Mark 5:1-20 / Stuck in Darkness

New Beginnings  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 46 views

How do people become stuck in darkness? Today we will examine three common problems that cause distance from Jesus. In the end, a surprising solution will offer guidance for experiencing lasting freedom.

Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →
2010 “Prisoner Roberto Carrillo attempted to flee his cell in a Mexican jail in Valle Hermoso on New Year's Eve. The 42-year-old tried to squeeze himself through the gap between the roof of the prison and the bars of his cell. But instead of sneaking through, he ended up completely stuck and hanging upside down. He was forced to call for help and laughing guards came to his aid and cut him free using a chain saw - before locking him up once again.” - Oddee
We laugh, but we are Roberto. Often we are stuck in the prison of our own problems. During moments of inspiration, we seek to get out. However, because of a faulty strategy we get stuck even worse. Our problems laugh at us and put us right back in the prison of darkness.
Tonight we will learn of a man who escaped the prison of his problems. He changed from a person stuck in darkness, to Jesus’ representative in his home town.
Let’s explore his story by looking honestly at the problems that make us stuck in darkness so that we can uncover solutions to set us free.

The problem isn’t external, it’s internal.

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.
If he has a spirit of darkness, why did this man run towards Jesus? I believe that he was tormented by an internal battle. There are times when we want to be free, but we do not know how. And he was not the only one who did not know how to help.
The people of the town tried everything. They bound him in chains. They tried to calm him down by force. But eventually, it seems as though they considered him too far gone. They left him to himself. Isolated. Separated. Expressing his torment in self harm and cries of pain. Now he was harming the only person he had access to, himself.
Some of you, or those around you are crying out, but they’ve become so isolated, that no one is there to hear the pain.
But surprisingly, Jesus steps onto the scene. He faced a storm that could only be calmed by his voice. Now he faced a man who couldn’t be held back by strong chains.
They failed attempts to control his problem by external force, revealed that this issue was spiritual in nature.
When evaluating issues in your life try to understand the root. Some problems will be physical. Some problems will be relational. Some will be mental. But others will be spiritual.
If you find yourself, or those you help, stuck in problems despite attempts to control the issue. Than the solution you need may not be another self-help book or pill. The solution may be the man who passed through a storm to help this isolated man be delivered from his.
But unlike the waves, this storm isn’t going to be calmed without a fight.

The problem isn’t knowledge, it’s trust.

7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
In the last episode of Mark, after the disciples experienced Jesus calm a raging storm, they ask this question, “Who then is this?”. Jesus’ power surpassed anything they’ve ever experienced causing them to be perplexed about his true identity. But here we meet a group who has total clarity about the identity of Jesus.
The demons that possessed the poor man described themselves as “Legion”. "The Greek word used here, legiōn, comes from the Latin term legio, which designates a division of the Roman army (5,400 infantry and 120 cavalry)." Faithlife Study Bible” This army of organized dark spirits know who they’re talking to as they stand face to face with Jesus.
They call him, Son of the most high God. They fear his authority over them and have to beg to not be banished forever. If they were taking a theological test, they’d be passing 100%.
In the book of James, demon theology is explained: You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! There are some people in religious circles who do not even have demon level knowledge. At least the knowledge of demons has an effect on them. Right now, there are people in hell who had a correct understanding about who Jesus is, but are separated from him forever because they did not trust in him as savior.
It is tempting to think that knowledge may be the key to solving your problems. However, if your heart is not changed, your knowledge will not take you further than a demons understanding of Jesus.
The demons understood the true identity of Jesus and they reveal their true identity as they destroy thousands of animals by rushing them into the water. Ironically, they asked Jesus not to torment them, while their entire mission was to torment and destroy their host.
Sadly, their plan harmed more than pigs, their planned caused the whole town to misunderstand Jesus.

The problem isn’t proximity, it’s priority.

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 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. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.
The people were more afraid to see a truly free man, than a oppressed man.
The people were more afraid of what Jesus would take, than they desired what he could give.
These people were given proximity to Jesus. But they grieved over the pigs because their priorities was comfort and wealth.
The people mourned the loss of swine, instead of rejoicing in the presence of the savior.
It’s tempting to think that if you were in the crowd, you would’ve welcomed Jesus and been happy for the free man. However, Romans 1 sadly describes that we are guilty of the attitude of the crowd.
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
There are fewer words scarier than these, “God gave them up.” It does not say that God gave up on them. Rather, they choose darkness, and their hearts were so set on ignoring God, that he let them go.
Jesus is willing to accept anyone who will come to him. But he will not force his way into a city or a heart. The people asked him to leave, so he left.
But before his boat set’s sail, we will discover a hidden solution.

The solution isn’t comfort, it’s courage.

18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
Three party’s begged Jesus in this story. The demons begged to be transferred to the pigs: Jesus answered yes. The crowd begged Jesus to leave: Jesus answered yes. The man who had a demon begged to be with Jesus: Jesus answered no.
Jesus only answered no to the one who loved him.
Why?
After all, this man was the whole purpose of crossing the stormy sea. Healing this demon possessed man was the whole point of the journey, so why does Jesus decline his noble request?
Jesus had a strategic purpose for his life. He was going to transform this man from a spectacle of pity to a representative of God.
Jesus could leave this town because he had planted a seed of hope in the soil of the city. The seed of hope was the story of the man, who “had been” oppressed, but is now free.
Perhaps Jesus is saying no to your prayers because he has a greater purpose of blessing in your life. Just as you are, if you have trusted in Jesus, you are his representative.
But you may think, I don’t have a degree in theology, how can I make a difference for Jesus.
Simply tell others who you were before you met Jesus and what you are now that he has set you free.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more