Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding nearby on the mountain. And the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us into the pigs so that we may enter them.” Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.

It takes special skill to stand in front of a large, loud audience and grab their attention. Teachers must learn this skill quickly to handle their classrooms. They often try things like clapping their hands, whistling, or calling out to the class to quiet the chaos and direct their students through the day’s lesson. This demon-possessed man, often called the demoniac, had only experienced chaos for years. From his violence toward others to the self-destructive behaviors tormenting him, his life was in a tailspin.

When Jesus spoke, the chaos began to calm. Only Jesus had the authority to stop the demons this man was possessed with—an authority the demons recognized the moment the man fell at Jesus’s feet and acknowledged in their request to enter the pigs. They knew who Jesus was, what power He held over them. Jesus’s authority has not changed. He can calm the most chaotic situations. He can redeem what seems beyond repair to us. He can use something for good that was intended for evil.

This kind of spiritual battle didn’t end with Jesus casting the demons out of the possessed man; it still rages today. Ephesians 6:10-12 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Our strength against the evil in this world does not come from anything we can do but from what God can do. He has the authority and ability to take control over the chaotic pieces of our lives and redeem them when we surrender to Him.

• How have you seen Christ’s authority at work in your life?
• How can you prepare yourself for the spiritual battles you will face?
• Pray and ask God to prepare Christians all around the world for the spiritual battles they will face.