Even the Demons Need Permission

Introduction:

I was reading through Mark’s Gospel, and something caught my attention. It was one of those moments when you come across a passage of Scripture that you may have read many times before, but suddenly something stands out that makes you stop, think, and look at it again.

I was reading about the man who lived among the tombs, the man who was so terribly tormented by demons that nobody could control him. People had tried to restrain him with chains, but he had broken them. He lived in isolation, crying out and harming himself. What a dreadful existence it must have been.

And then Jesus arrived.

Now, we know the story. We know that Jesus delivered the man and restored him to his right mind. But it was something the demons said that particularly caught my attention.

“Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” – Mark 5:12 (NIV)

Did you notice that?

The demons were asking Jesus for permission!

I found myself thinking about those words.

Here were evil spirits who had exercised such terrible power over this poor man’s life. They had tormented him, robbed him of his peace, and driven him away from ordinary human fellowship. Nobody had been able to restrain him. And yet, when they came face to face with Jesus, they could do nothing without His permission.

They had to ask! What an extraordinary reminder of who Jesus really is.

The demons were not confronting someone who was merely a little more powerful than themselves. They were standing before the Son of God, the One to whom all authority belongs.

And that thought led me to reflect more deeply on something that we Christians sometimes know in our heads but need to be reminded of in our hearts.

Our God is absolutely sovereign.

There is no rival to His throne. There is no power in the universe that can overrule Him. Satan is not God’s equal, and the forces of darkness are not independent authorities operating beyond His control.

They are creatures. He is the Creator. And what a difference that makes when we begin to think about the things that trouble us!

The Power of the Enemy Is Real, but It Is Limited

As I thought about those demons pleading with Jesus, my mind went to another familiar passage of Scripture: the opening chapters of Job. You remember the account I’m sure.

Job was a man who loved God and sought to live faithfully before Him. Yet Satan challenged the sincerity of his devotion, suggesting that Job only worshipped God because of the blessings he enjoyed.

But what struck me as I thought about this was that Satan could not simply go off and do whatever he pleased.

He was subject to God’s authority. When the Lord permitted Job’s possessions to be affected, He placed a restriction upon Satan.

“Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” – Job 1:12 (NIV)

Later, when Satan was permitted to afflict Job physically, another boundary was established.

“Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” – Job 2:6 (NIV)

There it was again. Limits. Boundaries. Divine authority. Satan could not go one step beyond what God permitted.

Now, I am not suggesting that everything Job experienced was easy to understand. Far from it. His suffering was dreadful, and the questions he wrestled with were painfully real. Neither am I suggesting that God approves of evil simply because He permits it. Satan’s intentions were wicked, but God’s purposes were holy. And we must never confuse the two.

But here is what encouraged me.

Even when Job could not understand what was happening on earth, God had never lost control in heaven.

Isn’t that reassuring?

There are times in our own lives when we simply cannot make sense of what is happening. We pray, but the answer does not seem to come. We trust God, but the circumstances continue to trouble us. We look around and wonder why certain things have been permitted. And sometimes, if we are open about it, we find ourselves asking, ‘Lord, what are You doing?’

Job certainly had his questions. But what a comfort to know that our questions do not threaten God’s sovereignty.

He remains God whether we understand His purposes or not.
And His faithfulness does not depend upon our ability to explain everything that happens to us.

They Knew Exactly Who Jesus Was.

There was something else that caught my attention.

In Matthew’s account of a similar encounter with demon-possessed men, the demons cried out:

“What do you want with us, Son of God? … Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” – Matthew 8:29 (NIV)

Just think about that for a moment.

They knew who Jesus was!
They recognised Him as the Son of God, and they knew that a time of judgement had already been appointed.

What an admission! They knew that their freedom was temporary. They knew that their activities were limited. And they knew that the final outcome was not in doubt. It made me think about how easily we can become preoccupied with the activities of the enemy and lose sight of the greatness of our Saviour.

Sometimes Christians speak about the devil almost as though he were God’s opposite number, as though the universe were divided between two equally powerful forces struggling for control.

But that is not the picture Scripture gives us.

God has no equal.
Satan is a fallen creature, not a competing deity.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the One through whom all things were created and by whom all things hold together – Colossians 1:16–17.
- And one day, every knee will bow before Him.

The forces of darkness may resist God’s purposes, but they can never overthrow them.

I don’t know about you, but I find that deeply encouraging. Especially when I remember that this same Jesus is my Saviour.

