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MARKed by Mercy
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 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. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure 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.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 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. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 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. Mark 5:1-20 (NIV)
See also Mark 4:35-41 and Mark 5:21-43
The book of Mark is named after John Mark who is believed to have been a companion of the Apostle Peter who dictated these eyewitness accounts to him. Likely written in the AD50's, from Rome. This part, end of Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 is one of my favourites.
Mark had a nickname "stubby fingers" - (David Pawson) So, we have Stubby fingers and a fiery fisherman making sure these things are written down for us so that we know "Who this (Jesus) is"! Maybe the conversation went something this....
Peter, tell me again about the day Jesus got in the boat. You know, THAT day!
Well, it goes like this… Huge crowds were pressing in on Jesus. He asked for a boat and we pushed off from the Capernaum shore. He taught all day, parables about people's hearts, and the kingdom. That evening, he asked us to take him across the sea - to the gentile side, which was really crazy the 10 cities, with all their Greek and Roman ideals were despised and avoided by us Jews.
He fell asleep in the boat, and all of a sudden one of those Galilee storms blew in (because of the terrain). We thought it was the end for us, meanwhile Jesus was sleeping. When we finally woke him in desperation he challenged us on our faith and then ordered the wind and the waves to be still.
We asked, "Who is this?!" Only later did we remember all the Psalms like this one
28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. Psalms 107:28-29
He was showing us who he was, but we didn't even realize.
When we got to the other side after this, a mad guy came running at them out of the graveyard - cut & bleeding, chains hanging from his arms and legs. He seemed to have a supernatural strength, most definitely possessed, he had been cutting himself. The demons in him knew who Jesus was - the "Son of the Most High God" they called him Jesus commanded the impure spirit out of him, and they (Legion) begged go into a huge herd of pigs (2000 or so, would be about R5MZAR in today's terms). The pigs took off into the sea, the end of that enterprise! The guy was completely transformed, healed, and in his right mind. He wanted to come back with us and be a disciple, but Jesus told him to go and share his story in the 10 cities. (Later on, crowds came from the cities to meet Jesus). Meanwhile, the pig herders and city people were upset and asked Jesus to leave. It seemed like they preferred their pigs to the presence of the kingdom. So we got in the boat and never returned. Back on the other side, the crowd was waiting. Jairus begged Jesus to come and heal his very sick daughter, but on the way, an unclean woman in the crowd touched Jesus cloak (Tzitzit are called the “wings” of the garment - Mal 4:2 …with healing in his wings) - she was completely healed. By the Jairus daughter was dead, but Jesus chased everyone out, took her by the hand, and told her to get up to everyone's astonishment.
This day was a THAT day!
This is a story of Clean and Unclean
Jesus goes to the unclean place (Gentile side) - he brings freedom and healing - the unclean is purged (pigs symbolic perhaps?)
He is touched by the unclean woman - she is healed and made clean
He touches the unclean (dead) body of the young girl - and brings her back to life
It is a story of falling at His feet
The demoniac fell at his feet - The demoniac's life was marked by mercy.
The woman fell at his feet - The woman's life was marked by mercy.
Jairus fell at his feet. - Jairus and his daughter were marked by mercy.
The people of Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave, and he didn't return.
It is a story of contrast - the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of Heaven
Storm to Peace
Destruction to Restoration
Sickness to Health
Death to Life
It is a story of assault on evil - some things can only be changed by Jesus.
Where do you find yourself in the story?
Disciples
DANGER: Familiarity, missing who Jesus really is
APPLICATION: Practise reverence
Demoniac
Powerless. Isolated Tormented. Maybe not visible on the outside but on the inside - oppressed
APPLICATION: Name it. Fall at his feet. People pray for you in the name of Jesus
Gerasenes People - upset at the disruption Jesus brings
When Jesus confronts evil, things will be disrupted
DANGER: We prefer our pigs (piggy banks) rather than the presence of God.
APPLICATION: Repentance
Desperate - Woman in the crowd / Jairus - desperate
APPLICATION - Go to Jesus, fall at his feet.
This is Jesus, who confronts and defeats evil, this is the Kingdom
Evil brings disorder, destruction, chaos, and death.
Jesus brings peace, order, healing, and life.
Meet him, call out to him come to him, allow your story to be marked by mercy.
We remember and celebrate his victory over sin and death by breaking bread and sharing communion together. Each week in our life groups present a moment to break bread and share a meal with Jesus at the center of the conversation.
LIFE GROUP GUIDE
Like last week, set aside time to break bread at the table.
As we break bread; our dining tables become sacred spaces of celebration and remembrance of our hope in Jesus. In order to facilitate a deeper conversation with your group members, consider using the SOAP.
Use the SOAP framework on Mark Chapter 5
Scripture - Read the chapter of scripture out loud (you can share the reading, a few verses each)
Observation - Have each person share an observation; something in the Scripture that stands out to them
Application - Discuss how you can apply what has been shared in your own life
Prayer - Pray with your group about what you have learned or how you can apply what you have learned in your life
Additional questions to discuss
Which of the people in the story do you relate with most?
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