Our Pork Is More Important

Our Pork is More Important

Mark 5:1-20

Good morning.

How many of us like bacon? How many of us would place bacon on our top five list of foods that we love?

I read an article that said the consumption of salted pork belly goes back over a 1000 years to the Roman Era, who ate a type of pig meat boiled with figs, and then browned and seasoned.

The word, “bacon” originally was used to describe all pork, not just bacon slices.

Pigs were not native to North America, and it’s believed pigs were shipped over to Cuba with Christopher Columbus.

The curing process for bacon was a relatively simple one, making it a popular choice of meat for all classes.

Americans saw a bacon boom in the 20th century, leading to mass production of the salty meat.

However, it wasn’t until the 1990s when bacon became more than a breakfast side.

Today, we find bacon ice cream, chocolate-covered bacon, bacon vodka, and so much more.

I love bacon; but, I don’t know if I would prioritize it as much as the folks in our narrative this morning.

Please open your Bibles to Mark 5 as we continue that study

Last week, we studied about a Mega storm that happened right after Jesus finished teaching three parables about the unstoppable Kingdom of God.

The Lord basically took His followers from the classroom of learning, into a practical life application situation.

These followers of Jesus obeyed and got into the boat, and because they obeyed Jesus, they endured a loud, mighty, exceedingly great, MEGA storm.

In life, we are never promised an easy trip; but, we are promised an arrival to where He directs. We are not in control; Jesus is.

During all of the storms of life, it may get windy and scary; but, if we trust and obey the Lord, we experience His perfect peace.

We need to have faith that the Lord will bring us safely to the destination He has determined we should go! Jesus will never leave nor forsake us; especially in the Mega storms of life!

This morning, we are going to hear where Jesus heals a man from an affliction that still causes great controversy today.

This man was possessed by many demons and this sort of reminds of either someone with schizophrenia or something out of the 70’s Television show, Creature Features.

I. The boat arrives at a Gentile territory.

Read Mark 5:1-5

When we read this narrative, there are many questions we start to think about: we might concentrate on a tormented naked man with super-strength living in tombs or we might think of demons

Warren Wiersbe said, “This entire scene seems very unreal to us who live in so-called “modern civilization,” but it would not be unreal in many mission fields.

In fact, some Bible teachers believe that demon possession is becoming even more prevalent in today’s “modern society.”

The Disciples were probably wondering why Jesus wanted to come into a Gentile area at all; let alone, a Gentile area that was well known for hog farming.

But the main point of the narrative is not about demons and their power; it is not even about the unclean pigs; but, that main point of this passage is about the freeing, almighty power of Jesus.

The identity and mission of Jesus, along with the way we respond to Jesus; is the main focus of this passage of scripture.

There is a lot of controversy about where this narrative took place; however, we do not need to get bogged down with that

(Pic) The city of Gadara and its surrounding area are referred to as the Gadarenes; it is located southeast of the Sea of Galilee.

The people were descendants of the tribe of Gad, who were Gentiles and they were known for raising pigs, which were unclean animals and illegal for Jews to eat or touch.

Immediately after these storm tossed Disciples get out of the tiny fishing boat, they encounter two demon possessed men.

Even though Mark concentrates on the one demon possessed man, we know from Matthew 8, there was another with him.

Matthew 8:28 there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. NKJV

Let’s discuss some of this man’s outward problems which were only symptoms; they were not the real problem.

Luke 8:27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. NKJV

This poor man had been demon possessed for a long time.

This poor man ran around naked and lived like a wild animal.