2/20/21
"And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit," (Mark 5:2)
THE GADARENE DEMONIAC
Jesus has calmed the stormy Sea of Galilee, and has landed at Gadara.
A wild man comes running toward him from out of a cemetery!
1) He lived in the cemetery! (v. 3) He lived among the dead.
2) He was super strong. (v. 3-4) It appears that many had tried to capture him, but he would break the chains and handcuffs, then escape.
3) He was wild! (v, 4) No one could "tame him". Arresting him did no good. Institutionalizing him did no good. Counselling him did no good. Interventions did no good. Jailing him did no good. Nothing had done any good for him.
4) He was unhappy, (v. 5), and was hurting himself. (v. 5)
5) Oh, and he was naked! (We gather this bit of information from v. 15) Public nudity is not Godly behavior! Jus' sayin'!
This man was uncontrollable, violent, destructive to himself, living in a cemetery, and naked. And no one could help him.
Then, he met Jesus! (v. 6) "But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,"
This man was demon possessed. It was an extreme case, no doubt! But here is the thing, 'possess' means "have as belonging to one, ownership" (New Oxford American Dictionary) This man was in the possession of demons!
Hollywood has made millions with demon possession, as though it is an unusual thing. Many think that it is a thing of the past, and no longer exists, as well.
But, unless you are God-possessed, you are demon-possessed! No one is "himself-possessed". You do not hold the deed to your life. Make no mistake about this, because it is too important. You either belong to God, or you belong to the devil.
Why couldn't doctors cure this man with medicine? He did not have a medical problem.
Why couldn't counselling heal this man? He did not have an intellectual problem.
Why was Jesus able to help this man? The answer is obvious, Jesus is Lord, and this man had a spiritual problem.
The demon that possessed this man said that his name was 'Legion'. That word literally means "a vast host". A Roman legion was upwards of 6,000 soldiers.
Though there were so many, they were no match for Jesus! He commanded them to come out, and they begged for mercy! "...I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not." (v. 7)
Jesus sent them out of the man, and they entered a herd of 2,000 pigs. The pigs ran down into the sea of Galilee, drowning themselves. Thus is Satan's work, to destroy, kill and to steal!
Look at v. 15, "And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid." The "they" were those who knew this man, and were unable to help him, despite their best efforts.
It all comes down to this, "If this man had not come to Jesus, he would have never been released from Satan's possession!" You must come to Jesus for help, and be set free from Satan's bondage.
I am of the mind that many of the behavioral problems that people face today are not medical problems, nor are they mental problems, but they are spiritual problems.
Jesus is a specialist with spiritual problems. Why don't you make an appointment to see Him?
From my heart to your heart.