Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Breaking a mirror on stage - bleeding hand, blind man hitting the floor.

But - made my point.

Jesus is making a point in this section fo Mark: He has infinite power, and if He has infinite power, He is the God we can trust to rescue us from sin and death.

You’ve had encounters with people where you’ve left confused.

What did he mean?

What did she just do?

Mark wants there to be no confusion in our minds as to the identity of Jesus: He is the all-powerful Son of God who has come to rescue from sin and death.

This morning: strange story that communicates a powerful truth: Jesus has the power to deliver you from evil and give you life.

Evil seems to prevail in this world.

School shootings, war, divisive politics, etc.

It also seems as if evil is winning in your life.

Power of sin and the influence of the enemy have wreaked havoc on your life.

Maybe you are there right now.

You’re seeing the power of evil destroy lives of people you love, and you feel helpless.

This power is for us!

This power Jesus possesses i

On one hand, power of evil on display in this passage.

You’ve experienced the power of evil.

You’ve seen how the power of sin and the influence of the enemy have wreaked havoc on your life.

Some of you are there right now.

You’re seeing the power of evil destroy lives of people you love, and you feel helpless.

On other hand, power of Jesus on display.

The power of Satan and all his demonic forces are no match for King Jesus.

If it seems as evil is winning, there is hope for you.

There is One who can give you victory over the power of sin.

Power of Satan and all his demonic forces are no match for King Jesus.

Three truths about the power of Jesus from this passage:

No situation is too hopeless for the power of Christ.

Jesus chooses to go where no Jew in their right mind would go - Decapolis - the heart of darkness - an unclean place - gentile territory, a cemetery in a gentile place, a pig farm, where a man lives who is so possessed by the demonic that the townspeople have banished him to this area.

Lots of questions.

How did this man become possessed?

Man must have lived a life so deep in sin that his life was a wide open door for the demonic to take possession.

So lost, so far gone, all hope was gone.

People used to bind him with shackles and chains, but the demonic took greater and greater control of his life - he couldn’t be bound any longer.

No one had the strength to subdue him.

People used to bind him with shackles and chains, but the demonic took greater and greater control of his life - he couldn’t be bound any longer.

No one had the strength to subdue him.

If you were to go to the tombs - you would hear a grown man screaming night and day in agony - he could not get any relief from the demonic.

Cut himself with stones.

Trying to end his miserable life.

As soon as Jesus steps out of the boat and onto the shore, everything begins to change.

The man runs to Jesus and falls down - The demons know who this is.

“What do you want from me? Do not torment me!”

These demons who tormented this man are now in fear of being tormented by the One who defeats demons.

Note: up to this point, it’s the demons who have the best understanding of who Jesus is.

They know they are defeated.

Vs. 9 - Jesus asked the demon his name - why? Jesus knew but wanted the disciples to know exactly what they were dealing with.

“Legion” = 6000 Roman soldiers.

Man possessed by many demons.

Demons beg not to be taken out of the country - know eternal judgment is imminent.

Demons beg to not be removed from country and request to go in pigs - why?

Not sure… maybe because they know the only other option is eternal judgment.

Jesus grants the request.

Demons enter pigs and jump into the lake.

2,000 pigs floating.

Bigger question.

Why does Jesus grant their request?

Not sure.

Maybe: 1.

He wants everyone to physically see that this man has been delivered.

Think about the mess - 2000 pigs floating in the water - a visual reminder for days and weeks of what Jesus had done.

2. A visual of what would ultimately happen - at the 2nd coming demons will be cast in the lake of fire.

What we know: Jesus is in charge.

(Demons have to ask permission.)

Jesus has power to change a hopeless situation.

No situation is too hopeless for Christ.

Everyone had given up on this man, and this man had given up on himself.

Jesus hadn’t given up on him.

Have you ever noticed how quick we are to give up?

Our churches are full of people who have given up.

We give up on others and we give up on ourselves.

Adoniram Judson - first American missionary - to Burma - 24 years old - wife 23 - hostile country - left and never saw parents again - Life-long battle with 108-degree heat, cholera, malaria, dysentery, and other miseries.

He lost 7 of 13 children and his wife - but didn’t leave the mission field.

Later wrote: “Remember, a large proportion of those who come out on a mission to the East die within five years after leaving their native land.

Walk softly, therefore; death is narrowly watching your steps.”

Why didn’t he give up?

Hope - the hope of seeing a nation of godless people reached with the Gospel.

Why did Jesus go to the Gerasenes?

Hope of a people experiencing grace.

When we know that no situation is too hopeless - we don’t give up.

Believers - we give up on the lost.

There’s someone you think is beyond hope.

A family member who has been addicted to alcohol for years - you’ve quit praying and ministering.

That friend who is so hostile to Jesus and His church - you’ve given up.

You don’t share with him anymore.

When you give up on people who are far from Christ you demonstrate a lack of hope in the power of Christ.

Unbeliever: You’ve given up on yourself.

You feel like this demon possessed man.

You feel overcome by evil - you can’t break free.

You’re weighed down by guilt.

You feel like there’s no hope for you.

No situation is too hopeless for Christ.

There really is change for you.

Believer: You cannot be demon possessed, but you can be influenced by the enemy.

And, you have been.

He’s pulled you away from Christ, and you’ve become so complacent that you’ve given up on walking with Jesus.

You’re here.

You go through the motions, but you’ve given up on pursuing intimacy with Christ.

You can’t remember the last time you read your Bible, shared your faith, etc. There’s hope for you.