Great, you got a new Bible. Now what are you supposed to do with it? Well, you could start by reading it! Someone asked what color a Bible should be. The answer is RED. I think every Bible should be read! There’s no difference between a Bible that’s never read and one that’s been thrown away. Read it!
That’s the 1st thing you do with a Bible. And while you read it, here’s another…
Sometimes we can best understand what we’re supposed to do with the Bible by seeing ourselves in it. You know, like taking Jn 3:16 and saying, “God so loved Sherm Nichols: He gave His one and only Son, so that if Sherm Nichols believes in Him, he will not perish but have eternal life…”
Or maybe you can picture yourself with a boatload of scared disciples out on the stormy sea, and you’re one of them who wakes up Jesus and says to Him, “Master, don’t You care that we’re going to die here?!” And Jesus says to me, “Sherm, why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?”
So, we arrive on the shores of the other side of the sea – the region of the Gerasenes; Gentile country – into a scene where 3 parties are going to collide. And right away I want you to ask yourself, along with me, “Where are you in this story?”
Mark 5:1-13 (NIV)
1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 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. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 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!" 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13 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.
“Where are you in this story?” I think that’s the way Mark puts this account in front of us in ch 5. We’re continuing to look at the life of Jesus to learn how we’re also supposed to live our lives on purpose. There’s a lot of that going on here, and Mark wants us to see it. Yes, he’s a writer with an agenda. Thankfully it’s one that can be trusted because it was inspired by the HS! I wonder how Brian Williams would have handled the news during the days of Jesus’ ministry…
"... the radical Jewish teacher Jesus is in the news again tonight. This time His disciples report that He allegedly calmed a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. However, our Galilean correspondents report that there has been no reliable source to confirm the allegations, and Galilean authorities are unwilling to comment.”
Can you imagine newspaper headlines of the “Underworld Register Star” on the day that Jesus cast out the demons from the man of the Gerasenes: “Legion Goes AWOL”...yesterday, an entire company of our supreme commander's loyal troops gave up an important stronghold in our continuing battle to ruin the human race. The troops were strategically located in their hosts and had received orders to remain there, but mobilized and invaded a herd of pigs instead. General Beelzebub is outraged at the legion's disobedience and says, "What are they off chasing pigs for?! We have our orders – the taking of a herd of pigs is no victory. We had two humans right in the palms of our hands. What does their CO think he's doing?" Other underworld authorities are shocked at the mass desertion at what has now come to be known as “Hogwash Hill.” Still, plans are continuing for the all-out offensive at Easter time...
Mark is deliberate in his proof that Jesus is the Son of God. In his gospel, Jesus has just come from stopping quite a stir on the sea (power over the elements). After this He will heal a woman with a flow of blood (power over sickness) and raise Jairus' daughter (power over death). This is a story of a day when Jesus caused quite a stir in the spirit world. (power over the spirit world)
There’s a word that reoccurs in this account, and I think it’s Mark’s way of calling for us to see ourselves in this story. Because, there’s a whole lot of begging going on here, in light of the power of Jesus. First,
I. The demons begged Jesus not to torment them (vv. 1-13)
Jesus has just crossed the Sea of Galilee - a 6 or 7 mile trip in which there had been a rough storm. Jesus was so tired He slept through it. He gets off the boat. Who knows, maybe there’s a chance for Him to get some rest on the quiet shores of this Gentile area.
Sorry, not today! Mark uses his favorite word: immediately. As soon as Jesus is out of the boat, He’s immediately greeted by 2 wild men – both possessed by demons. We’re just going to consider the one that Mark tells about.
This is another place in the NT where we learn about the spiritual realm, and especially about demons, or unclean spirits. So, let’s take just a minute and consider what demons do:
1. They give superhuman strength.
Remember, we’re talking about fallen angels here. Angels are powerful beings; far more powerful than we are. If you question that, go back to II Kings 19 and read the story of one angel annihilating 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight! So, if there really is an entire legion of demons involved here – that would be up to 6,000 – this would be one supernaturally strong man. And, he is – strong enough to break off shackles and chains.