And Then I Thought About Peter

My thoughts then turned to something Jesus said to Peter shortly before His crucifixion.

You will remember His words:

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.” – Luke 22:31–32 (NIV)

There it is again! Satan had asked.

But what especially moved me was what Jesus said next. “But I have prayed for you.”

What wonderful words. Jesus knew what Peter was about to face. He knew that Peter would deny Him. He knew the weakness of this disciple who, only moments earlier, had been so confident of his own loyalty. And yet, knowing all of that, Jesus had already prayed for him.

I find that tremendously comforting.

Because, if we are truthful, there are times when our own faith feels anything but strong. There are days when we feel confident in the Lord, and there are other days when we are painfully conscious of our weaknesses.

Sometimes we disappoint ourselves.
Sometimes we stumble.
Sometimes we wonder how we could have responded as we did.

Peter knew something about that.

But his failure was not the end of his story. Jesus restored him.

And the same Saviour who prayed for Peter continues to intercede for His people today. Hebrews 7:25 tells us that He always lives to intercede for those who come to God through Him.

Just think about that.

The One before whom demons must bow is the very One who is interceding for us!

The One who possesses all authority in heaven and on earth is the One who loved us enough to give Himself upon the cross. The One who rules over the universe knows us personally.

He knows our weaknesses, our struggles, our fears, and our failures. And He has not ceased to care for us.

What a Saviour!

Our Confidence Is Not in Ourselves.

As I continued thinking about these things, I was reminded of Paul’s words to the Ephesians:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” – Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

Notice what Paul does not say. He does not tell us to be strong in our own abilities or spiritual experience.

He directs us to the Lord. And surely that is where our confidence must always rest.

I have as I write this meditation been following Christ for many years, 58 years, 7 months and 10 days in fact and one thing I have increasingly come to appreciate is just how dependent we are upon His grace.

Experience does not remove our need for Him. Years of service do not make us self-sufficient. And spiritual maturity should never lead us to imagine that we have somehow become strong in ourselves.

If anything, the longer we walk with the Lord, the more we ought to recognise how much we need Him.

That is why I find such encouragement in these passages. They remind me that I do not have to face life’s difficulties relying upon my own strength.

Neither do I need to live in fear of the enemy. Yes, the devil is real. Yes, spiritual opposition is real. And yes, Scripture tells us to be watchful and to resist him, standing firm in the faith. But our confidence must never be in some supposed authority that exists independently of Christ.

Our confidence is in Christ Himself.

He is our Redeemer.
He is our Advocate.
He is our great High Priest.
- And He is our reigning King.

The Cross Settled the Question of Victory.

Of course, as Christians, we have an even greater reason for confidence. We know what happened at Calvary.

When Jesus was crucified, it must have appeared to those watching that evil had triumphed. The Son of God had been betrayed, falsely accused, condemned, and nailed to a cross. And then He died.

But what looked like defeat was, in the wonderful wisdom and purpose of God, the means by which our salvation was accomplished.

Jesus bore our sins. He paid the price of our redemption. And on the third day, He rose triumphantly from the grave. Paul tells us in Colossians 2:15 that Christ disarmed the powers and authorities, triumphing over them through the cross.

I love that thought. The enemy could not prevent God’s plan of redemption, and even the wickedness surrounding the crucifixion could not frustrate His eternal purpose.

Christ is risen!
Death could not hold Him.
The grave could not retain Him.
- And the powers of darkness could not defeat Him.

The final judgement of Satan still awaits its appointed time, but the decisive victory has already been secured by our Lord Jesus Christ. Isn’t that wonderful?

We are not following a Saviour who is struggling to become victorious. We are following the risen Lord who has already conquered.

And because He lives, all who belong to Him have a glorious and certain hope.

So, What Does This Mean for You and Me?

Well, as I reflected upon all of this, I found myself thinking about the ordinary challenges of everyday life.

We all face them, don’t we? There are concerns about our health, our families, our future, and the many responsibilities we carry.

There are unexpected disappointments, difficult decisions and circumstances we would never have chosen for ourselves.

And there are times when we simply feel weary. But here is the thought I want to leave with you.

Whatever may be happening around us, nothing has happened to God’s throne.

He is still reigning.
He has not been taken by surprise.
His purposes have not been defeated.
- And His love towards those who belong to Christ has not changed.

Now, that does not mean we shall never suffer, or that every prayer will be answered in the way we would prefer. The Lord Jesus never promised us a life without trouble.

