Real Freedom Series

Title: Real Freedom

Theme: To show how Christ can bring us real freedom

Text: Mark 5:1 - 18

Introduction

Review the Miracles of Jesus.

Last week we looked at the miracle of the Wedding at Cana. This was Jesus 1st miracle. As we continue this series on the Miracles of Jesus let us now turn to Mark 5. This story is also found in Matthew 8 and Luke 8. Matthew mentions that there were two men the second man is not mentioned in Mark or Luke probably because only one man spoke.

So lets get into the word as we celebrate freedom this Sunday. I have titled this message. Real Freedom.

(Mark 5:1) Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.

This area is believed to be settled by Gad, Reuben & half the tribe of Manasseh in Numbers. They got disconnected from the others tribes physically by the Jordan but also spiritually. Sad commentary on many of the tribes is that they failed to drive out the enemies of the land.

Maybe they were enthusiastic at the beginning but they got more focused on living than they did fighting. They got settled. They compromised.

Now we find this land here, pig farmers and land of the demonic.

(Mark 5:2) And when He had come out of the boat,

Mark 4 tells us of another miracle where Jesus calms the storm. Some infer that this was also a demonic attack. Mainly because of the wording where Jesus says, “Peace be still”. He also uses the same Greek words in Mark 1:25 where He tells the demon to “Be silent, and come out of him”. We also see the quickness and unpredictability of the storm. These were experienced sailors and should have known this.

Early in Jesus ministry there were a lot of confrontations with the demonic. They were trying to stop Him. This ceases as they notice that this does not work with Jesus. Satan focus on different areas like Jesus’ disciples, followers and the religious leaders.

immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Man’s Description of Desperation

(Mark 5:3) 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. (5) And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

His Condition

Dwelling among the tombs. This was a graveyard. Caves were often used to bury the dead. He lived in one of the caves among the dead. This is how captured he was.

Could not be bound, even with chains” These demons inside him were so powerful that he could break shackles & chains. To me it is interesting he could break the physical chains but struggle breaking the spiritual control of the enemy.

Two things society does with people like this. 1) they will bind them with chains 2) they will isolate them. In other words they have no hope for them. They see them as a menace to society. They do not see what God can do in them.

His Desperation

Crying out – for relief, he was crying for help yet no one could help him.

Cutting himself – self harm. This was the only relief he had. This caused a distraction from the real pain that is on the inside.

God has given us power to help this man:

Matthew 16:18-19 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

(Mark 5:6) When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

Interesting ploy of the enemy who will try to disguise himself as a worshiper. This may not make sense but I believe and have seen the enemy disrupt a service like this. They look like worshipers but are there to disrupt the service. To bring confusion and distraction to the people.

I watched it with my own eyes.

Yet Philippians 2:9 – 11 also reminds us:

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (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, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.