2018-05-23 Mark 5 Pigs

Mark 5:1–20 CSB

They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain— because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” “What is your name?” he asked him. “My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region. A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there. The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. Then they began to beg him to leave their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him earnestly that he might remain with him. Jesus did not let him but told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.

(CSB)

DEMONS DRIVEN OUT BY JESUS

5 They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. 3 He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain—4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” 8 For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

9 “What is your name?” he asked him.

I. God is in control. (1-8)

“My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.

11 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 12 The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.

14 The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. 17 Then they began to beg him to leave their region.

18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him earnestly that he might remain with him. 19 Jesus did not let him but told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.

I. God is in control. (1-8)

(CSB)

5 They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. 3 He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain—4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

5 They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. 3 He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain—4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” 8 For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

A. There are forces of evil in this world that we simply cannot control.

5 They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. 3 He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain—4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Illus: We have talked in recent weeks about the depravity of our country. We abort 700,000 babies a year, school shootings are normal, police have become vilinized, christianity is mocked, and followers of Christ are painted as hateful biggots.

How do you explain all of this?

We live in a world of sin, and Satan is doing all he can to create chaos in this world.

Satan is orchestrating an army of demons and spirits to work.

I think we often forget that there is a world beyond our own. We forget that there is an active spiritual world around us.

Hear me now, our belief/disbelief in a spiritual world will frame our answers to the spiritual world.

If there is no spiritual world beyond us then we will look for pragmatic solutions. Psychological solutions. Thinks we can do on our won.

If the spiritual world is real, then we look for spiritual solutions. We look to gospel solutions.

(CSB)

CHRISTIAN WARFARE

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. :

B. The worst this world has, trembles in the presence of God.

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” 8 For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

Illus: I think of the old story of the school bully. The bully picks and picks on the class runt for weeks and weeks.

The class runt after abuse and pain finally gets tired of the bullys picking on him. The bully challenges him to a fight and the runt accepts.

after school by the teatherball poll.

When the time of the fight arises the runt rolls us his sleeves ready to fight. As the bully arrives the runt can see fear in his eyes. Then the bully backs away choosing not to fight.

Right behind the runt is an older brother twice the size of the school bully. Though the runt did not know it, he had far more power in his conner than he realized.

When we stand in faith, serving in CHrist, we stand in God’s power. We should not stand in fear, but Jesus is greater than anything we will face.

(CSB)

2 This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world.

4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.

II. It is better to be drowned as a pig than to face the judgment of God.

(CSB)

9 “What is your name?” he asked him.

“My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.

11 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 12 The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.

A. All the forces of this world know Christ has authority, and that He is just in his judgment.

(CSB)

9 “What is your name?” he asked him.

“My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.

Illus: The demons knew Jesus had both the power and the authority. They also knew what they deserved for their actions.

Death by drowning was clearly a better fate than being left to their right judgment.

One day both men and the spiritual world will come before Jesus. Though they don’t know it now, they will one day see their sin, and understand that Jesus is righteous in his judgment.

the foolishness of our culture saying “you can’t judge me” will come to an end.

The world will come to understand their judgment, they will also understand God’s power and dominion.

(CSB)

19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. :

19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. :

B. Do you genuinely fear Christ.

(CSB)

9 “What is your name?” he asked him.

“My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.

11 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 12 The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.

Illus: As a pastor I strive to preach the bible, and to tell you exactly what it says. I would be not be faithful if I pulled punches from the text

Recently we I have been preaching through and applying the Ten Comandments on Sunday Mornings.

You would not believe the feedback I have gotten.

There are many who have learned and grown from the preaching.

There are some who have suggested that applying the word might turn some people off. The logic is that this series is too hard and If I meddle to much in sin, it might cause some to drop out of church or tune me out.

There are also some who hear the word and take what they want from the series, and ignore what might cost too much.

Hear me friends, what we are missing is a healthy fear of God. Because we do not fear God, we in turn ignore his call to holiness in our lives.

It is like a parent that a child doesn’t respect. The parent instructs the child and the child does what he pleases.

(CSB)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow his instructions have good insight.

His praise endures forever.

III. How will you respond to the power and majesty of Christ?

(CSB)

14 The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. 17 Then they began to beg him to leave their region.

18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him earnestly that he might remain with him. 19 Jesus did not let him but told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.

A. There are two responses in this passage, to embrace Christ, or to run from Christ.

Illus: At some point we will all fear God. For some it will be while we are on this earth. For others it will be in eternity. When you truly understand the power and magesty of God, do you abandon everything run to Christ and submit wholly to his way? Will you love yourself and your ways enough that you turn and run hoping to avoid the coming judgment.

Illus:

Isaiah 45:22–23 CSB

Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; truth has gone from my mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to me, every tongue will swear allegiance.