LEARNING DAILY
Mark 5:6-7, When
he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He
shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of
the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!" (NIV)
Pastor Ed
Newton taught this weekend on the man “who had lived among the tombs with an
unclean spirit” (Mark 5:2) until he met Jesus. Pastor emphasized that the
man’s name was never mentioned saying, “each of us could take what we are
facing and place our name in the blank where no name was mentioned”. This man
lived among the tombs, separated from everyone else in the area; he was bound
with shackles and chains which really had no effect on him. “The people in the
area bound this man, trying to solve supernatural problems with natural means;
it did not work” (EN).
He is an
example of one who has not given their life to walk on the narrow way with
Jesus – bound in sin and shame, often led by demonic spirits. Pastor made sure
to emphasize that when one gives their life to Jesus, no demon can possess that
person; only Jesus fills those that commit their life to Him. That does not
stop the devil from doing everything he can to embarrass, shame, and isolate a Believer.
Remember Jesus said that all who desire to follow Him will face persecution and
distractions to their walk by the world and their sin nature.
This man met
Jesus when He came to Gerasenes. Pastor
said, “Society tells us that Jesus was just a good teacher, but the demons recognize
the authority of Jesus and know what their future holds.” The demons know Jesus
as El Elyon, “Son of the Most High God”, which recognizes God’s supreme authority,
signifying that He is the highest possible object of worship. The demons know
the end of the story where they will be bound and cast into the lake of fire
and brimstone forever. They “saw Jesus coming, and thinking they had more time,
went to Jesus to not just make a request but to ask Him or perhaps force Him to
not torment them. Perhaps they thought they could manipulate Him or influence
His actions in some way.
It is
interesting that Jesus did not torture or torment them; He just sent them away.
In verse 13, “He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and
went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the
steep bank into the lake and were drowned.” “The mission of demons is to
bring death” (EN). Pastor Newton state, “Believers
must know their future, that it is victorious. Do not live in defeat – we win!”
Believers are to walk in the kingdom authority we have because Jesus Christ
lives in each of our hearts.
Those living
in the region heard about what had happened, and that the pigs had drowned in
the sea. They were concerned with the loss of their possessions. Read what
happened in verses 14-15. “Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this
in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. And
they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the
legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.”
What were they afraid of? They were afraid of the tremendous power that it took
to free this man of all that had tormented him for so long. Jesus is greater
than everything else; He is able to deliver us from all that troubles us. The
reaction of the people was to beg Jesus to leave. Perhaps they did not want Him
there because He had caused them to lose their prosperity (the pigs). Perhaps
they feared the power that set the man free. Perhaps they saw the difference in
the man and they did not want to pay the price for living differently – accepting
Jesus causes one to live different than they lived before. Perhaps they had
become comfortable in their lifestyle, living with sin and evil.
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