At the end of Mark 4 the disciples asked, ‘Who is this that even the winds and waves obey Him?’ verse 41. It’s a question people today still ask. One of the songs for children on The King, The Snake and The Promise answers this question wonderfully. Here, Mark 5:1-20, also answers it as the disciples receive further demonstration of the power and authority of Jesus.
1. When they went across to the area of Gerasenes a man with an evil spirit came out of the tomb to meet Jesus, verses 1-2. Was the man still in control after a fashion at that point that he saw the need to meet Jesus? Was there within him a vestige of hope that Jesus could do something in what appeared an impossible situation? We can only speculate, because the Bible doesn’t elaborate on why the man came out of the tombs to meet Jesus, only that he did.
At times in our lives we may feel trapped and be in what appears to be an impossible situation. Like the man with the evil spirit, that is the time we need to meet with Jesus.
2. This man lived in the tombs, away from others, verse 3. At some stage he had been chained hand and foot, verse 4. But even these could not hold him. Without Jesus he was in both physical and spiritual danger from the demons within, verse 5.
We are in danger from the evil in our world too,unless we have found peace through Jesus.
3. When he saw Jesus, the man ran and threw himself down in front of him. But the voice that came out of him was that of the evil spirit, for this spirit recognized who Jesus is, ’Jesus, Son of the Most High God,’ verse 7. The evil spirit feared his punishment was at hand. Even the evil spirit recognized and acknowledged who Jesus was, shouting it out.
Surely those who claim to be His own ought to be at least as vocal about letting others know who Jesus is – not just a good man and a teacher, but, ‘Son of the Most High God.’
4. Jesus commands the demons to come out of the man. They can only go where Jesus permits and he allows them to enter into a herd of swine, which then rushes down the bank to their death, verses 8-13.
People heard and saw what Jesus had done and instead of rejoicing that the man had been liberated and sat with Jesus clothed and in his right mind, the people pleaded with Jesus to leave their region. Instead of welcoming Jesus they did not want him in their midst, verses 14-17.
What is our reaction when we hear of or see the miracles Jesus has wrought in another person’s life? Do we rejoice with that person? Do Jesus’ deeds inspire us to love Him more? Do we marvel at His power or dismiss him fro our lives as these people did?
5. The man begged to go with Jesus. He alone, of all those gathered there, responded to Jesus in faith. But Jesus did not allow him to go with him. Instead, Jesus sent him back to his own family to witness of what the Lord had done for him, verse 19.
To whom are we witnessing of all that the Lord has done for us?
6. This passage shows us there is always a choice of responses to Jesus. One is to turn away as the people of the area did. Another response is to be amazed at the news as many were who heard the testimony of the man who had been freed from the demons, but do nothing. Apparently for these people it stayed just amazing news that did not impact their lives. They did nothing about what they heard. The third reaction is that of the man freed from evil, who praised Jesus, and witnessed to his power? Which of these will you choose to do today?
All Bible references from the New International Version
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