Jesus Heals the Demoniac
Devotions on Mark 5:1-20
Monday, Jesus Heals the Demoniac
“They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes” (Mark 5:1).
First Church of the Sun Cities was a thriving congregation in an active adult (55 years-old+) community. The congregation had a vibrant mid-week Bible study, which involved seventy-five of its members. During one of the Bible studies a teacher from a nearby grade school appeared and asked to address the group.
“I need your help,” he began. “I have several students who are struggling in several subjects. These kids are latch-key kids and for any number of reasons they aren’t receiving the help with their homework that they need. I need tutors—people who will come to the school after class and help one or two students with their homework.”
There was quite a bit of discussion among the group following the teacher’s request. Some people didn’t think they had the skills or knowledge to help the students. The main reason, which surfaced, for not volunteering to help, though, was that the school was a foreign place. School wasn’t the same as it was sixty years ago. Students had changed, too. They weren’t as disciplined as was once required, and they were disrespectful and rude.
Eventually twenty members of the group volunteered to get out of there comfort zone, do something new and help the students. What they discovered amazed them.
Jesus and his disciples went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. It was Gentile, heathen territory. What they discovered was human need, and God’s presence and power. When we follow the example of Jesus and his disciples, we too will face new challenges, but we will also see the Holy Spirit move in new and different ways.
Help us Lord, to step out of our comfort zones, and willingly go where you lead us. Amen.
Tuesday
“And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him” (Mark 5:2).
Little Cal Everson had a reputation for getting into trouble. One day he entered a room and his father teased, “Oh, oh, here comes trouble.” Somewhat defensively, Little Cal replied, “But sometimes trouble finds me.”
We understand what Little Cal was feeling. There are those times when trouble finds us, or we are suddenly confronted with evil. We wonder how we are to respond. That is what happened to Jesus when he and his disciples ventured over to the east side of the Sea of Galilee. Suddenly he was confronted with a man possessed by unclean spirits.
Jesus didn’t turn away from the encounter. Nor did he express regret at having made the decision to venture into new territory. Instead, Jesus met the situation head on. He began to deal with the man in a loving manner, confident in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ attitude, actions, and words transformed lives.
Whatever we encounter in life, we can follow Jesus’ example. We can act and speak lovingly and face the situation courageously. Like the early Christians who were facing difficult times, we too can take courage in the words John wrote to them, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Lord, empower us to face life courageously, knowing that you are with us. Amen.
Wednesday, Jesus Heals the Demoniac
“He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain” (Mark 5:3).
The man had been marginalized by his family and town’s people—pushed to the side of life. He lived among the tombs. He was out of sight and out of mind. The people in his town could resume their daily routines. Life was so much easier when they didn’t have to deal with the troubled man or even think about him.
This is how societies deal with problems. We push the poor, needy, and different to the side. We don’t want to see them. As we strive for our dreams and gather more stuff, we don’t want to be distracted by them or reminded of their plight.
Jesus went to the margins of life. He ministered to the people there—not just people with unclean spirits, but the lepers, the blind, the sinful and the scorned, too. If we are to take up the ministry of Jesus, as his followers, we are called to look beyond our everyday experiences to the margins of life. What is the need that we see? What is the Holy Spirit calling us to do?
Lord, open our eyes, so that we see what you see. Enable us to respond in love. Amen.
Thursday, Jesus Heals the Demoniac
“When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (Mark 5:6-7).
The troubled man saw that Jesus might be able to help him escape his predicament. When he ran to Jesus and knelt before him, the evil spirits recognized who Jesus is and cried out to Jesus for mercy. We don’t know what attracted the man to Jesus. All we know is that when the man saw Jesus, he wanted to get to know Jesus.
Christians have taken up the ministry of Jesus. Sadly, however, few people are attracted to the church. The judgmental, hateful actions of some Christians have turned many away from the church. Others object to the refusal, of some Christians, to work with the knowledge uncovered by science. Of course there are the claims of hypocrisy in the church.
If we are to carry on Jesus’ ministry and communicate it to the next generations, we need to be sure our faith is attractive. That doesn’t mean that we need to be hip, cool or watered down. Rather, we are challenged to be loving, accepting, present and serving. We have something very important to share with others. We need to make sure that there are no barriers to others hearing the message we have.
Lord, help us to shine brightly with your gospel and forbid that anything would dim our lights. Amen.
Friday
“Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion; for we are many’” (Mark 5:9).
In Jesus’ day, knowing a person’s name gave you a certain power over them. From a distance, Jesus had commanded the unclean spirits to come out of the man. They did not obey Jesus’ command. It was only after Jesus literally got up close and personal with the man that the unclean spirits obeyed him.
Prayer is a powerful force, but ministry isn’t limited to prayer. If lives are to be changed, prayer must also include service. We can pray for the hungry in the world, but serving meals in a shelter is important, too. Prayers for the homeless can be the topic of our personal and corporate prayers. Pounding nails on a Habitat for Humanity build helps answer those prayers.
The fantastic truth about the incarnation of Jesus is that God was with us. Jesus was involved in the lives of the people to whom he ministered. If we are to continue that ministry, we need to be personally involved, too. Our knees need to be sore and our hands need to be dirty.
Here we are, Lord. Use us! Amen.
Saturday, Jesus Heals the Demoniac
“Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood” (Mark 5:16-17).
The people heard what had happened to the man with the evil spirits. They came out and saw the man clothed and in his right mind. They also saw there were no pigs. The price for healing the man was too high. They begged Jesus to leave. The people didn’t want any more healings or miracles. They didn’t know if they could afford them.
The cost of following Jesus is high. Followers of Jesus are called to deny ourselves. Participating in Jesus’ ministry, of establishing God’s kingdom takes time and effort. There are times that we find ourselves complaining that the cost is too high.
Jesus didn’t press the issue with the town’s people. He obeyed their request to leave. (Later he would return and they would welcome him). The Holy Spirit doesn’t force us to offer what we don’t want to give. The Spirit does work in our lives, though, until we willingly offer our time, talents and treasures.
God’s love and grace are free, but following Jesus takes everything we have. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit moves both in us and through us. Lives are transformed—and probably the first ones to be changed are ours.
Work within us, Holy Spirit, so that we willing deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow you. Amen.
Sunday, Jesus Heals the Demoniac
“’Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.’ 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed” (Mark 5:19-20).
Imagine the love and admiration that the once possessed man had for Jesus. Jesus had cast out all of the unclean spirits. The man was clothed and in his right mind. He could once again be with his family and friends, and live in town. It is understandable that the man would want to stay with Jesus and become one of his disciples. Jesus forbade him to do so, however. Instead, Jesus told him to go home and tell what Jesus had done for him.
We are sorely tempted to stay on the mountaintops of Bible camps, retreats, Bible studies and worship services. The fellowship is great and sensing the presence of God is beyond imagination. We are no good on the mountain top however. Religious experiences is not the goal of following Jesus. Sharing God’s love and grace with our neighbors is what we are called to do.
So, we travel back home from the camps and retreats, and we get out of the pews, and step out of the sanctuaries and go back home. When we are home, we tell our family, friends, and neighbors what Jesus has done for us. Our words are backed up by the changes in our lives and by the love and grace that flow from us. The Holy Spirit creates a desire in our family, friends and neighbors for what we have, and they welcome Jesus when he comes near.
Lord, give us the boldness to share what you have done in our lives, with our families, friends, and neighbors. Amen.