Title: Breaking the Chains
Theme: Jesus can break the chains the world tries to place on us.
Text: Mark 4:35 – 41, 5:1 – 20
Note: Quotes are from J. Sidlow Baxter’s Awake My Heart devotional on July 10th
Opening Scripture:
Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.
(2) And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, (3) who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, (4) because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.
Introduction
Before you get to the story of Mark 5 we look at chapter 4 and find Jesus on the other side of the sea. This was the sea of Galilee. Jesus spent a lot of time around this sea. Crossing it back and forth to travel between cities doing ministry. This time as they were crossing they encountered a storm. Let us read the story:
Mark 4:35-41 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." (36) Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. (37) And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. (38) But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (40) But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (41) And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"
Many believe that this storm was not a natural phenomenon but an attack of the enemy.
Two hints:
1. There were other boats that were with them. So this was a sudden storm. An unexpected storm. They were not prepared for this. Actually, they were going on business as usual.
2. Jesus, when He rebukes the storm, says, “Peace be still.” This is the same words He uses for in Mark 1:25. When casting out the demon Jesus said, “Be silent, come out of Him”.
Whether or not you believe this was an attack of the enemy or just a natural occurrence we can acknowledge that the enemy does attack followers of Christ.
So, no doubt that the enemy will attack and try to stop God’s plans. Why?
1. Create fear among the believers.
Fear:
a. Hinders the body of Christ.
b. Causes lack of faith in God
c. Pauses the work of God, not moving forward.
2. To Thwart the Work of God
The devil would love to stop the work of God. Jesus had told the disciples to get into the boat, they were going to other side. This should have been enough for them. Jesus had a purpose. That was to get to the other side. Jesus told them to get in the boat. Jesus got in the boat with them and was resting.
Let me just stop right here and tell you, if Jesus is in the boat you are going to be ok. If Jesus is in the boat you don’t have to be afraid. As a matter of fact:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
But if Jesus is in the boat you will get through this storm. Jesus didn’t put them in the boat and send them on alone, but he was right there with them.
If Jesus is in the boat, you can say:
- Greater is He that is in me than He than is in the world
- I am more than conquerors
- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
- No weapon formed against me shall prosper
I am not bound I am free
The biggest thing is not to bail out of the boat.
Notice Jesus’ posture. He was sleeping. He was secure in the arms of God. He knew that God had this. There was work to be done and this was not his time. He trusted God. When you trust God you can sleep through the storm.
Notice the second reason the devil was working. Jesus was trying to get to the other side. There was a ministry to be done. A man was in need and Jesus needed to get there.
Mark 5:1-20 Then they came to the other side of the sea (after the storm), to the country of the Gadarenes. (2) And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, (3) who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, (4) because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.
Wow! What a description. Jesus gets to the other side and meets this man. Jesus leaves a storm, attack of the enemy, and meets a man who is full of “unclean spirit” As we will see it is not just one but many.
Notice his description here:
1. Living in the tombs, among the dead.
2. Demon possessed. Out of control.
3. The people tried to bind him but they could not.
4. They tried to make chains but there were none strong enough.
5. They tried to tame him, but they could not.
Here is the image I got. The blacksmith would be called to make a chain to tame this man. He made his first chain believing it would work but the man broke it. He made the second chain but again this man broke it. There are not telling how many chains he made but all to no avail.
These chains represent the “utmost that man can do against human depravity”.
This is how the world works. They have no cure for the lost. They have no cure for the bound. They have no cure for the broken. They have no cure for those who are “dead their trespasses and sin”.
So what do they try to do. They label and try to control the person. This world loves labels. Labels of addict, labels of trans. Labels of sin.
The problem with chains is “chains only bind, they do not cure.”
Notice another thing. They could not tame him. The world will try to tame you. Saying sin doesn’t matter. There is no such thing and adultery. Psychiatrists have went as far as to medicate people.
Man’s Emotional Reaction, Jesus breaks the chains
(5) And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
There was a deep cry for help here. This man was in trouble, and no one could help. Not matter how much he cried.
(6) When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. (7) And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me."
Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
When Jesus steps into the picture.
(8) For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" (9) Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." (10) Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. (11) Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. (12) So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." (13) And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. (14) So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.
New Man in Christ Jesus
(15) Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.
Jesus breaks the chains. The world will try to label but Jesus sets the man free. He didn’t need another fix. He didn’t need another drug to calm him down. He didn’t need another “label” or excuse to be the way he was, this man needed Jesus.
“Instead of an outward change, there was inward change.”
The change:
1. Sitting
2. Clothed
3. In his right mind.
Towns Reaction “they were afraid”
Why were they afraid? Because deliverance and being set free means change. We no longer can hold on to the labels. They can no longer be our crutch.
(16) And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. (17) Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. (18) And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. (19) However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." (20) And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Conclusion
You got to give up something to get freedom. You can’t just sit back and believe that everything will be the same.
Romans 6:7-9 For he who has died has been freed from sin. (8) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, (9) knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Galatians 5:1, For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
John 8:32 ESV And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:36 ESV So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Isaiah 61:1 ESV The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