In fact, He said quite plainly:

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (NIV)

There is such honesty and such encouragement in those words.

Jesus acknowledges the reality of trouble – But He also reminds us that trouble does not have the final word – He does.

Sometimes He delivers us from difficult circumstances.
Sometimes He gives us grace to endure them.
- And sometimes He calls us to trust Him when we cannot understand what He is doing.

But through it all, He remains faithful.

And Paul gives us that wonderful assurance in Romans 8 that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Not even the powers of darkness.

What a foundation upon which to build our lives!

One Final Thought That Has Stayed With Me.

I began this meditation by telling you how my attention was caught by those demons asking Jesus for permission. And the more I have thought about it, the more wonderful the truth has become.

Here was a man whom nobody could help. The demons had made his life a misery. He was isolated, distressed and living among the tombs.

But Jesus came into his life, and everything changed. The demons had to submit to Christ’s authority. And the man was set free.

Yet what touches me most is not simply the demonstration of Christ’s power, wonderful though that is.

It is His compassion.

Jesus crossed the sea and met a man who desperately needed Him.
A man whom others had tried to restrain, Jesus restored.
A man who had lived among the tombs was given a new beginning.
- And the Lord told him to go home and tell his own people how much the Lord had done for him and how He had shown him mercy.

There is something so beautiful about that.

The Jesus who possesses all authority is also the Jesus who delights to show mercy.

And that is the Jesus I want you to see today.

Not simply the One before whom demons tremble, but the One who welcomes weary sinners, restores the fallen, strengthens the weak and keeps those who have entrusted themselves to Him. The sovereign Lord is also the loving Saviour.

He is mighty, but He is merciful. He is exalted above all, yet He cares for His people personally. And His authority is never separated from His perfect wisdom, holiness, and goodness.

So, dear friend, whatever you may be facing today, lift your eyes to Jesus.

You may not understand everything that is happening in your life.
You may have questions that have not yet been answered.
You may even be walking through a season that is testing your faith.
But remember who your Saviour is.
- Remember who holds you.
  - And remember who reigns.

Jesus said:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” – Matthew 28:18 (NIV)

All authority!

And that same Jesus has promised that He will never leave or forsake His people.

So let us trust Him. Let us rest in His grace. Let us continue faithfully in His Word, in prayer and in obedience.

And let us remember that no matter how uncertain the world may seem, the future of those who belong to Christ is secure in His hands.

Even the demons need permission.
Satan has his limits.
Evil will not have the final word.
- But Jesus Christ is Lord, and He shall reign for ever.

And isn’t it wonderful to know that the One who reigns over everything is the very One who loved us and gave Himself for us? That thought alone should fill our hearts with gratitude, strengthen our faith, and lead us to worship.

To God be all the glory!

A Prayer from the Heart.

Heavenly Father, As I reflect upon these wonderful truths from Your Word, I am reminded once again of just how great and glorious You are.

Thank You that You are sovereign over all things, and that nothing can overthrow Your eternal purposes.

Thank You for the Lord Jesus Christ, our wonderful Saviour, who has conquered sin and death and who now reigns in glory.

Father, forgive us for those times when we allow our difficulties to become greater in our thoughts than Your promises.

Help us to remember that You are always faithful, even when we do not understand Your ways.

Strengthen those who are struggling today. Encourage those who are weary. Comfort those who are suffering and reassure those whose faith is being tested.

Above all, help us to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, trusting not in our own strength but in His unfailing grace.

May these truths lead us not merely to greater understanding, but to deeper worship, stronger faith, and more faithful obedience.

And may all the glory, honour and praise belong to You alone.

In the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

A Thought to Take Away.

There may be things happening in your life today that you cannot understand. There may be circumstances you cannot change and questions you cannot answer. But there is one truth upon which you can rest with complete confidence: God has never surrendered His throne, and Jesus Christ has never ceased to be Lord.

“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.” – Romans 11:36 (NIV)

Meditation Bible Study: 20 Questions

Name (optional): ______________________________________ Date: ______________

Read the meditation and the Bible passages carefully. For each question, tick or circle one answer (A, B, C or D).

1. What first caught the writer’s attention in Mark 5?

☐ A. The number of people in the crowd

☐ B. The demons asking Jesus for permission.

