The Being of the Disciples

READ MARK 5:1-20

Mark 5:1–2 NIV

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

Jesus sees the Gerasene cemetery as it really is: JUST a PLACE. v. 1-2

Mark 5:3–5 NIV

This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 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. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

Mark 5:9–10 NIV

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

Jesus sees the man as he really is: a VICTIM of DEMONS. v. 3-5, 9-10.

Mark 5:6–8 NIV

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

Jesus sees himself as he really is: the true SON of GOD. v. 6-8

Mark 5:10–12 NIV

And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.”

The man, under the demons’ influence, begs for them to stay in the area. The demons ask to conquer the pigs and take control—perhaps of the region’s economy?

We would be afraid of something like this. Anxiety says, keep a tight reign. Keep control of every moment, don’t let them go.

We feel this in the world, where we want to control everything and we are afraid of what will happen if we let that thing loose, if we won’t control what every person is saying or what the schools are doing, etc. etc.

This is anxiety: it is based on our fear of what could happen. Unfortunately, that tends to undermine our witness. If God’s way is the only way that works, then why would we be afraid that others might get their way?

Obviously Jesus cares deeply about the person at stake, but he is not worried about the demons on the loose. And he lets the disciples see why.

Mark 5:13 NIV

He gave them permission, and the impure 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.

These fearsome demons take possession of the pigs, but immediately lose control. Imagine it like a massive demon-pig rodeo, and the demons are losing. They don’t make it the eight seconds. It’s actually a lot like the Red Sea/

Exodus 14:23–28 NIV

The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

Jesus sees the demons as they really are: DOOMED and DEFEATED. v. 10-13, Exodus 14:23-28.

Mark 5:14–17 NIV

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 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. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

The people saw the man as something unexplainable and therefore threatening—almost more threatening now that they can’t put him in a category.

Jesus is even more threatening because he is upending their categories, and this makes them even more anxious.

Mark 5:18–20 NIV

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

This man wants to follow Jesus, and Jesus says no. Why? Because he sees something in this man. He sends the man out to tell his community about what happened. Notice the change: when they were faced with Jesus, they were afraid, but after listening to the man, they are amazed.

Jesus sees the man as he really can be: a MESSENGER of the GOOD NEWS. v. 14-20

Following Jesus

As we see Jesus for who he is, we gain the FREEDOM—and RESPONSIBILITY—to see everything as it really is.

The world BELONGS TO GOD.

I am God’s CHILD and HEIR.

We are all VICTIMS of EVIL.

Evil is DOOMED to LOSE.

Anyone can SERVE God’s KINGDOM.