MARK 5
Pastor Tim led us through the first half of Mark 5. In this passage, Jesus was confronted by a demon-possessed man. He cast the demons out and into a herd of pigs, which then ran off a cliff. When the man asked to stay with Jesus, he was instructed to go home and tell the story of what Jesus had done.
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In modern western culture, we look for ways to explain the world using science. The world wants to have a physical explanation for everything. This totally discounts the unexplainable and the spiritual. We must be aware that there is a reality that we cannot see and only partially understand. Praise the Lord, we serve a God who not only sees and understands but has overcome the powers of darkness. Jesus showed his power over the demonic forces in this story completely. Do I discount the spiritual realm? Do I look for natural answers to spiritual questions? What is my role in fighting the darkness around me?
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“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” – Ephesians 6:12
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When the people of the Decapolis learned what Jesus had done, they begged him to leave. He was a disrupting power in their lives. Sometimes this abrupt world-change can be terrifying. Without knowing the goodness of God, his power would be overwhelming. It is important for us to communicate the love of Christ alongside the power of Christ. He uses his power to rescue us from death, free us from sin, and restore us to sonship with God. When I communicate about God to those around me, which aspect of God do I focus on? How can we clearly communicate to our neighbors that God is both supremely powerful and mercifully loving?
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“Lord, your faithful love reaches to heaven, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your judgments like the deepest sea. Lord, you preserve people and animals. How priceless your faithful love is, God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” – Psalm 36:5-7
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It would be natural for the demon-possessed man to want to stay with his rescuer. Yet Jesus tasks him with staying and sharing his story with those around him. We like to think of him running through the streets proclaiming God’s goodness to people. We think they would welcome him with joy and surround him with love. However, this man had been living among tombs for some time. No one could keep him contained, even with chains. He was known to break chains, crying among the tombs and cutting himself with rocks. What kind of reception do you think he would really have received? How much did he have to overcome regarding people’s preconceived notions and past history? How often in the markets, would one person whisper to another, “That’s the crazy guy from the cemetery”? If someone were to come into the church Sunday that “had a reputation,” what would his reception be? How would we view someone who was a recent convert to Christianity? How can we encourage those who are new to the faith?
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“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” – Romans 15:7
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Life Application:
The demoniac ran to Jesus as his last hope. Only Jesus had the power to overcome the darkness. Where around us is darkness that we can shine the light of Jesus? Look at your workplace, school, and community. How can God use you to bring hope in the midst of despair?
For Prayer:
Pray for Derrick and Rae Sekalamira, our missionaries in Kampala, Uganda. Pray that God works through them to reach many in Uganda.