Mark 5:1-20 contains one of the most startling—and perhaps even confusing—stories in the Bible. 

It’s where Jesus casts out a legion of demons from someone. They go into a herd of pigs who subsequently drown. As a result, some people were filled with fear. Others were filled with amazement. I know, pretty dramatic, right? If you search for ‘wild Bible stories’ on Google that one is usually at the top of the list.

But there’s a curious detail people often overlook. When the demon speaks to Jesus, one of the things he does is make a clear (and correct) statement about his identity. Verse 7 records his words: “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”

The irony is that demons who are opposed to God frequently (and correctly) confess Jesus’ identity, but the people who are supposed to be faithful to God frequently miss the point!

This teaches us something. In the words of Jeff Medders: “Being a disciple of Christ is more than admitting who Jesus is—demons do that all the time in the Gospels.”*

Demons weren’t disciples. But even they admitted who Jesus was. In follows, therefore, that being a disciple of Jesus is more than saying that Jesus is the Son of God. Discipleship includes loyalty, love and a lifestyle.

We need to be clear that your eternal destiny is not based on your day-to-day awesomeness. It’s based on God’s grace. We receive it through faith in who Jesus is and what he has done for us on the cross (Ephesians 2:8).

Here our emphasis is on daily discipleship in the footsteps of Jesus. We are talking about being his hands and feet, about being spiritual warriors for the kingdom, and about being ambassadors of light in a world where it feels like the dark is gaining muscle.

Discipleship is more than saying certain things. It includes loyalty, love and a lifestyle. Let’s call upon God and grow together.

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Notes and extra content:

—Podcast: “How do demons gain access to people? – a talk with Steve Dabbs.” Find it on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ or by clicking here.

—“Is this the sermon demons don’t want you to hear?” November 17, 2024. Click here.

–*Jeff Medders: Humble Calvinism (The Good Book Company, 2019), 147.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.