In Mark 5, Jesus encounters a man possessed by a legion of demons. This man was out of his mind, living among the tombs, doing great violence to himself, terrorizing all around him, and shrieking day and night.

But he met Jesus. And Jesus changed his life. Jesus cast out the demons into a herd of pigs which then rushed into the lake and drowned. When the villagers came to investigate, they found the man sitting with Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.

What a picture of the complete turnaround that Jesus brings to those He saves! Jesus brings order to the disordered, tranquility to the troubled, a right mind to those once out of their mind.

Christ can redeem those even in the most wretched of conditions. Out of anyone in that area, this man would have been the least expected to be converted to Christ. Outwardly, he appeared to be the most undeserving and miserable. But this man was freed from a prison house of sin and demonic control not because of his good works, not because he was special in some way in himself, but because of the sheer grace and mercy of the Lord.

This is an illustration of the spectacular grace of God. His grace super-abounds to the worst of sinners with the power to free us from any sin and any evil control in our lives. Maybe you are struggling with sin’s control in your life. Maybe there is an area that seems like Satan has gained a foothold within you. You often fail and give in to temptation. You feel enslaved and defeated.

Christ shows us here that He is able to free you from any evil power or sin controlling you. If He can so change this wretched man, He can so change you. Because if we are all honest, we are wretched sinners also. As John Newton wrote: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”

John 8:34, 36: “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin… So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”