When Jesus Comes On The Scene
Mark 5:1-20
Throughout our study on the life of Jesus we have witnessed many miracles. We have seen many lives radically changed by a touch or even at the sound of Jesus’ voice. Tonight is no different. In these verses we see an extreme situation, a man who was helpless and hopeless until Jesus came on the scene. We read of a man who is tormented by “many” evil spirits. He had been abiding in the cemetery and in the mountains, crying and cutting himself. We are told that no man could bind him neither could anyone tame him. Then Jesus comes by and changes his life forever.
Each child of God has their own personal testimony.
Some were (by man’s standard) good people before they were saved.
Some were a little mischievous.
Some were just plain rebellious wretched sinners.
Understand this: LOST IS LOST! The little 5 year old girl that turns to Jesus in Sunday School and the barhopping, thief & adulterer who is radically saved were both brought from death unto life.
I heard someone say a long time ago “Before Jesus we were all dead, some of us just stank more than others”
This man that was possessed by a “Legion” of demons” is proof positive that no one is beyond the reach of Jesus Christ. Not only did Jesus deliver him form the evil spirits, He changed his entire life.That is what He will do for the lost man today. If you have been saved you have been changed forever and you are a witness of what happens when Jesus saved a soul. I want to look at this man’s story and preach on the subject “What Happens When Jesus Comes On The Scene”
I. When Jesus Comes On The Scene: It Will Be At The Right Time v1-5
Many times we are quick to question God’s timing. We wonder where He is and why He is not doing what we think needs to be done.
1) We read in the scriptures that “in due time Christ died for the ungodly”
2) We find that at the perfect moment in time “God sent Jesus into the world”
3) In the story of Lazarus we find that when others thought Jesus was late, He was right on time.
4) When He saved your soul it was at the perfect time.
5) When He returns it will be the perfect time
6) This man that was possessed with “a legion of demons” had suffered for some time. But when Jesus arrived it was at the “right time”
This man faced a time of darkness, devastation and desperation. He needed help that only Jesus could provide.
a) It Was A Time Of Darkness - v1 “And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit” 3 “Who had his dwelling among the tombs”
In this area the “tombs” were hewn out of the rocky caves. This man who was naked and tormented did not live in a house. He made his home among the dead. (There is a whole sermon in that) Can you imagine living in a cemetery? I am not a superstitious person, nor do I believe in ghosts but you won’t find me out for a late night walk in the cemetery! But the tombs were a result of a much bigger problem, we are told that he was “possessed with an unclean spirit” Literally demons and this man was possessed with a “legion of them” Not only was this a time of darkness:
b) It Was A Time Of Devastation – “and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces” neither could any man tame him”
Whenever he was put into chains and shackles he would snap them. No man was strong enough to subdue him. It seems that in the past others had tried to help him but were unsuccessful. Many of you have loved ones who are in times of darkness and desperation. You have tried many times and many different ways to help them with no success. Maybe they are a drug addict, an alcoholic, a criminal or just lost and you have tried to reach out to them and it didn’t work. You should reach out to them but the only hope they have for a miracle is for Jesus to come on the scene.
That is the key to success, you can put them in the best treatment programs, you can take them to doctors and psychologists you can try many things but Jesus is the ultimate answer to their problem. Many times we look at folks and say “there is just no hope” THAT IS WRONG! There is hope and it ids found in Jesus Christ. But remember the point that we are considering “When Jesus Comes On The Scene It Will Bd At The Right Time”
There was darkness & devastation but also:
c) It Was A Time Of Desperation - v5 “And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs crying, and cutting himself with stones”
Can you imagine the loneliness that his man experienced? People were terrified of him. Those had had tried to help him had given up..... This man had been separated from his family and friends. - v19 (after he was delivered) {Jesus said} unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Just when it seemed that there was no home …JESUS CAME ON THE SCENE! Many who are here tonight can testify that that is how Jesus works! Maybe you are here tonight and you are facing a time of darkness, devastation & desperation, Jesus can do for you what He did for this man!
