Missing Jesus

Introduction

Last week we saw Jesus and His disciples out in a boat at night, when a ferocious storm blew in. In that passage, we saw Jesus’ disciples really did not understand who Jesus really was. And they did not understand His immense power!

I can’t blame them, because there are many times in my life when I really don’t understand the immense power that Jesus really has!

In our passages last week, this week, and over the next couple of weeks Jesus is going to reveal more and more of His mighty power. If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage to turn with me to Mark chapter 5. And we’ll begin reading with verse 1.

This morning we pick up the story where we left off last week. So, in order to get the power of this story, let me set the stage.

Jesus and His disciples were sailing across the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat.

A huge storm began to swamp the boat.

The disciples were afraid—cowardly.

They woke Jesus up and accused Him of not caring about their situation.

Jesus calmed the storm—it was completely calm.

Jesus asked them why they were so cowardly, and why they still were faithless.

Now the disciples—people who had been with Jesus for a while—were “terrified!” They were shocked that the wind and the waves obeyed Jesus’ commands!

Gerasenes or Gadarenes?

NOW—look at verse 1!

Mark 5:1 NIV84

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.

There is some question of the exact location. Mark and Luke both refer to the area of the Gerasenes. This was would have been on the eastern shore of the Sea about the middle of the lake, near the city of Gerasa—some 30 miles from the Sea of Galilee. Matthew says the even happened on the southeastern shore of Galilee in the region of the Gadarenes near the city of Gadara which is 5 miles from the Galilee.

Mark and Luke seem to have the best argument for the exact location—the shore closest to Gerasa is made up of steep clift like areas that are filled with caves. Archaeologist have discovered a small chapel that dates back to the fifth century A.D. This suggests that the area had some religious significance to the early church.

Jesus and the Demoniac

Mark 5:2 NIV84

When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

As soon as Jesus stepped out of the boat He is met with a man that is demon possessed. Now here too we have a conflict between the gospels of Mark and Matthew. Mark and Luke say there was ONE man. Matthew says there were two men. It was not uncommon for demon possessed people to live away from others our in the caves which were often used for tombs. Perhaps this man was the worst of the demoniacs.

Look at the characteristics of this person.

Characteristics

Mark 5:3–5 NIV84

This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, 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.

He lived among the tombs—isolated from others.

No one could bind him—supernatural strength.

No one could subdue him—supernatural strength.

Night and day he wandered among the tombs in the hills—sleepless and restless.

He would cry out all the time—eerie, loud cries and moans.

He often cut himself with stones—self-mutilation.

The Man’s Reaction to Jesus

Mark 5:6–8 NIV84

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? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!”

The man runs to Jesus and falls on his knees before Jesus—the demons know exactly how Jesus is.

He shouted—at the top of his voice—asking Jesus what he wants to do. This is apparently the demon speaking.

Notice that the demon acknowledges exactly who Jesus is, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God.” Then the demon begs Jesus not to torture him.

Jesus Response to the Demon

Mark 5:8–10 NIV84

For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!” 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.

Mark lets us know that the first thing Jesus did was command the demon to come out. Yet we see them having a conversation.

Jesus asks the demon’s name—this lets us know Jesus knows every being—both the angelic ones and the demonic ones—He knows them all!

The demon says his name is “Legion for we are many.” The Romans used the term Legion to describe a group of 6,000 soldiers. Here, it is used to tell us there was a lot of demonic beings possessing this man.

Finally, the demon pleads with Jesus not to send them out of the area—this could be translated, do not send us to a desolate place where we cannot torment something. Luke records their pleas as, “they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.” This was thought to be a place of final confinement, and was a place where they could not torture anyone. The Abyss is referred to in Revelation 20:1-3.

Revelation 20:1–3 NIV84

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

Now comes the fun part of the story. The region that they are in was filled with Gentiles. So it should come as no surprise that there were herds of pigs on the hillside close by. Look at verse 11.

Mark 5:11–12 NIV84

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.”

Legion, begins to beg Jesus to allow them to go into the pigs. Look at verse 13.

Mark 5:13 NIV84

He gave them permission, and the evil 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.

So Jesus allows Legion—the demons to go into the pigs! The demons come out of the man, and go into the pigs. And the entire herd of pigs—around 2,000 of them in number—rush down the steep bank into the lake and they all drown.

Can you imagine the financial loss? Can you imagine being one of the herdsmen—one of those responsible for caring for the pigs—maybe they would be held responsible for the loss. Look at their response.

The Response of the Herdsmen

Mark 5:14–15 NIV84

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.

The herdsmen run off and to report to the people all that has happened! As you can imagine all the people come out to see this strange thing that happened.

The Local People’s Response

But what they find, is the man that had been possessed by Legion, just sitting there. He was fully dressed, and he was in his right mind!

This should have excited them. It should have thrilled them to see this man’s suffering relieved, but instead they are afraid! This terrified them.

Can’t you see it now? The people come out want to know what happened! They begin to ask questions and verse 16 tells us what happened next.

Mark 5:16–17 NIV84

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.

Notice that it says, “Those who had seen it. . .” Who were those “who had seen it.” There were the herdsmen—they had seen at least part of the ordeal.

And of course there were the followers of Jesus. Perhaps those who were in the other boats that traveled across the sea with Jesus’ boat or even His disciples told their story.

What we know is that they told the towns people about what happened to the pigs, and they told them what happened to the demon possessed man! Once again, their response is one of fear! Look at verse 17.

Mark 5:17 NIV84

Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

Why did they want Him to leave?

Why were they not excited about the miracles He performed?

Were they afraid of further financial ruin?

Or were they afraid this man would challenge them to change the way they lived there life?

For whatever reason, these people pleaded with Jesus to leave their region! They wanted NOTHING to do with Him—so they missed Jesus!

QUESTION: How many people around us struggle with accepting Jesus for the same reasons?

QUESTION: How many of us miss Jesus working in our lives for these same kind of reasons?

Demoniac’s Response

The one person in this story that did not miss Jesus was the demon-possessed man! Look at his response in verse 18.

Mark 5:18 NIV84

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.

He begged to go with Jesus! He was so moved, so thankful, so amazed at what Jesus had done for him, he wanted to be with Jesus!

QUESTION: Are you and I so thankful for what Jesus has done in our lives that we want to be with Him? Are we so thankful, or so amazed by Jesus that we want to be with Him all the time?

Jesus Response

We see Jesus response in verse 19.

Mark 5:19 NIV84

Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

Jesus sent the man back to his people! He sent him back to tell his family, and everyone else how much the Lord has done.

QUESTION: Do you tell your family (and everyone else) how much the Lord has done for you?

This is the first time in the book of Mark that Jesus has told someone to go and tell! Every other time He tells them not to tell anyone—but here Jesus tells this man to go and tell! And the man accepts the challenge! Look at verse 20.

Mark 5:20 NIV84

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.

He went through out the Decapolis—a 10 city region made up of mostly Gentiles. It was located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee—telling how much Jesus had done for him! This man did not miss Jesus!

And ALL the people that heard his story were amazed!

SO WHAT?

What about those around you?

Are the people around you missing Jesus?

Are they afraid of the financial cost?

Are they afraid of having to change the way they live?

Are they afraid God may ask them to do something?

What about you?

Are you missing Jesus?

Are you afraid of the financial cost?

Are you afraid you may have to change the way you live?

Are you afraid God might ask you to do something?