Mark 5:5-8

Passage

Day in and day out, this tragic figure was crying out and cutting himself with stones.  Upon seeing Jesus, this man comes before Him and falls down.  The man cried out and said, “What will you have to do with me, Jesus of Nazareth? You are the Son of the most High God; I adjure you to not torment me.”  Jesus had been saying to the man, “Come out of him, you unclean spirit!”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

This man is clearly tormented.  He is cutting himself.  He is crying out in shrieks.  He is abandoned by his community.  Yet, in the midst of all of this he sees Jesus and comes running.  He bows down at the feet of Jesus.  As tormented as this man is, He knows salvation when he sees it.  As tormented as he is, here is a man who recognizes that if anyone can help him, it is Jesus.

Is it easier to recognize those who can help us when we are in the midst of struggle?  Why do we occasionally have to hit rock bottom before we can truly accept the help that we need?

Second Thought:

There is recognition of a difference between the man and Jesus.  The man knows who Jesus is – or perhaps it is the unclean spirit within the man who knows.  Either way, there is recognition that Jesus is different.  Furthermore, there is recognition that Jesus is the superior.  The man calls out asking for Jesus not to torment.  In fact, the man adjures (commands) Jesus not to torment him.  The man knows that Jesus is the help he needs, but he also recognizes that Jesus has every right to cast him away from His presence as well.  Sometimes it can be scary to get help from the people who can give it to us because they are in a position to judge us – or perhaps even do worse.

Have you ever been afraid of how people might think about you or treat you if you expose your need to them?  Why can this be a scary process?

Third Thought:

Notice that things don’t just happen at the snap of Jesus’ fingers.  Of course they could, if Jesus wanted to work that way.  But Jesus doesn’t.  You see, Jesus had been saying to the unclean spirit that the spirit needed to come out.  But the spirit didn’t come immediately out.  God desires that we should have free will.  God desires love, but He wants us to choose love, not have it be our only option.  Thus although He could have commanded the spirit to absolutely come out and the spirit would have been obliged to obey, that is not the approach Jesus mandates here.  Jesus has a dialogue with both the spirit and the man possessed by the spirit.  Jesus wants relationship, not absolute dominance.

Is there a lesson to be learned about how God asserts His authority?  How easy is it to be in a position of authority and simply dominate?  How hard is it to be in a position of authority and still seek relationship with those in your authority?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 5:9-13