☐ C. The location of the synagogue

☐ D. The disciples’ journey to Jerusalem

2. Where had the troubled man been living?

☐ A. In a palace

☐ B. In the temple

☐ C. Among the tombs

☐ D. In a prison cell

3. What happened when Jesus confronted the demons?

☐ A. They ignored Him.

☐ B. They overpowered Him.

☐ C. They negotiated as equals

☐ D. They submitted to His authority

4. What does God’s sovereignty mean in this meditation?

☐ A. God rules over all and no creature can overthrow His purposes.

☐ B. God causes every human choice in the same way.

☐ C. Christians will experience no difficulties.

☐ D. Evil is only an illusion.

5. What was Satan forbidden to do in his first testing of Job?

☐ A. Approach Job’s friends.

☐ B. Take Job’s livestock.

☐ C. Lay a finger on Job himself.

☐ D. Speak about Job

6. What restriction was given during Job’s later testing?

☐ A. He must spare Job’s life.

☐ B. He must leave Job’s household alone.

☐ C. He must restore every possession immediately.

☐ D. He must speak only through dreams.

7. Which statement best describes God’s permission of evil?

☐ A. God is indifferent to human suffering.

☐ B. God approves of all evil actions.

☐ C. Evil happens beyond God’s knowledge.

☐ D. God remains holy and sovereign without approving of evil.

8. What did the demons recognise in Matthew 8:29?

☐ A. That Jesus had no power over them.

☐ B. Jesus’ identity as Son of God and an appointed judgement

☐ C. That their punishment had already finished

☐ D. That they would reign with Christ

9. How does the meditation describe Satan in relation to God?

☐ A. A rival god of equal strength

☐ B. The ruler of all creation

☐ C. A fallen creature with limited power

☐ D. A being with unlimited authority

10. According to Luke 22:31–32, what had Satan asked to do?

☐ A. Sift the disciples as wheat.

☐ B. Make Peter a king.

☐ C. Prevent Christ from teaching.

☐ D. Take away the apostles’ possessions.

11. What did Jesus say He had done for Peter?

☐ A. Removed every future temptation.

☐ B. Promised Peter would never stumble.

☐ C. Asked the disciples to defend him.

☐ D. Prayed that Peter’s faith might not fail.

12. What does Hebrews 7:25 teach about Jesus?

☐ A. He only prayed for the first disciples

☐ B. He always lives to intercede for His people.

☐ C. He no longer ministers on behalf of believers.

☐ D. He intercedes only when they are strong.

13. Where does Ephesians 6:10 tell believers to find strength?

☐ A. In personal experience

☐ B. In the approval of others

☐ C. In the Lord and His mighty power

☐ D. In their own determination

14. What did Christ accomplish through the cross, according to Colossians 2:15?

☐ A. He triumphed over the powers and authorities.

☐ B. He abandoned His people.

☐ C. He cancelled the resurrection.

☐ D. He promised an easy earthly life.

15. What is the significance of the resurrection in the meditation?

☐ A. It means Christians never become ill.

☐ B. It was only a symbol of new beginnings.

☐ C. It proves the disciples were without weakness.

☐ D. It confirms Christ’s victory over death and our living hope.

16. What did Jesus promise in John 16:33?

☐ A. That believers would face no opposition.

☐ B. That trouble would come, but He had overcome the world.

☐ C. That every prayer would be answered immediately

☐ D. That disciples would never experience sorrow.

17. What does Romans 8:38–39 assure those who belong to Christ?

☐ A. Nothing in creation can separate them from God’s love in Christ.

☐ B. They will never experience loss.

☐ C. They can explain all suffering.

☐ D. They no longer need prayer.

18. What did Jesus tell the restored man to do?

☐ A. Remain permanently among the tombs.

☐ B. Keep his experience secret from everyone.

☐ C. Go home and tell what the Lord had done and His mercy.

☐ D. Travel immediately to Jerusalem.

19. What is the relationship between Christ’s authority and compassion?

☐ A. His authority excludes tenderness.

☐ B. His mercy is weaker than evil.

☐ C. He cares only for the spiritually strong.

☐ D. He is both sovereign Lord and merciful Saviour.

20. Which response best reflects the meditation’s central application?

☐ A. Become preoccupied with demons.

☐ B. Trust Christ, remain watchful, pray and obey His Word

☐ C. Assume every difficulty is demonic.

☐ D. Rely chiefly on personal spiritual experience.

Personal Reflection.

Which truth from this meditation most encouraged you, and how might it change the way you pray or face difficulties this week?

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