July 1st, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Seeing and Believe

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Opening Prayer

Father God, You are my guiding light. You accompany me with Your presence and illumine Your Word by Your Spirit.

Read Mark 5:1-20

[1] They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. [2] When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. [3] This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. [4] For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. [5] Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. [6] When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. [7] He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” [8] For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” [9] Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” [10] And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. [11] A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. [12] The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” [13] He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. [14] Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. [15] When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. [16] Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man-and told about the pigs as well. [17] Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. [18] As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. [19] Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” [20] So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Wherever humans are in pain today, the gentle healing message of Jesus needs to be applied, identifying with those in pain to bring God’s healing where it is needed” (N.T. Wright). What a great challenge!

Think Further

Living in a parsonage, we sometimes have extremely needy people coming to the door requiring help. A few nights ago one such person arrived at our door who, I suspect, has mental health problems. To be honest, on this occasion I was slightly frightened by him.

The man in today’s reading must have been very frightening, and given the description of his behavior (3-5) was probably well known in the vicinity. Then when Jesus comes, note what happens (2,6-8). The demons instantly recognize who Jesus is (7). This is something we see throughout the Gospels. The crowds, and even the disciples, struggle to understand who Jesus really is, but when Jesus is confronted by a demon, there is always an acknowledgement of who he is (e.g. Mark 1:24; 3:11; Luke 4:34). The demons know by whom they are confronted, and know Jesus’ authority over them. Thus, in this story they ask his permission (12) to enter the pigs, with the resulting rush to the lake. Can you imagine what that must have been like? The outcome is the transformation of this man (15), but the people’s reaction remains one of fear (17). The people were fearful of the man before he was healed, but now they are afraid of the one who transformed him. The people are more concerned about the pigs than the change in the man. Even this most powerful miracle does not lead to faith. Seeing does not necessarily lead to believing. 

Is that true of our world today? People often demand that God show himself in power, but when that happens, they may turn away in fear, instead of worshiping. Perhaps, given this account, that should not surprise us. The challenge for us today is, even without seeing, do we truly believe (John 20:29)?

Apply

Pray for those you know who struggle to believe because they want to “see.” Pray that they will have the courage to believe.

Closing prayer

Living Lord, enable me to discern Your hand in the circumstances of my life. As I see evidence of Your presence, may it strengthen my belief and draw me to worship.

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