S = Mark 4:35 On
that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let
us go across to the other side.”
Mark 5:2-9 “And when Jesus had stepped out of the
boat, immediately there met him out of
the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among
the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for
he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains
apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue
him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he
was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
6 And
when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And
crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the
Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”
8 For
he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 And
Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.””
O = In this multi-faceted narrative from the ministry of
Jesus, I find it interesting to notice the directional statements in the text.
Starting with Jesus’ shocking statement that they would leave their growing
ministry in Galilee where Jesus had been teaching through parables and miracles
and cross the lake to the “other side.” The southeast side of the Sea of
Galilee (Lake Gennesaret) to which they headed was the gentile region of
Decapolis (lit., “ten cities”). It was not only the other side of the lake, but
culturally and spiritually the “other side.” Jesus modeled the cross-cultural
mission of the gospel for his disciples. “Other” is not something to be avoided
for Jesus. Secondly there is the demonized man who came out of the tombs. The
uncontrollable, unrestrainable, unreasonable, and inconsolable man, fell down
at the feet of Jesus, with the legion of tormenting spirits begging not to be
tormented. Jesus sent the demons away
out of the man into the pigs. It is as if Jesus came all that way just to free
that man! The Good Shepherd seeking out the lost sheep, no matter how far he
has to go! The man had come out of the tombs in more ways than one. He is no
longer the living wretch that he once was. Now he is clothed, in his right mind
and asking to follow Jesus. This gentile man once shunned by his people is now the
one who will open their fearful eyes to the goodness of God. The next time
Jesus would come to Decapolis crowds would come to listen to his teaching for
days and he would miraculously feed the 4,000 (Mark 8 and Matthew 15).
A = How willing am I to cross over to “the other side” with
Jesus? When circumstances are stormy beyond my control do I doubt Jesus or
trust him to deliver me? Who do I allow to tell me who I really me…the unclean
spirits, the fearful townspeople, or Jesus? This week I will fall before Jesus
and allow him to deliver me from whatever has me in bondage, from whatever is causing
my life to be out of control. And I will pray for opportunities to tell others
what good things God has done for me!
P = O Lord, I am slow to cross to the other side, to reach
out to those different from me. Help me to see that you are working mighty
things in them as well as in me. May we come to share the testimony of how we all
have been changed by your powerful love! Help me to trust you through the stretching
process of getting beyond my comfort zone for the sake of others! And Lord, will you please give me the
opportunity today to share something good that
you have done for me with someone else. Amen.
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