How a madman became a missionary Mark 1-20

The first message in our miracles of Christ series. The maniac of Gadera is a story showing just how amazing the changing power of Christ can be. It shows us that no one is too far gone for the power of Christ.

We see Jesus and the disciples here, getting off the ship after just passing through a great storm to get where they were going, Jesus is taking a nap. He then proceeds to rebuke the wind Mark 4:38-39

Mark 4:38–41 KJV

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Now this is a whole nother message that we will get into in this series. But today we are going to talk about what happens when they land on the other side and how a mad man became a missionary.

His Home v1- 3

Imeadiatley as soon a he stepped on the shore the demons confronted Jesus. This guy was so bad they had to banish him to a cave, not even chains hold him back. can you imagine knowing somone so bad that they had to be banished to a cave? Sounds sort of like a prisoner or a criminal. maybe you know someone who may fit this bill, sure they probabkly dont live in a cave but maybe they dont come around anymore.

His Helplessness

He was Naked Luke 8:27 “And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.”

He was constantly crying and cutting himself with stones Mark 5:5 “And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.”

he was Possesed Mark 5:9 “And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.”

The word legion here means up to 6000 demons. can you imgine how many fallen angels there are thet he can send 6000 on one man! This guy was messed up, he had issues.

His Heart v6-7

He was ready and he wanted a change in his life, he didn’t know it until he seen Jesus. let me ask you something today Do you go out and share Jesus with other people?

His Healing v8-9

Mark 5:8 “For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.”

Mark 5:13 “And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.”

some people say that the legions chose pigs to try and trample Jesus and the discpiles or possibly to anger the people of the town because all the live stock was killed. regardless of why, the fact is this got other peoples attention v14-16 They were getting a little worried, because they seen the Miraculous change!

His Comission v 18-20

Mark 5:18–20 “And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.”

decapolis literally means 10 cities an area of high greek culture allied together for the purposes of trading. this madman just turned into the greatest missionary of his time. He went and told everyone what jesus did for him!

Are you going out and telling people what Jesus did for you? You never know how someones life could be changed.