Unchained

Intro

Good morning,

I pray that you are blessed on this Palm Sunday. Today we begin our celebration of Holy Week. Today we celebrate Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem on a colt — showing himself to be the humble messiah. On Friday we are mindful of Jesus’s crucifixion. Finally, at this time next week we will celebrate the fact that our Lord has risen and has conquered death.

This morning, while we will continue in our preaching through the Gospel according to Mark, will finish in the passage that Sean just read and conclude with a few points simply to prepare our hearts for this week and reflect on the wonderful works of Christ.

Passage

Mark 5:1-20

Anchors of the Passage

V. 1 - Crossing over to the Gerasenes

WW2 Higgins Boats

Sense that when Jesus crosses, even though he is in a Jewish region, He has stepped into the enemy camp.

Battle begins immediately

Description of this man builds over time, but he is depicted as living in an unclean space and that the spirit(s) within him are also unclean.

The phrase “unclean spirit” is interesting because it always linked with a demon in the New Testament. Yet, the New Testament language for demonic forces is somewhat curated

“Evil Spirit” - Acts 19:12-13

“Unclean Spirit” (Here)

“Spirit of Infirmity” - Luke 13:11

“Deaf and Dumb Spirit” - Mark 9:25

The reason for these usages doesn’t seem to be to imply that some demonic spirits are evil while some aren’t. Rather, it seems to be used to capture the essence of the affliction.

“Unclean” is a word common to Leviticus - It captures a reality of not being right before God and being driven from His presence in the holy camp.

This spirit was driving this man away from the people of God

Fought with his fellow Jew (v. 3-4)

Could not be contained.

The force of the first several verses is that Jesus is coming in contact with a man who has a spirit within him that is exceedingly evil. The Spirit within him is at odds with the Lord and his kin.

V. 5 - Cutting Himself With Stones

In my mind, it is this verse that really captures the reality of the situation for this man. We can break this reality down from two directions

ONE - The demon(s) that this man has press and push him to cut and kill himself. For powers of darkness, there is no greater victory than when an image bearer of God is marred, disfigured, and killed.

Ancient Egyptian Leaders and defacing monuments

Evil powers love it when children who bear God’s image destroy themselves. They push and press for God’s children to destroy themselves.

TWO - Why would the human oblige such a spirit? Though this of course is more complex than what I am stating here, one thing I will offer is the view that humans are creatures made for satisfaction. Specifically, we are made in such a way that our ultimate satisfaction must be situated in Christ Himself. However, when we do not have Christ, we cycle through numerous fake gods and false solutions in our search for satisfaction. Understand, so many people cut and harm themselves — not because they want to increase their pain — but because they want to decrease their pain and find escape from the sin and power which so mightily ensnares them.

Tormented by sinful thoughts

Tormented by regret, past sin, the feeling of inability to get better, lack of vision, etc.

Know for certain that the voice which calls you to hurt yourself is not the voice of the Lord.

Know for certain that the voice which calls you to destroy everything around you is not the voice of the Lord.

Know for certain that the Voice of the Lord calls you into life. He is not calling you to destruction but for you to give yourself to Him and walk in the life that he made you for. Next time that voice comes knocking which calls you to uncleanness, don’t oblige.

As for aberrant thoughts (feeling tormented by), a couple words of advice:

(1) Reject what is clearly ungodly and destructive. Know that that isn’t God’s heart for you.

(2) Consider the voices you entertain in your life. Many of the thoughts we have trace back to a clear origin. Did you see something or hear something that was injurious?

The reason we talk about this is because thoughts can feel so personal as if they belong to us. That isn’t necessarily the case. Simply acknowledge the fact that these things could have emanated from a different point, and don’t take these thoughts personally but rather do what Paul says: 2 Co. 10:5

V. 12 - The Pigs

Indicate the spiritual condition of the place

The response of the pigs indicate the severity of the man’s condition. If the most vile creatures kill themselves over the fact that they have been invaded by demons, one might get a sense about how exceedingly wicked and gross these demons are.

The major point of contention in the story. Represent money or income for the locals.

Q. Do you want to be in the presence of the loving and holy savior or remain with your pigs in defiance of God’s law? (Lev. 11:7-8)

V.17 - They begged Jesus to Leave

VERSUS

V. 18 - The healed man begged Jesus to stay by his side

Before pressing too far into this point, note verse 15. How was this man described? Clothed and in his right mind.

Gal. 5:23 - mid list - includes “self control” as a fruit of God’s spirit.

God works in such a way as to make us “self controlled.”

Rather than having a framework of “God wants to take away my life,” you must recognize that in God’s dealings He receives glory when you are satisfied in Him supremely and trust yourself to Him. Furthermore, God is glorified when His followers bear fruit in their lives.

Opposite of demonic powers.

John 10:10 - the thief comes … but I came that...

V. 20 - The healed man testifies to ten cities

Result

Recalling the Parable of the Sower

Note the irony of this passage in view of Jesus’s parable of the sower

The man under demonic influence

People who were not demonized but were in open rebellion to God

The man whom Jesus heals is ready to accept His gospel.

Those who were profiting from their rebellion were incapable of receiving the goodness of Jesus

Concluding - Palm Sunday

Sometimes Jesus comes in ways we don’t expect.

Zech. 9:9

Savior who comes to His people with humility.

Will you?