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126. Jesus Heals A Wild Man

Isaiah 61:1, & 65:1-5, Mark 5:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39, Psalm 116
Key Verse: "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."
Mark 5:19

From battling a storm from the outside, Jesus now finds Himself confronted by a man who has a raging battle within. Jesus is master of both when we invite him to do so.

Imagine being one of the disciples. You've just spent a harrowing night at sea, grateful to have survived. You see land and you breathe a sigh of relief. Remember, there were also land lovers in Jesus' rag tag bunch. No sooner does your boat touch shore when your ears pick up the deafening screams of a crazy man that sends chills down your spine! The sound echoes through the tombs in front of you. Then, when you look up and focus, you see the source of the noise, a wild man, naked, hair all matted and disheveled.  From shackles on his wrists and ankles bits of chain are dragging behind him as he comes.

He makes a bee line toward your group! It's enough to make you wish that you were still out in the middle of the lake in the boat! You've probably already forgotten Jesus' words, "Peace, be still," while your heart pounds in your chest and your knees begin to knock together. Welcome to the land of the Gentiles, pagan country where men who don't know your living God are bound to be this way.

Jesus, however, just takes it all in, even as the man throws himself on the ground at His feet. "What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most high God?" Naming Jesus was an old tactic to try to gain power over Jesus. "Name it and claim it," was an active philosophy in Jesus' day as well. Are you surprised that a Demon would recognize Jesus for who He is? Well, James tells us, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder." (James 2:19)

Jesus remains unruffled. "Come out of this man, you evil spirit! What is your name?"

Trying to avoid being named, the demoniac responds with a number. "My name is legion." A legion was a Roman army grouping of 600 soldiers and about 150 horse men. Jesus, however, remains master and the demon is reduced to begging instead of mastering.  The demons want to stay in the area, probably in hopes of finding another receptive victim and, since Jesus had not yet come in final judgment he granted their request.

Were the pigs smart to run into the sea or were they victims? It is amazing that the man was able to serve as host to enough demons to drive a thousand animals to their deaths! The point of this part of the story is under much debate. The Jews did not like pigs, that is for sure, not just because of God's Law, but because of how pigs were used against them during the Maccabean wars 2 centuries earlier. We don't know why Jesus allowed this tragedy to take place. We need to be careful not to let the plight of the pigs, however, overshadow the miracle that took place on shore, like the town’s people did. When they came on the scene, the man whom they could not tame was seated calmly at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind. Yet, instead of rejoicing for the man, the people thought of the pigs and sent Jesus away.

Finally, we come to the one request that Jesus denies. This man is the only one whom Jesus healed who wanted to go with Him. Yet, Jesus sends Him among the heathen, to the Decapolis, a cluster of about ten Gentile cities, including Philadelphia and Damascus, to begin to prepare the way for the good news of the Kingdom of God among the Gentiles.

All Jesus asked was for this man to tell his story. "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19) That is what He asks of us as well. You may not be a brilliant theologian or have the gift of evangelism, but you do have a story to share of how Jesus has freed you or given you strength to overcome. He may be giving you strength for this moment. Jesus simply asks you to share.

Hymn: "Since Jesus Came into My Heart" 

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