
As we reflect this week, consider these questions:
Let us continue to dwell on these truths as we journey through Mark’s Gospel together.