The Crazy Guy on the Other Side

Mark 5:1-20

In our story, we remember that Jesus and his disciples were going to cross the Sea of Galilee, and a great storm arose and struck fear in the hearts of the disciples. Our hearts are comforted knowing that at any moment Jesus Christ can step into our storms and utter the words, “Peace be still” and we can stand amazed at how He intervened in our lives. The terror of the storm, and the power of our Saviour often consumes our minds as we read these accounts, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that the purpose of their trip was to get to the other side. On the other side, there were three difficult situations that needed to be addressed by Jesus Christ. There is a dead daughter, a diseased woman, and demoniac man. As there boat comes to shore, I can picture a couple of men jumping out of the boat and pulling it up onto the beach as the party sets their feet on land, they are immediately met by this mad man. The Bible tells us that he had an unclean spirit, and that he had a legion of demons possessing him. A legion referred to an amount of Roman soldiers, and depending upon whom you read after, that number can range from 2000 to 6000 men. The subject of demonic possession fascinates many folk, but I tend to shy away from the study of evil. I take the advice of the Scriptures on the matter

Romans 16:19 but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. Have you ever wondered why we never hear of angelic possession? I have a bit of a theory I would like to throw out there today. Angel were created to be ministers of God, and to do His will. Because angels are good in nature, one would never attempt to inhabit a place that God has reserved for His Spirit. On the other hand, you can easily see how a demon would want to try to take the place of God in a lost person’s life. I want to consider three truths about this crazy guy on the other side this morning.

1. He was out of control. The first five verses of our text lay out the details of this man’s life. People were afraid of this guy. He would let out screams, cut himself with stones, run here and there, etc. I can imagine when mothers saw him coming they would swoop their children up into their arms, or try to hide their faces from this hideous spectacle. This man’s condition was not unlike the condition of every lost person on the face of the earth, it was just that the demon within him exaggerated the problem.

Ephesians 2:1-2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: We know how Jesus treated the subject too.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. This out of control man was a terror to society. Men tied to bind him with chains and fetters, but the demonic power that energized him allowed to break through those bonds over and over again.

I want you to see how his dead condition affected his destination. The Bible says that he dwelt among the tombs, and in the mountains. He was dwelling among the dead, and we know from the Law that made him unclean. He was also moving among the mountains, and I have a picture of going up and down those mountains, and in and out of those graves, and I reminded of a sound biblical truth...

Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. No direction, no destination, no hope, no control. I fear that many people try to substitute control In the place of salvation in Christ. If I can just get a handle on this problem or that area of my life, then it will all be good. The Bible says that godliness with contentment is great gain, but it never promises that it will gain you entrance to Heaven.

2. He was out of answers. Please do not forget that we are looking at a man that is possessed by multiple demons. I am amazed at the words of verse 6. He ran and worshipped Jesus! Maybe he was tired of living among the tombs, maybe he had grown weary traveling the mountains, maybe his strength was diminished from breaking chains and fetters, maybe he was fed up with his scarred body. This is what I see, he had no where else to turn, so he turned to Jesus. The demons within him resisted the very thought of being in the presence of Jesus, but please understand that Jesus has power over all demonic influence. Man in his sinful condition will look to every corner of his existence to find the answers, but based on the authority of the Word of God, there is only one answer.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. While everyone else was either turning away in horror, or trying to bind him with chains, or simply ignoring his state, Jesus had compassion on him.

Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Christ looks at our miserable state, and as compassion on us, and opens His arms to receive anyone that will come to Him.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

I am thankful for the promise that reminds us

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If you are here this morning and are looking for the answer, it is not in a potion, or a program, but in a person—Jesus Christ.

3. He came out of the graveyard. Don’t you love a happy ending? Jesus orders the demons out of the man, they enter into a herd of swine and the swine run into the sea. Next we find this man who was once possessed by devils, clothed, in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus. All of this can be summed up in one verse of the Bible.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

We get a new look.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

We get a new life.

1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. It should not be the Christian’s desire to ever return to the graveyard.

We learn new lessons at the feet of Jesus. Each on of us need to spend more time learning form Jesus.

Lastly we see that this man is commissioned to publish what has happened to him. Isn’t it interesting that many people ran into town, and cried the pigs are dead! This man had the task of going through the land proclaiming Jesus saves! I am alive in Christ! Let me just say in closing that our time needs more publishers of the goodness of God, and far less editors. Well, I just do not know what to say. Tell them how Jesus Christ has made a difference and impact in your life.

Where do you find yourself this morning?

Lost?

Saved but returning to the graveyard?

More of an editor than a publisher?