Mark 5:2 Immediately (there's that word again), out of the tombs came a man with an unclean spirit. What kind of people live among the tombs of the dead? What darkness, what death, what aloneness. There was no one there. The graves were way out of the city. Hauntingly alone. No person, no words could bind him anymore. Not even chains could bind him any longer. No one had the strength to subdue him. But when he saw Jesus from afar, the unclean man ran and fell down before Him acknowledging that HE was the Son of God! I mean, he knew! "What have you to do with me Son of the Most High God? Do not torment me." And so Jesus sends the unclean spirits living in one soul into 2,000 pigs. And every pig drowned...and the people cared more about the pigs than the person. Not only that, they became afraid when they saw the demon-possessed man clothed and in his right mind. Who gave him the clothes? They weren't afraid of darkness but afraid of light.
The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they begged Jesus to leave the whole area. It was just too much disruption of their controlled comfortable lives. Let's put some distance here. Distance, our most lethal problem. Stiff-armed their Savior. Rejected their Redeemer. And, the man delivered from himself, from his own demons, he went into the city to share what God had done for him. And they marveled at the Wonder of it all. Once again, no words now can bind this freed man. No, not even chains now can hold him back from testifying to the Gospel of Grace. What words hold me back this day?
Not sure why the post didn't automatically post at midnight. Sometimes, it just doesn't work right. Sorry I usually spot it sooner but not this time. Guess I'll have to publish them manually until I find out what's going on. Thanks, Bev
ReplyDeleteBev, I'm just glad you're doing all right. I didn't get a chance to call you yesterday-
ReplyDeleteThe same thing struck me as I read: not the insanity and dark soul but the Christ made them more afraid.
Mark 5:9 ~ “He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many."
So many demons that the man couldn’t be restrained…Imagine his torment! And Jesus asked his name, but the demons answered…I wouldn’t think that would be his question. ..Yet, when he/they saw Jesus, even the demons inside him had to fall to the ground…EVERY knee will bow…What haunts you today? Jesus is Lord over the ugly parts, too. What part of us needs to run to Jesus and bow low to be healed? Or which parts? Where to start…let the healing begin, Lord.
Not just one demon was under His authority...but many.
ReplyDeleteLegion.
Friend, my God breaks captives free! And He destroys our captors.
Middle East comes to mind.
Troubling what is going on over there, but to be set free from domination! How exciting to witness.
I am very doubtful that lives are going to be changed for the better there. We may be seeing the rising up of the anti-christ.
Just remember, as we see the day of our redemption drawing nigh, we are to REJOICE...
God's timing is in His complete control. We can look to Him for our salvation.
Every one else in the passage today was afraid. But the one who had been set free was telling His miraculous story.