2. They try to destroy their host
V5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
Satan is in the destroying business. So, it shouldn’t surprise us to find people who have been possessed by evil spirits are also victims. We read about one boy who had an evil spirit that would often throw him in the fire or in water. In another account, a woman is bent over and couldn’t straighten up at all for 18 years.
3. They seek a home
Jesus said that when a spirit is cast out of a man, it wanders through arid places, seeking rest. Sure enough, the demons in this account are quick to ask Jesus to send them to something else, rather than just out of the man they’re in.
Demons are powerful, bent on destruction, and seeking a home. I wonder how well we’d sleep at night if we were suddenly able to see the enemies we have among us! It’s a scary thought. But look what happens when they meet Jesus:
4. They know Who Jesus is
If you put this account together with Mt 8 and Lk 8, you see that demons are anticipating the day when they are going to be cast into “the abyss.” They know their days are numbered, and that they’re going to be destroyed. They also are afraid of Jesus. James says in 2:19 “even the demons believe that God is one, and they shudder.” So, when Jesus appears on the shores of Galilee, these demons come begging – begging that they won’t be destroyed early, begging that they won’t just be cast out, but rather begging that they would be permitted to change residency into a herd of 2,000 pigs nearby.
Isn’t it good read, every time that Jesus encounters demons, that they answer to Him?
Ill - There was a kid in Jr. High, one of those kids who was bigger than most everyone else. He had picked on my friend, and threatened me. I mentioned it to my older brother Ken. I remember a day or 2 later when my brother Ken saw this guy, and told him to back off. That was so strange – it used to be that Ken beat on me! But, there’s something very comforting when your older brother says to a bully, “Hey, you back off from my brother!”
For all the power they have, demons don’t hold a candle to Jesus. They answer to Him. In fact, here they beg Him. Maybe one way we can look at this is “Hey, my big Brother can whoop you!”
Sometimes we will feel overwhelmed with the power of Satan, but Jesus shows us here that we don't have to fear him. If it was just us on our own, we’d have good reason to be afraid. Instead, "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world..."
James 4:7
Submit, therefore to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.
Here we see the purpose of Jesus in one simple snapshot. Before we were saved out of the Devil's clutches we were naked, homeless, and without hope; sold over to Satan just as this demon-possessed man was. But Jesus has power over the worst of Satan's devices.
How many people who had heard this man's screams in the night would have believed that he could be made normal?
Think of the "most lost" person you can think of. Now, can Jesus make a difference? Do you really think that they can "be made normal"? If we’re ever going to make an effort to make a change in our community, we’ve got to believe in the power of Jesus to change men's lives. Why do we doubt it? You're right - your talking couldn't convert a paper bag – but the gospel message, with Jesus alongside you, can make the difference!
The power of Jesus has the demons begging. Then there’s another group begging here…
II. The people of the area begged Jesus to leave (v. 14-17)
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 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. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
Here is an ironic thing! In v. 10 we have the demons begging Jesus to not make them leave the area, and their request is granted. In v. 17, we have the people begging Jesus (same word) to leave the area! - and their request is granted!
I get the idea that this short visit was probably not more than a couple of hours long at the most. A "whistle stop" – then Jesus loads back up into the boat and leaves.
What was their problem? The text says they were afraid when they saw the man in his right mind.
Ill - Which would frighten you more: a man sitting at the feet of Jesus, cleaned up and in his right mind, or a crazy man, gashed up with rocks and bleeding running around naked going (blblbliiipppfftfftffft....!)? When was the last time you walked into a room and saw a normal, clean cut man sitting quietly sitting, and you found that scary?
"O, I could take it if he were a little on the crazy side and a little on the gashed side, but I don't know if I could handle seeing a normal man...!"
What was their problem?
Put yourself in these people's position: Here was the town crazy man - maybe he has become sort of a regional mascot - maybe he was so bad that they didn't ever have to worry about putting a military guard on that particular shore! Maybe he was a way they could make sure their kids behaved: "Now don't you go running off from school or the crazy man will get you!"
