From the Bottom Up
Mark 5:1-20
"When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind... So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him."
(MARK 5:15, 20)
There was probably no more earthy person in those days than one possessed by a demon. The story takes us from this man whose dwelling was in a burial chamber carved out of rock on the hillside, to the freedom of his being healed of the devil's dominance in his life. We read that he was clothed and in his right mind and moving on to the center of the city to proclaim "how much Jesus had done for him." There is nothing more powerful than a personal story. I was blind, but now I see. I was demon-possessed, but now I am free. I was lost, but now am found! Great joy comes from God's transformational work of love and grace.
We may not have found ourselves in such dire straits as the demon-possessed man. But still God takes each one of us from the pit of our sin to a living testimony of how He has and is creating a new person in us. The stories of lives transformed bring joy, hope, courage and renewal. We can't help but find joy in being part of God's redemptive plan and in telling others about it!
INSIGHT
GOD'S DESIRE FOR US, HIS CHILDREN, IS TO PUSH US INTO A FRESH AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
2 Chronicles 17-18
Psalm 16
Matthew 23
Mark 5:1-20
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
The Healing of a Demon-possessed Man
5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil[b] spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the evil 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.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[c] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Footnotes:
a. Mark 5:1 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; other manuscripts Gergesenes
b. Mark 5:2 Greek unclean; also in verses 8 and 13
c. Mark 5:20 That is, the Ten Cities
JESUS IN THE PSALMS [PART 2]
What's the Bible all about? The average person has a hard time answering the question, but the answer isn't difficult. Someone once asked Jesus the same question. Do you know what he said?
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