Mark 5:1-20 Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac 5 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.[a] 2 And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. 3 He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; 4 for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; 7 and he shouted at the top of his voice, “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 had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 Then Jesus[b] asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; 12 and the unclean spirits[c] begged him, “Send us into the swine; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. 14 The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus[d] to leave their neighborhood. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But Jesus[e] refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. Observation While this man is awfully oppressed by the spirits within, there is something else. The easiest way for the spirits to be left alone, avoid being tormented, would be to stay away from the Jesus who they clearly know. So, it seems to me there must be something good, something desperate that compels and propels the man (against the better judgement of the spirits) towards the one who can free him, whose identity has been revealed, oddly enough, by the problem that needs solving. This is good. This is cause for celebration. Their neighbour and friend, once lost, is now found. But instead, there is fear. Fear of economic loss? Fear of the power they have seen? And so Jesus leaves, but leaves behind an undeniable witness who will live and move and breathe among these people- fear might just turn to amazement and trust. Application Two things: it is so easy to forget to throw oneself at the feet of Jesus until the point of desperation, but the good news is that there is something within that responds and is drawn to the source of goodness and life. There is a still small voice which speaks clearly through the noise, a signal, albeit faint that can be tuned into and amplified. The second thought- it is tough to embrace those who have proved themselves unlovely in the past, but they have the most profound calling among us- they are clear witnesses to redeeming grace, and we do well to listen to them. Prayer Father, may you be my first resort. May I be found among those who celebrate redemption, with no trace of suspicion. Amen
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 08:23:16 +0000