The storm has been stilled, and the disciples taught vital lessons in faith (Mark 4:35-41). Their next challenge was a demonised man!  From overwhelming waves - to a face to face encounter with a man who nobody could tame.  How would Jesus deal with this manifestation of evil?  

These verses provide graphic evidence of wild violence.  Superhumanly strong, but at the same time he had been robbed of his God-given dignity (Genesis 1:26).  Inside, he was a mess ... unclean, impure, disturbed and distraught: outside he was self-mutilating.  This man had a problem that nobody could control, and neither could he.  He had been seized by evil which propelled him away from the living to make his home among the dead.

His problem was an evil spirit who had assumed the right to dominate him: body, mind and spirit.  And it is clear from the way which Jesus dealt with that spirit (as we will see in the next few verses) that He had no doubt that evil personalities (demons) can take over people's lives.  This was not a defect of the man's mind, but an invasion of his spirit.  So why did the man come to meet Jesus?  Satan's nature is obsessed with confronting God, attempting to prove his petty power.  That was the essence of the wilderness encounter (Matthew 4:1-11).  If Satan can get Jesus on the ropes ... then all hell is let loose.

But what a sad specimen Satan's victim had become.  Indeed, all who swallow his evil lures are unable to be at peace with others or even themselves.  That is why Jesus has come to set such people free - and by a far greater power than they are bound by.  The trainee apostles needed to learn that lesson.  They would also encounter demons and had to be prepared to deal with them in Jesus' Name (1 Timothy 4:1).  That is the promise of the Gospel for all who will come to Jesus.  So when the Lord gets you involved and out of your depth, remember that Jesus has come to destroy the works of the Evil One (1 John 3:8b).  Don't back off, in the power of the Holy Spirit administer truth in the Name of Jesus!