RESPONSES TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
MARK 5:1-20
Jesus and His disciples got into a boat and headed across the Sea of Galilee. A great storm blew in and the boat was being tossed around. The disciples were terrified, but Jesus was sleeping through it. They awakened Jesus and cried out “Carest thou not that we are perishing?”
Jesus rebukes the wind and waves to be still and they obeyed. The disciples asked among themselves, “Who is this that even the wind and the waves obey Him?” They will shortly be more amazed when they encounter a demon possessed man in the tombs along the shore.
A. THE MAN POSSESSED.
Mk 5:1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.
This land is opposite Judea on the eastern side of the sea. The region is called Decapolis (10 cities) from Greek times. The capital city, Gerasa, was about 30 miles from the shore and a small town, Gadara, only 6 miles from the shore. The area around Gerasa was called “The Gerasenes.” This was a gentile land.
MK 5:2-5 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, 3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.
This man’s life is a wreck. His torment was constant. Day and night he cried out. Each day Satan’s influence drove himself further into a spiritual prison and destructive behavior. I am sure he wanted a different life, but his situation was absolutely hopeless.
He needs to be rescued.
He needs someone to do for him what he can’t do for himself.
He needs someone who can reach farther down than he can reach up.
In his misery, he has lost all hope.
But Hope is on the way.
Mk 5:6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him;
A boat lands and a group of people get out. One of them is special. Power and Purity emanates from one of them. Jesus is passing by. And he has a choice to make. He can continue to live in the miserable prison his life has become or he can come to Jesus. He runs to Jesus and he throws himself down before the Lord.
* Notice. Jesus came across the sea to save this one man. Jesus only spent a few hours there and then He got back on the boat and sailed home. When Jesus came near to him, he had to decide how he would respond to Him. So he ran to Jesus and threw himself down at His feet and worshiped Him. call upon Jesus while He is near.
B. THE DEMONS.
Now the demons were controlling this possessed man and his speech.
Mk 5:7-8 7 and shouting with a loud voice, he *said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” 8 For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
The Demons cry out revealing facts that they are fully aware of.
1. His Name. They recognize Jesus. They’ve seen Him before in Heaven.
2. His Position. Son of the Most High God. He is their Undefeatable Heavenly Foe.
3. His Power. Another dark demonic realm is being overtaken by the Light of the World and they are helpless to fight against Him.
* Knowing Jesus to be the Messiah and God in the flesh, but rejecting and hating Him is demonic. These demons are trembling with fear. And all those who reject Jesus will likewise suffer the same fate.
4. Their fate.
Luke 8:31 reveals that they know their ultimate fate.
Lk 8:31 They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.
The Abyss- A bottomless pit where Hell is. It is the prison where many demons have been Imprisoned and where the remaining will be cast into when Jesus returns and sets up His Kingdom on earth.
Mk 5:9-13 9 And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he *said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. 12 The demons implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” 13 Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.
* The Demons begged not to be cast out of their country. Many demons operate within a geographical stronghold. They don’t want to leave it, so they beg to be sent into the swine.
* Demons desire to inflict harm and agony over every creature in God’s Creation, especially man. They want to fuel the hostility of mankind against Jesus Christ.
* Were the pigs so startled by this evil presence that they ran blindly off the cliff or did the demons drive them off for a sinister reason?
C. THE TOWNSPEOPLE.
Mk 5:14 Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened.
News traveled quickly about the raving madman that is now calm and clear headed and, what was this about 2000 pigs running madly into the sea and drowning? The people came to see if these things were true.
Mk 5:15-17 15 They *came to Jesus and *observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened. 16 Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine.
17 And they began to implore Him to leave their region.
How did these townspeople respond?
1. They notice the amazing change in the man, but are unamazed. How many of us are no different? We tend to be amazed by the works of man, but see all that God has done and call it ordinary.
2. They realize the power of this Man, Jesus, but are unmoved.
Many see God perform miracles and bring healing to countless people but are never impressed enough in Him to bow down + worship Him.
3. Instead of rejoicing about the man’s deliverance, they are more concerned about the financial loss of 2000 pigs.
Many people reject Jesus, not because they don’t believe but because of fear of what it might cost them.
4. They want nothing to do with Jesus and begged Him to leave.
How many walk away from God because the thought of following Christ makes them feel uncomfortable?
D. THE MAN SET FREE.
Mk 5:18-20 18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them hat great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
When Jesus saves you and radically changes your life there will be a drastic change in your life.
1. You are hungry to spend more time with Jesus. You will spend more time studying His Word. You will immerse yourself in prayer. And, you will give Him praise for all that He has done.
2. You will obey Jesus. Your priorities and passions will change. No longer seeking to satisfy your own flesh desire, your desire now is to please Jesus and do His will.
3. You will be a witness for Him. You will tell anyone and everyone what Christ did for you. And, people will be drawn to Christ as they hunger for the things that are missing in their lives.
2000 years ago, Jesus, the Son of God traveled across the sea because one man was suffering and his soul was crying out for a Savior to set him free from the darkness that was destroying his life.
* This broken man came and bowed before Jesus and worshiped Him.
* Demons that hated Jesus and feared Him begged Jesus not to send them to the Abyss.
* The townspeople that met Jesus that day wanted nothing to do with Him. They were satisfied living in the darkness of their sins and they resented the financial burden involved with this encounter.
* The man set free was so grateful to Jesus that he committed his life to serve Jesus all the days of his life.
* Many responded to Jesus that day in many different ways.
* What about you? Jesus is here today and He has spoken to your heart. How will you respond to Him? Will you commit your life to Him or will you reject Him because you desire the things of the world more than the things of God? Or will you choose Christ?
