This is a recorded true event of Jesus visiting an “incarcerated” man.

In Mark 5, ( Jesus and His disciples) came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs (an area of caves used for burial), a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he tore the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Here we have the story of a man who could not get along in society. He was harmful to himself and most likely anyone around him. No doubt he had separated himself from his family, friends, from anyone in the community. The story does not say what crimes he committed; however, it is obvious he was way out of control, out of his mind. To change his situation, society shackled and tried to separate him, just like we do with those incarcerated today. While the man was not sent to a physical “prison,” he did end up living in a place separated from people, the tombs where people are buried.

Obviously, the shackles, the incarceration, the separation from society could never help this man overcome the challenges that controlled his life and kept him separated from family, friends and community. This man had a spiritual problem which led to a cultural problem. He was overtaken by evil spirits who controlled his thoughts, his emotions, his life.

The story continues, 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (This was the demons speaking.) Ultimately Jesus spoke to the unclean spirits and sent them from inside this man into 2,000 swine, who ran themselves off a cliff to a very violent death.

People in society today have similar issues — maybe not that extreme, but parallel. It is rare to find a family today that does not have someone fighting issues that either have, or can lead to, incarceration. I came close myself as a young man. Truthfully, each of us has had issues at one level or another.

Have you ever heard the saying “we all have demons to fight?” A word of caution here: Just because we all have demons to fight is not an excuse to continue. Jesus is the solution for us, just like Jesus was the answer for this man.

There is a spiritual battle each of us is fighting within ourselves (Ephesians 6:12).

Romans 3:23-24 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption (restoration) that is in Christ Jesus.” When we run and submit ourselves to Jesus, he will rescue us and restore us to Himself and to His purpose for our life!

The word of what happened with the man and the swine spread. 15 “And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion (of evil spirits), sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.” Why were the people afraid? Because of unbelievable results.

This maniac who could not even live with himself is now in his right mind, suddenly and completely changed and ready to serve the God who created him, the God who rescued him.

After the people saw the change, the story concludes with Jesus telling the man 19 “…Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.”

And so it is today when Jesus enters a person’s life, even those in prison. I tell the guys (who are) incarcerated, “Do not ‘tell’ your family how much you have changed. Just live your life for Christ today and they will see the unbelievable change Jesus has done inside you. And when they ask what changed, then tell them all that Jesus has done for you!

Run to Jesus today!”