Jesus An Amazing Savior Series

JESUS IS AMAZING: AN AMAZING SAVIOR

Mark 5:1-20

Introduction

If you could bring every broken part of you to Jesus for healing, what would you bring to Him today? This is what we see people doing in the stories about Jesus.He is the One who receives broken hearts … dreams … lives. He is the only one who can bring healing and peace and grace. We have noted this month that Jesus is Amazing! Teacher, Friend, he has an Amazing Mission. Today I simply want to affirm that He is an amazing Savior.

We all need saving - all of us are sinners … imperfect … human. There’s some part of all of us today that needs to be saved. Jesus came to save us so that we can live with him for eternity.

Mark 5 describes a scene of terror and destruction. It’s late in the evening. The disciples had just crossed the Lake of Galilee in a storm. The city of Garasa was one of the ten cities of the Decapolis. Geographically, Jesus has ventured well into Gentile territory. This area is characterized by many caves in the limestone rock, many of which were used as tombs.

Mark 5:2-13 As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. 3 He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain— 4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” 8 For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

9 “What is your name?” he asked him. “My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region. 11 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 12 The demons[b] begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.

1. Jesus Is Our Savior From the Evil of this World

This man was suffering from a powerful demon living in him. I think of demon possession as something that happened in the first century - but I do not discount the work of Satan in this world.

1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Still Satan is very active in our world today. Jesus was able to resist Satan and when he died, he crushed Satan. We are victorious because of Christ - not because of self.

If you are struggling with evil thoughts, activities, or troubles in your life - Jesus is an amazing Savior from the evil of this world.

2. Jesus is Our Savior from the Pain of the Life.

This man endured such physical and emotional pain.

There are many signals that our world lives in great pain. Self-destructive lifestyles and habits. The rise of suicide, murders, crime. Emotional pain of loneliness, disappointment, regret, separation from those we love. Family pain, trauma, abuse, debt, doubt.

Kent Hughes: “Are you deeply scarred? Do you have filthy habits - perhaps a mouth that is totally out of control, that has said little that is clean in years? Perhaps you are dishonest. It is your way of life. Maybe your scar is sexual, whether heterosexual or homosexual, and you feel you are beyond help. Not so! Jesus who calmed the stormy seas also calms the storm-tossed soul. He can do so with a word.”

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

3. Jesus is Our Savior from the Destruction of Sin

Jesus’ mission was to bring spiritual healing to lost humanity.

John 3:16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.