Lenten Reader | Day 10

February 28th, 2026

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Mark 5:1-20

Good Soil

As we walk through Lent, a time of reflection and turning our hearts back toward God, I want to share a powerful story from Mark 5:1-20.

In this passage, we find Jesus crossing the sea to meet a man living among the tombs. This man was isolated, broken, and held captive by forces he couldn't control. He was someone the world had given up on, yet Jesus went out of His way—crossing a literal storm—just to reach him.
This story isn't just a miracle from the past; it is mirrors our lives today:

We all have "tombs" in our lives—places of shame, past mistakes, or habits that make us feel isolated from others and from God.
While others tried to bind the man with chains, Jesus freed him with a word. Lent reminds us that no matter how "chained" we feel by our circumstances, Christ's authority is greater than our struggles.
After his encounter with Jesus, the man was found "sitting there, dressed and in his right mind." Transformation is possible for every one of us.

How do we live this out starting tomorrow?

Use this Lenten season to bring your hidden struggles to Jesus. Don't hide in the tombs; come to the feet of the One who heals.

Just as Jesus sought out the man everyone else avoided, let us look for the "outsiders" in our own communities—the lonely, the grieving, and the misunderstood.

When the man asked to follow Jesus, Jesus told him, "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you." Our greatest tool for the Gospel is simply sharing what God has done in our own lives.

As we continue toward Easter, let’s remember that we serve a Savior who crosses any distance to bring us home to ourselves and to Him.

Jason Fife