The Demons know, and they shudder

Mark 5:1-13 (ESV) They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. [2] And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs 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 wrenched 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 bruising himself with stones. [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? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." [8] For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" [9] And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." [10] And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. [11] Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, [12] and they begged him, saying, "Send us to the pigs; let us enter them." [13] So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea. What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? The demon knew who Jesus was. He “believed in Jesus” in a sense, the same way Christians believe in the devil. We acknowledge his existence. But the demon had no love, no trust in Jesus, and no reason too. Jesus didn’t come to save demons, he came to save men. He came to save the sinners, demons possess. The demon had an unholy fear of God. There is a holy fear. But this is not what the demon had. He knew who Jesus was. Knew what he had come to do. Knew that he was doomed, knew that he was in danger. And yet he is evil, and so drawn to his own destruction. He doesn’t flee Jesus, he runs to Jesus. Can’t help but seek his own demise. Sounds like me. Does it sound like you? Jesus has mercy on the man, he casts out the demon. He even honors the demons request and sends him, them into the pigs, the pigs go and drown themselves. Even given a respite from destruction they destroy themselves. Perhaps the pigs would rather be dead, than be possessed.