When Pigs Can't Swim Series

Mark 5:1-20

ILL. I was recently contacted by a pulpit committee that was interested in my ministry.

I met with Chairman of the Disenchanted, Bro Tepid. He described his church; First Lukewarm Church of the Apathetic. “Nothing too boring, nothing too exciting. We want it to fit into our American Culture Christianity. No songs too slow, no songs too fast. Nothing from the ancient songs and nothing after the 70's.” Nothing ever challenging. We want encouragement and comfort.”

He sang to me the Churches Theme Song.

“Sitting on the premises with of Christ our friend.

Through eternal ages let the service end.

Glutted to the highest we will moan and sing.

Sitting on the premises and dead.

Sitting on the premises, sitting on the premises,

Sitting on the premises of Christ our servant.

Sitting on the premises, sitting on the premises,

We're sitting on the premises and dead.”

He proudly described the Church as irresolute and uncommitted. He introduced to me the other committee members; Bobby Bored, Connie Cool. He described the great teachings the women received who participated in the Church's The Women's Indifference Society. There seemed to be great growth in one class; The Mellow Sunday School Class. They were excited about an upcoming event; The Men's Worldly and Wise Conference. An upcoming revival was going to be led by The Reverend Marvin Mundane. The church had started the Spiritless Seniors group who were going to focus on traveling to entertainment locations like Branson Missouri and Las Vegas. This would bring the Church back into balance because of the growing the Unresponsive Youth Program.

They were looking for a pastor who could scratch their ears, stir their emotions, help their self-esteem, complement their current spiritual condition and validate their unchanging ministries and priorities.

On the bright side, they were going to pay well and the benefits were killer.

The problem? That pig won't swim.

Mark 5:1-21 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. (Gergasines, Gadazarines)

I remind you from our study of the book of Judges, this was the area of which one of the tribes chose not to cross the Jordan for their inheritance. They wanted land East of the Jordan.

This typifies those who trust Christ but do not continue to grow spiritually to maturity in the faith.

I also remind you that despite these people's spiritual gifts, that pig don't swim.

We will see them involved in hog trade, which was strictly forbidden for Jews.

This was in an area where 10 cities were called the Decapolis.

2-5 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Here was a man that was a victim of failed spiritual policy.

When a people refuse to grow, they next find they have pigs of sins permitted in their fellowship.

Then they have spiritual problems that are not restrainable.

I am not saying that this man's problems were not related to his choices.

I am saying that his choices in life brought on more hideous consequences because of the spiritual condition in which he was raised; the decisions of his forefathers.

6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.

When you read verse 2 and verse 6, you get the full picture.

As Jesus was sailing across the Gergazine Sea, this lunatic saw Him by looking out the cave opening.

He began to run to the landing spot.

They arrived there at about the same time.

As Jesus stepped off the boat, immediately this man falls at His feet and begins speaking to Him.

7-9 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." 8 For he (Jesus) was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9 And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many."

Jesus was not welcomed by this man.

This man was begging Him to leave.

“What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

Translated into Tim Texan, “Why would you love me? Isn't there more important, loveable people to pick in this country?”