The Man Who Lived In The Cemetery
Mark 5:1-20
As Jesus stepped on shore in the country of Gadarenes, he is immediately met by a man who is totally consumed by darkness. This man is a sad and pitiful picture of a sinful soul now totally posessed of demons. As I read this account, I am reminded of the words of our Lord in John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Like a game of cat, and mouse, the devil is toying with his prey before he finally leads him to utter destruction. Look at the pitiful plight of this possessed man.
1. He was Defiled By The Devil. V. 2
"Unclean" is impure, lewd, demonic
The word "with" in V.2 can indicate many things. In the case of this pitiful individual it means he had " given himself wholly to " a unclean spirit.
We find out later in this encounter that the number of unclean spirits that tortured, and tormented this man numbered in the range of 2000. V. 13
Are there individuals in this condition today ? Absolutely ! How does one get into such a state of spiritual ruin ?
a. Beware of his deception.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
b. Beware of his distortion.
Gen 3:3-4 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.
c. Beware of his disguises
2Co 11:14-15 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
d. Beware of his devices.
2 Cor 2:11 "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."
e. Beware of his darts.
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Illust. Many years ago, a strong young indian decided to climb to the summit of a nearby snow-capped peak. He donned his buffalo hide shirt, wrapped his blanket around him, and set off. When at last the reached the summit, he swelled with pride. Then he saw a motion hat his feet. It was a sanke, which promptly and pitifully spoke to him. "I’m about to die" said the snake. It is too cold for me up here, and I am freezing. There is no food, and I am starving. Please wrap me under your shirt, and take me down to the valley where it is warmer, and where I can find food. " " No said the young man. I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake, and if I pick you up you will bite me and kill me." "No, said the serpent. I will treat you differently. I will not harm you.....I promise" At last the youth gave in to the snakes pleading and tucked the snake under his shirt. After arriving down in the valley, he removed the snake from his shirt, and laid it down on the ground. Whereupon the sanke immediately coiled, rattled, struck and planted his fangs into the young man’s leg. "But you promised said the young man as he fell, feeling the effects of the deadly poison now entering his blood. The snake responded....."You knew what I was when you picked me up! "
Remember the words of Paul in
2 Cor. 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ
2. He was Dwelling Among the Dead. V. 3
"his dwelling among the tombs;"
Ephesians 2:1-5 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;).......
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trepasses;
Though this man was alive, he like all who are without Christ, was dead.
a. He Was Dead.......Without Faith.
b. He Was Dead....... Without A Future.
c. He Was Dead....... Without His Faculties.
2 Cor. 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God, should shine unto them
d. He Was Dead....... Without Family.
3. He was Devoid Of All Dignity.
a. He had no shelter.
Luke 8:27 "....neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
b. He had no sensitivity.
Dwelling in the tombs.....without sensitivity to the family & friends of those departed !
c. He had no shame.
Luke 8:27 "........wore no clothes.
d. He had no spirit.
Mark 5:5 ".......cutting himself with stones. Satan had so tortured, and tormented this man....that he no longer had the spirit to even live.
4. He was Deserted In His Distress.
Luke 8:29 ".......was driven of the devil into the wilderness." Wilderness means lonesome or solitary.
I wonder how those in the city dealt with this man......
a. by shackling him.
If they had been sucessful, what would they have done with him ? Treated him like a one man freak show ? When they bound him with chains, they weren’t trying to help him, they were only trying to protect themselves.
The best society can do for the alcoholic is put him in detox, and rehab ! For the addicts, we provide them with clean needles ! For the sexually immoral, we provide them with so-called safe contraceptives, and seek to "educate them". All society can do with the thief is "put them away." We send the depressed to "group therapy."
My goodness....this man was already shackled.....what he needed was for someone to set him free !
b. by shunning him.
When shackling didn’t work, they simply hoped he would disappear into the mountains or die in the cemetery.
They hoped he would just go away !
c. by scorning him.
Can’t you just hear the jokes ? Let’s all go out to the cemetery, and see the mad man !
Where were the......
Priests ?
Physicians?
People who loved him?
*Notice Mk. 5:15......they were afraid.
I wonder why they were afraid now. Earlier they had enough courage to try and "tame" him ! Perhaps....they are now frightened because of how they mistreated him......insulted him.......beat him......shunned him.....etc........Perhaps....they fear retribution !
*Note also......V.17 they actually prayed that Jesus would leave town ! Why ?
Perhaps.....it was because they cared more about their pigs than they did people !
5. He was Delivered From His Depravity.
To all those who knew him, and his condition....this man was totally hopeless, and helpless. But then along came Jesus ! Notice what Christ did for this man !
a. He saved him !
V. 15....."and see him that was possessed with the devil," Jesus set him free !
b. He suited him !
The change within is seen on the outside as this man who earlier ran naked in the hills and among the tombs is now clothed !
c. He stabilized him.
V. 15....."in his right mind"
d. He sent him.
V 18-19 As Jesus departs this man wants to remain with him.....but Jesus sends him back home to be a witness of what the Lord has done !
"Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee."
Illust.A story told by Paul Lee Tan illustrates the meaning of redemption. He said that when A. J. Gordon was pastor of a church in Boston, he met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. Gordon inquired, “Son, where did you get those birds?” The boy replied, “I trapped them out in the field.” “What are you going to do with them?” “I’m going to play with them, and then I guess I’ll just feed them to an old cat we have at home.”
When Gordon offered to buy them, the lad exclaimed, “Mister, you don’t want them, they’re just little old wild birds and can’t sing very well.” Gordon replied, “I’ll give you $2 for the cage and the birds.” “Okay, it’s a deal, but you’re making a bad bargain.”
The exchange was made and the boy went away whistling, happy with his shiny coins. Gordon walked around to the back of the church property, opened the door of the small wire coop, and let the struggling creatures soar into the blue. The next Sunday he took the empty cage into the pulpit and used it to illustrate his sermon about Christ’s coming to seek and to save the lost—paying for them with His own precious blood. “That boy told me the birds were not songsters,” said Gordon, “but when I released them and they winged their way heavenward, it seemed to me they were singing, ‘Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!”
The devil wants to rob you blind ! Don’t underestimate his power to deceive !
According to the Bible, unless we come to Christ we are dead in our tresspasses, and sin ! We may not live in the cemetery, but spiritually we are dead....and only Christ can set us free ! Only he can give us life !
If you are without Christ, you are just as hopeless, and helpless as this man......only Christ can save ! Would you come to him this morning that you might be free ?
6. He Was Different In His Disposition.
a. Notice his desire. V.18
He wanted to be whereever Jesus was !
b. Notice his departure. V. 20
Luke 8:39 Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee.
Jesus told him to return home ! He obeys !
That must have been difficult....but he did it !
He departed from the graveyard ! No longer wanted to live among the dead !
c. Notice his declaring. V 20
".....to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him....." Decapolis was a ten city region !
The devil is a liar........Jesus is Lord !
The devil will rob you.......Jesus will redeem you.
The devil will steal from you........Jesus will supply you with all you need.
The devil will enchain you......Jesus will emancipate you !
The devil wants to destroy you......Jesus wants to deliver you !
The devil wants to murder you.........Jesus wants to master you !
Do you have a sense of hopelessness, and helplessness this morning ? Jesus longs to help you, and give you hope ! He is Lord !
He loves you, and will deliver you !