In any event, here was the man who had shattered shackles and chains off his feet and off his hands. He had overpowered man after man. And now he’s calmly sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Would you trust him? Would you trust the man who has taken control of this powerful force?
These people were afraid of the power of Jesus! They were afraid of the Person Who could bring about such a radical change in the life of a demoniac.
Who knows what kind of a change He could make in…me? There are a lot of people afraid of the power of Jesus because they know, given the chance, He would change them. Maybe that’s you today.
What is it about the ability of Jesus that makes us afraid to trust the people He changes? Why might it scare some of you to consider welcoming an addict, a homosexual, a felon, a prostitute, or a swindler among us here? Do we doubt that Jesus can change people? Do we not trust Him to make the worst person a person fit for His Body?
One feature of this story that’s sadly absent is any indicator that anyone other than Jesus cared about this man at all.
Let's consider something else: Here was this huge herd of possessed pigs; 2,000 or so. Suddenly they go crazy and jump off into the sea. Deviled Ham. Now, just one angry sow would be enough to make me run away into town! After they’re told what happened, they beg Jesus to leave. Mark tells us they were amazed. They were scared. Scared of what? I wonder if maybe they might have cared more about 2,000 pigs than the life of a man? "Get away from here, Jesus, You're bad for my business." Sounds almost like telling Chick-Fil-A they aren’t welcomed in your city, doesn’t it?
Now, before we get too on their case, how many times do we sound the same?
"Please step out for a minute, Jesus, you'll ruin my social life. Maybe You can come back later."
"Please leave, Jesus, just for tonight I'd like to have a break from it all."
"Jesus, please leave. You just won't fit into our way of doing things here."
Jesus left. He doesn’t force Himself on anyone. He went back across the Sea of Galiliee.
When you see the power of Jesus, don't let the unimportant matters of life cause you to send Him back to where He came from. These people begged Jesus to leave, and He did.
III. The healed man begged Jesus to let him follow Him (v. 18-20)
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 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." 20 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.
*Lit.: that he might be with Him...
Here’s the greatest example that shows Jesus’ power to change - not just that the man's outward appearance had changed, but he was changed on the inside.
What would your reaction be? Would you want to get back to your old life? Would you be anxious to get back to your friends and a familiar setting?
This man's natural reaction was he wanted to be with Jesus.
We may be a lot like this man. Here we are, with Mark’s help, "at the feet of Jesus" in our own little circle. After all, look at how He has changed us. We want to "be with Him." But Jesus has a better idea.
Jesus had to leave the area, but He was ready for that part of the country to hear the gospel. How would He get the message told? The same way He’s getting it told today: through His people that He has changed.
It isn't right that we should just shut ourselves off from the rest of the world and seek Jesus. Listen as He tells this man, "Go home to your own people and report what the Lord has done for you."
The healed man was faithful. He began in the nearest city. Everyone marveled - not because he was so great, but because of "the great things Jesus had done for him."
Conclusion:
Here’s where the rubber meets the road in this story: Where are you in this story?
Begging Jesus not to destroy you? Begging Jesus to leave you?
Begging Jesus to let you be with Him?
You’re not supposed to be a casual observer. You and I are now supposed to be participants.
What a great source of power was discovered when man learned how to split the atom. It could power cities – it could blow up cities. It couldn’t be ignored. If not carefully controlled, it could be dangerous. If not protected, it could fall into the wrong hands. The point is that it couldn’t be ignored. Once discovered, it required man to make decisions. What would we do with it? Who would we allow to have it? How much would we use it? Where would we use it? Should we allow Iran to develop it?
We have to take seriously the power of Jesus to change men's lives. No man is too lost. What will we do with the power of Jesus? It can’t be ignored. How much will we use it? Where will we use it? Where will we allow it to be known? The next time you feel like Satan has the upper hand, remember the power of Jesus that made a legion of demons go AWOL.