The next thing I would like to see is that:
II. When Jesus Comes On The Scene: The Enemy Will Flee v6-13
As soon as Jesus steps off the boat this man ran to Him. - v6 “But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him”
The KJV says that “he ran & worshipped him”. This may sound good but it is not what you think. This man didn’t worship in the since that we worship the literal translation is that he “bowed low” This man may have not known who was on the boat but the demons inside him did - James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
There is a lesson for us here! A legion of demons feared God enough to bow before Him. And we treat Him like He owes us something! As he comes into Jesus’ presence a spiritual battle begins - v7 “And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 for he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
Notice Jesus “said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit” This big bad demon didn’t even put up a fight. The demons that had been tormenting this man started begging the most high not to torture them! - “I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.” This is so encouraging! We may feel that the devil is so powerful and in full control. And he is powerful and has much influence over this world today.
But this big bad devil that causes so much heartache will one day beg for mercy himself (and will never find it) - Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Sometimes the odds may not seem too good but we must remember who we serve! Things may not look to promising for you lost loved one. You may have given up hope! Remember who Jesus is and what He has done.
This poor man faced what seemed to be unbeatable odds - v9 And he{Jesus} asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
A legion, in the Roman army, was around six thousand.Here the word speaks of an indefinitely large number We can assume that there were at least 2,000 because when they were given leave they entered into that many swine.
Notice: - v12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
The demons left this man, entered a herd of 2,000 swine, drowned the swine and left! Now think about this, this many demons did that much devastation to some old Jew’s herd of pigs and they had all been tormenting this man. What a difference Jesus can make in your life! He can and will do the same in your life today!! Those problems that you can’t fix …He can solve themThe hope that you long for …He can provide it. That oppression from the enemy …HE CAN REMOVE IT!! - When Jesus comes on the scene the enemy will flee!
III. When Jesus Comes On The Scene: Lives Will Be Changed v14-18
In this event, Jesus did a great work in the life of the man who was possessed but He also impacted many others.
A. The Public Impact Of Jesus Christ - v14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
The herdsmen witnessed this miracle and ran to tell others what they had seen. No real need to hang around the farm, all the pigs had just died. These men were not involved in the situation, they were merely bystanders but what they saw had a tremendous impact on them. In turn, they went and told others! When Jesus changes your life like He did for this man, OTHERS WILL NOTICE!
They may not understand, they may not believe in Jesus but they will know that something has happened. As the townspeople gathered together they were fearful and desired that Jesus leave town. - v16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
The majority in this account as in many other instances rejected Jesus… Maybe they all did. But he changed one man forever! Notice:
B. The Personal Impact Of Jesus Christ - v15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
He was sitting - before he had been running around cutting himself.
He was clothed, before he was naked among the tombs
He was in his right mind, before he was being tormented.
Jesus had transformed every area of this man’s life.
Now, even though the towns people begged Jesus to leave their presence, this man had a desire to remain with Him - v18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.That is the impact that Jesus will have on a life. When He changes you like He changed this man, you will have a desire to be with Jesus! That is what is confusing with the Church today. There are people who claim to have been transformed by Jesus Christ who have no desire to spend any time with Him! Not only will you want to be near Jesus, you will also have a desire to SERVE HIM!
When Jesus Comes On The Scene:
It Will Be At The Right Time
The Enemy Will Flee
Lives Will Be Changed
And finally we see that:
IV. When Jesus Comes On The Scene: There Will Be New Responsibilities v19-20
Notice that this man did not get to do what he wanted to. He wanted to remain with JesusJesus had another plan for his life.
v19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Jesus gave him a simple task …GO and tell! Notice where he was to start …at home with his family & friends! It is that simple today. If you have been transformed by the mighty hand of Jesus …GO and tell others
v20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
He was obedient, he went and did what he was told to do, I believe that he told his family and friends, but I also believe that he told everyone he encountered! Why? Because Jesus changed his life! Jesus did what he couldn’t, Jesus did what no other man could do, and he was thankful!
Conclusion:Your life may be a disaster, there may be darkness, depression, doubt & discouragement. You may feel that you have no hope, But friend with Jesus there is always hope!!
"It always makes a difference"
"When Jesus passes by"
"The devil trembles, the enemy flees"
"When Jesus comes on the scene"
"He always shines a ray of light"
"The darkening clouds must fly"
"It always makes a difference"
"When Jesus passes by"
