Mark 5:1-4

Passage

They came to the other side of the sea to a region called the Gerasenes.  Immediately, Jesus met up with a man with an evil spirit.  The man had been living as an outcast among the tombs.  He was unable to be controlled as he was able to break free of chains and shackles whenever anyone tried to get them on him.  No human being had the strength to subdue him.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Again we encounter the word immediately.  Once more the world comes to Jesus.  Once more Jesus’ mission surges forward.  Keep in mind that it was late in the evening when Jesus and His disciples set sail, so it was really late at night as this story unfolds.  Imagine this story occurring under the dark of night!  We can see here that Jesus is neither afraid of the things of the night nor is He afraid of needing to rest.  God can sustain Him even when things come at Him from all directions and before He can truly find rest.

What does this story teach you about Jesus’ perspective on ministry?  What can this story tell us about from where the greatest source of strength comes?

Second Thought:

Furthermore, this is a desolate place.  Jesus finds Himself among the tombs and rocks.  He is just outside of civilization.  It is probably reasonably wooded being beside the lake.  This was the perfect place for demons to be active.  Once more Jesus finds Himself doing ministry on the fringe of society.  Jesus is willing to go into the places where others aren’t willing to go.  Jesus is willing to have contact with those whom others aren’t willing to make contact.

How radical is Jesus?  How willing are you to be among people who are not like you?  Why is it difficult to be among people who are different?

Third Thought:

Hear the challenge in verse 4.  Nobody had the strength to subdue this man with the evil spirit.  People had tried and failed.  They tried to bind him up physically.  It didn’t work.  When faced with human failure, they ostracized him.  That’s how humanity works.  When you can’t control someone, you shun them and push them away.

Do you think this is true about humanity?  Whom have you seen get pushed away to the fringes by society?  How do you think Jesus deals with the people who get pushed away?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 5:5-8