Some people think that God and the devil are equal and opposite forces, like opposing teams in a football match, where human beings are the ball.  Not so!  God has the supreme right to rule, and Satan can only operate by permission (Job 1:6-12).  People are not the passive victims of a heavenly struggle, for they can and do choose who will be their master.  Alas, Legion was taken prisoner by his own demonic ‘house-guests’ and was manipulated by them into unpredictable violence.

The name of a person is unique.  There may be many people with the same name, but each is individual.  Jesus asked the man’s name.  In Mark’s account, sourced from the eye-witness Peter, what came out of the man’s mouth was, ‘My name is Legion … for we are many’ (Mark 5:9).  The demons could not resist Jesus’ demand that they tell the truth.  However much the man was confused, the demons were clear.  They had come and they intended to stay.  

When Jesus confronted the demonised man, Satan's agents knew that they could not win.  They knew that Jesus was about to terminate their illegal 'residency permit'.  They knew their final destiny (2 Peter 2:4) and feared it might be imminent.  The only question was where would they be sent?  The fact that they repeatedly begged Jesus not to deport them to the place of the dead showed that they were struggling for the power to continue to demonise the living; but they knew that they were ultimately subject to the authority of Jesus.

The good news is that those who want to be released from Satan's bondage can have complete confidence that Jesus has the power to deal with the problem.  There is no power that Jesus cannot break.  So why do not more people come to Him?  Perhaps they have never heard, or if they have, they still believe the lie that they are the helpless victims of an eternal struggle, and there is no certainty as to who will win!  Of course, Jesus will win (Revelation 20:7-15). What they need is to be told the truth; and who better to do that than you!  But many would say that other Christians could say it better, explain it more clearly and answer questions with greater confidence.  Maybe: but are they near your troubled friend, are they in your workplace, do they have refreshment breaks at the same time, do they travel on the same train? No!  But you are there, on hand to minister in the Name of Jesus (1 Peter 3:15-16).  Wherever you find troubled souls, tell them that Jesus has the power to set them free.