Today we begin a new series titled Good News for Living in a Bad News World. It seems that the majority of the headlines in the media these days is related to bad news. We hear about the devastating effects of hurricanes in the Caribbean, countries at war, suicide bombers, shootings at McDonald’s, fights in the schools, road rage and more. Without a doubt the headlines remind us that we live in a bad news world. I thought it was time we heard a little good news. Hence this series.
We begin the series with a man who lived in a bad news world like many of us.
[S] “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” (Mark 5.1-20, NIV) [S]
The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
When you travel south along the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and look up to your left about 100 feet off the roadway you will spot a series of small caves. You wouldn’t know it unless the guide told you, but those are ancient burial caves much like the ones the demoniac probably lived and played in.
The demoniac. He was different. He was strange. His behavior was unacceptable. He was violent and considered a threat to the townspeople. He had no friends. He couldn’t keep a job. He was unlovable and lonely. No one liked him. I guess you could say his life was a mess and it was a loss.
And then one day Jesus invaded his space. One day he had an unplanned encounter with Jesus that literally and physically and spiritually transformed his life in every conceivable way. This wasn’t the same guy any longer as evidenced in the story by the man now sitting in his right mind. He was a living example of what the Apostle Paul would later term a new creation in Jesus Christ.
Jesus had made such a difference in his life that the man was eager to leave the caverns of his life to follow Jesus as a disciple. But Jesus had other plans for him. Jesus wanted “Dee” to go back to his own people and tell them just what Jesus had done for him. This he did. “D” shared what Jesus did for him with others in the Decapolis, the region of the ten cities. And get this, years later the first bishops of the early church would come from there. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
There’s not a time I read this story when I don’t give the demoniac the name of Bryan Fink. Because there was a season when my life was a mess too. A time when like the Demoniac I’d beat myself up with guilt and drugs because of bad decisions I had made. Decisions that kept my life spiraling downward.
You need to know that I haven’t always been a devoted disciple of Jesus. You need to know that I haven’t always loved Jesus more than anything. I never intended to be a pastor. I was going to be in law enforcement. I still hear from friends I went to Greenville College with who can’t believe it either? Just this last week an old college acquaintance left a note on my Facebook wall saying, “So, you’re a pastor?” They’re shocked because when I was in college I was definitely not known for my holiness but for my holylessness. [S] But then like the man in Mark God invaded my space and overwhelmed me with grace. And ever since then I have never been the same.
I grew up in a good Christian home. My parents were deeply involved in the life of the local United Methodist Church. Dad and mom served on different committees and task forces, helped with the youth group, taught Sunday school and gave to the church.
But something happened to me during my senior year in high school and the first couple of years at the University of Northern Colorado that led me to live in the caverns. I made several bad decisions. Decisions would cost me dearly. Sin became rampant in my life. I knew it but I didn’t care. I liked it at the time. I partied a lot. I drank a lot. I was smoked pot, snorted cocaine and took other illicit substances. I lived a very promiscuous lifestyle that eventually resulted in an abortion with my girl friend. I even pointed a loaded double barrel shotgun at someone very dear to me, daring them to dare me to pull the trigger. I withdrew from the University of Northern Colorado during the third quarter because I was flunking out and didn’t want that on my transcripts.
The beginning of my second year as a freshman at UNC I hit rock bottom. My roommate had left for the weekend and I was all alone in my dorm room. Despair and depression settled in, anger and bitterness bubbled up resulting in an explosive rage. I was throwing anything I could get my hands on around that room. After a flurry of activity I sat down in a broken chair and sobbed. Somewhere out of that mess came the words, “God if you’re real, do something. If you’re real, get me out of this mess.” “If you’re real change my life!”
I awoke the next morning at my desk by the ringing of the phone. It was my kid brother and the baseball coach from Greenville College calling inviting me to attend Greenville College so I could play on the baseball team. Greenville College is a four year Christian Liberal Arts School associated with the Free Methodist Denomination. Several days later I was in Greenville. My life didn’t turn right away. In fact, after the first year there I was told I couldn’t come back. Through some pleading for mercy they gave me a second chance.
I don’t remember exactly when it was. But I remember the event. I was standing along the sidewalk in front of Joy Hall when Vicki, a friend of mine yelled at me from a block away. And she sounded angry. I thought what’s her problem? She stammered for the right words. And what I remember her saying was something like, “Bryan, I’m so sick and tired of watching you self-destruct. Don’t you know that God loves you? Why don’t you give him your life and let him clean it up?”
I thought to myself. “No, I didn’t know if God loved me.” I knew he could, but I didn’t think he would not after all I had said and done. Have you ever thought like that?
But there was something in the way she said it. There was a righteous conviction. I saw in her a belief in what she said that was so powerful that it convinced me it must be true. For the first time in years I believed that God loved me after all. And so later that night, I told God that I wanted more of this and that in response I would be his.
The next morning I was clothed in righteousness and walking in my right mind. I was a brand new creation. Like the demoniac Jesus changed my life and I’ve never been the same since.
[S] In a world filled with bad news. In a world where people make bad decisions that cripple their lives or the lives of others. It’s good news to know that Jesus the Christ still redeems lives in ways nothing else can. Maybe there’s someone here who’s been living in the tombs. Maybe there’s someone here who doesn’t think God will love them. Not after what they’ve thought or done. Maybe there’s someone here who keeps beating themselves up by withholding forgiveness from their selves. If you’re tired of living among the tombs and are ready to live in the light of life, I invite you to receive the love of God for your life by accepting what he offers you through the gift of the sacrament of Communion.
