The Demoniac of Gadara

In a conversation with D.L. Moody, friend and evangelist Henry Varley once said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him."

Mark 5:1-5

Intro: We see a man here with some problems. But often times when we see people with, our minds focus on the problems, not the people. Just for a minute, I want you to think about this man and picture him in your mind, not as a demon possessed person, but as a man. What does that mean? He had a mother and father. He probably lived in a house. He, at one time, probably had a job. Most likely, he had friends, at one point. This man may have had a wife and kids. This is not just some crazy guy, some nut that is living in a cemetery, this is a person not too different than you and I. He liked to have fun, no doubt. He probably hung out with friends. But at this point in time, when he meets Jesus, he is just a wild man. Lets look at the description Mark gives of him:

I. He was uncontrollable, no one could master him v.4

He was wild. The book of Matthew records that this man was fierce, and wouldn't let anyone go past that way. No one could subdue him. There was nothing that could calm him down. He had uncontrolled strength, yet with all that strength nothing good came out of it. He could no longer live in a home with mother and father. He could no longer be around his wife and kids. He had no one that could master him, and I want you to see that he could not even control himself.

II. He was inconsolable. V.5

He was a crier. This is probably why he cried. It's not because he was crazy. Even crazy people have a reason that for crying out. It's usually the same reasons that "not crazy" people cry out: pain, depression, discomfort, although many times possibly perceived differently from sane people. I mean, come on! This man was possessed by demons! That has to be something to cry about.

I have never encountered, to my knowledge, a demon possessed person, but I know those who have. I've been told that though possessed with a demon, the person is not necessarily always under its control 100% of the time. One man told me that it looks to be a difficult struggle to remain in their right mind, even painful looking. This man, as we will will see later, was possibly fighting with multitudes of demons.

He was in pain. Surely, he was depressed. When we think about this man as a person, why would he be depressed? No family, no friends, no company, no purpose in life. He was inconsolable: no on could comfort him, and thus he turned to other ways of releasing pain.

III. He had a harmful habit. V.5

He had no self control, and no one else could tame him either. He had lost it all, and in his pain and depression, he began to harm himself. Notice: he was always at night crying and cutting himself with stones. I wonder if it was these times at night when he would be left alone, and for a moment be in his right mind considering all that he had done throughout the day; considering all that he had lost over the years. Wishing to go back to a family that rejected and shunned him; wishing to integrate into a community that feared and ridiculed him. Thinking of the life and lifestyle to which he was now bound with chains that even he could not brake.

On a side note, this cutting thing is not anything new, it has been around for thousands of years, it has roots in Satan worship, and the Devil is no happier than when God's most cherished creation is harming itself.

And there he is: uncontrollable and inconsolable. But not only did this uncontrollable, inconsolable man have a harmful habit, he also had an unnatural hang-out.

IV. He had an unnatural hang-out V.2-3a, 5

His dwelling was among the tombs. He was constantly IN the tombs (Luke 8:27), not around the tombs or in the vicinity of the tombs; in the tombs. He was obsessed by death, and no wonder, for the ones that possessed him are servants of Satan, the roaring lion seeking who he may devour; the thief that seeks to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus said that God is a God of the living, not the dead. This man was living with the dead.

V. He had lewd fashion

Luke tells this story in Luke 8:27. One of the things that he points out is that the man never wore clothes. He would just run around naked.

VI. He was aware of his problem and aware of who could change it. V.2,6

I imagine that this is one of those times of struggle. The demons obviously did NOT want Jesus there and were afraid of him (V.7). But the man saw Jesus and somehow recognized him for who he was, and ran and worshiped him. Then the demons start to talk (V.7). But this man had just encountered Jesus, and something was about to change!

Mark 5:8-20

VII. The change. Any time there is an encounter with Jesus, there will be a marked change. We see people all throughout the Bible that when having a direct encounter with God, their lives changed forever. This man was no different.

After this man's encounter with Jesus, there is an obvious change in his life. V.15

He was sitting, listening, he was clothed, he had living companions (wasn't hanging out with dead people any more), and in his right mind, no longer in pain and misery.

From uncontrollable to submissive.

But there were other changes as well.

1. He desired to follow Jesus V.18- Experiencing God personally will always leave you hungry for more.

2. He was submissive to the Lord's command V.19-20 Encounters with Jesus that produce true change will produce obedience.

I exactly what Jesus' command was. It was "Go tell your family, go tell your friends what great things God has done for you." And this man did exactly that and more. He began to publish in the whole area of Decapolis what great things God had done for him.

When did he start doing this? Immediately. He had no formal training, he had never been to a single church service, let alone a Bible college or seminary. He hadn't been through a discipleship course. All he knew was that Jesus had changed his life. He once was hopeless, helpless, and destined for hell. Now he had peace, he had joy, and was destined for heaven. His life on earth had changed, and now he had the surety of a life after death.

VIII. The result of the change

In a place where they were once afraid of Jesus, Luke 8:35-37 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.,

because of a faithful man's testimony of how God changed him, now they were saying "He hath done all things well." Mark 7:31-37 and Mark 8:1-9 (feeding of the 4,000)

Application: Has Jesus made a change in your life?

Do you find yourself in misery, pain, and despair?

Are your hobbies and habits harmful? (Physically, spiritually? Think movies, games, tv shows, books). The demoniac used cutting as his outlet; what are you using as your outlet for pain or stress (eating, gossiping, drinking, shopping, etc.)?

Are you seeking God or are you using other means to lighten your load? Jesus said, "Come unto me all you who are heavy laden... and I will give you rest." No bottle, powder, needle, or cigarette will give you the rest that Jesus can. No amount of cutting or other self induced pain will lighten your present pain.

What about the friends you hang out with? If you read the book of Matthew, he gives the account saying there were 2 demon possessed men. Mark and Luke seem to just relate the account of the worst of the two. But this man had friends that were in the same condition he was. This friend could not help him any more than he could help himself.

What about your friends? Are they those that promote you to live and grow spiritually? or are they those that join you in your self-destruction?

Are you master-less, or have you submitted fully to Christ? - If you have, is it obvious to others?

Is it noted in your attitude, in your actions?

D.L. Moody once said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him." Well, we have just seen the result of one dedicated witness for Christ. It's pretty impressive what God did, and it will surprise you to see what God will do through you if you fully give yourself over to Him.

Are you letting Jesus use you to make a change in other people's lives?

Do you detach your Sunday morning self from the rest of you throughout the week, or do you carry what you have experienced on Sundays (the worship, the preaching, the encouragement from others) and tell others what great things the Lord has done?

It is so tempting and so easy to make church something you do, like an item on a list of things to do if I'm going to be a good Christian.