September 5th, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Terror In the Tombs

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Mighty God, Your presence, Your purposes, Your power are always with me. I praise You for Your blessings to me.

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 evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. [3] This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, 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? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” [8] For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil 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 evil 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 family 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

“God is love, and all who live in love live in God … Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear” (1 John 4:16,18 NLT).

Think Further

What unimaginable horror! Cast out by family and neighbors, this despairing “victim of demonic malevolence” is forced to seek shelter among the dead. Living without the comfort of human embrace, he is separated from his former community by walls of fear, ignorance, hostility and alienation. He is utterly alone except for a host of demons whose only intentions were evil. His ceaseless roaming and tormented howling, day and night, bore testimony to their cruelty. Tortured beyond the limits of sanity, his bondage was complete.

What amazing liberation! He who once appeared to be God-forsaken was now God-transformed—the first non-Jew to experience the liberating power of Jesus. Finally, after who knows how many years of incomprehensible pain and captivity, his suffering was over. “Freed now, the man could be still … His uncontrollable restlessness gave way to repose, his delirium to deliberation, his madness to meditation. This is what freedom in Christ does to people” (Evelyn Miranda-Feliciano). The restored man, long denied the warmth of human fellowship, was eager to join Jesus’ small band of companions. Jesus had other plans.

He instructed the former demoniac to return to his family and old neighborhood, and tell them what had happened. So he did, and more. He shared his experience in the ten townships that made up the region of Decapolis, and the people were amazed. These townships were centers of Greek and Roman culture, i.e. they were not Jewish. Jesus’ intention was clear: the good news of liberation was for everyone, not just the Jews. His recruitment of a Samaritan evangelist further demonstrated this passion, despite the agitation it caused his disciples (John 4:27-42). Previously stigmatized, now she joyfully and effectively shared her experience of Jesus.

Apply

Are there any in your church’s neighborhood you may be tempted to think are beyond the reach of the gospel? Name them in prayer, and ask God to touch them.

Closing prayer

Lord, I want to model to others the difference You make in my life. May I clearly demonstrate that You don’t give fear, but power and a stable mind.

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