Mark 5:1-20
The healing of a demon-possessed man

Here is another story in Mark of Jesus casting out demons. This time he is in a different part of the country--were he is not as well known, in Gerasenes. The man possessed by demons lived among the tombs, where he would cry out and cut himself. People had tried to subdue him and even chain him, but he always broke his chains.

The man approached Jesus, and again, the demons recognized him as the Son of God. The pleaded with him to send them into a herd of pigs, so Jesus granted their request. The demons entered the herd, which promptly rushed down the steep bank and were drowned in the lake.

People were amazed when they saw this man, now clothed and in his right mind, sitting calmly before Jesus. He begged to go with Jesus as he saw him getting ready to depart in his boat, but Jesus instructed him to go tell others what God had done for him. Here, in a region where Pharisees and other "teachers of the law" had not spread rumors and hatred about Jesus, the message of Jesus could be understood, not clouded.

I think that sometimes, we entrap ourselves in so much religion and church stuff that we miss the real message of Jesus. Here, in a region far from "home," his message of healing and restoration was so clear--in such a contrast from the demonic situation. No one questioned him, and the man was free to go and spread the news of what Jesus had done, where in other passages Jesus cautions those he heals to be quiet, because his time had not yet come. Here, there was freedom, not danger.

I think it is important to attend church, study the Bible, be involved in an organized ministry. But it seems that after we get our encouragement from other believers in church, and from the Scriptures, we should be out sharing Jesus love in a world that will accept it, when they see the contrast of darkness and light, of hatred and love. We need to break out of our comfortable cocoon to touch a hurting world.

- posted by Suzi @ 7:17 AM