The healing of a demon-possessed man – Mark Chapter 5: v1-20

Jesus arrives in the town of Gerasenes, which has a predominantly gentile population. So the people witnessing this and the demon-possessed man were probably gentiles not Jews. Jesus is immediately approached by a demon-possessed man. This man is desperate, un-naturely strong and a danger to himself and others. As soon as he sees Jesus “he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 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” (Mark 5: V6) Jesus then commands the demons to leave the man , and then he asks the demons their name. The reply is “My name is legion…for we are many” (Mark 5: v9). A legion in roman times was made up of about 6,000 people..so you can try imagine the state that this poor man was in. Jesus then sends the demons into the herd of pigs, and thy run into the lake and drown. The man is free from demonic possession! Now, Jesus has yet again demonstrated his power and authority over Satan. I think its important not to focus on this very visual picture of the pigs running into the lake and drowning but the healing and transformation of this man. What an encouragement this story is for the people who witnessed it at the time and for us reading about it in 2006!

A dead girl and a sick woman – Mark 5: v21-43

Jarius (the leader of a local synagogue) approaches Jesus and pleads with him “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live” Mark 5: v23). This verse really stands out to me because Jarius shows so much faith. As Jesus goes with Jarius , a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years approaches him from behind. She touches Jesus’ cloak. why? because she thought, “If I touch his clothes, I will be healed” (mARK 5: V28). Jesus then asks the crowd “who touched me?” (Mark 5:v30). The woman then comes forward and He says “Daughter your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mark 5: v34).

So it wasn’t that the woman had touched him and that was why she was healed. No, she had faith in Jesus! Jesus then goes on to raise Jarius’ daughter from the dead, and He says to her parents just before it happens “Don’t be afraid, just believe” (Mark 5: v36).

What stands out to me in this passage is the word ‘FAITH’. Jesus healed when people had faith in him. Jesus’ amazing grace is awesome. What stands out to you in this passage?

Now I know this is supposed to be a bible study on Mark 4 but as I was reading over the chapter and it really hit me that Jesus could of used Steve as an example instead of the lamp.

Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of Heaven, something that has been talked a lot about on this site. Is it hidden or visible? Well Jesus is saying that it is like a lamp, you wouldn�t hide a lamp you would put it on a stand so that it can light the place up. Now you could say the Kingdom of Heaven is a little bit like Steve Irwin, he wasn�t made to sit behind a desk filing paper work, he was made to live life to the max, to be out in the wild wrestling with huge crocs, making us laugh and do Aussie bloke impersonations. I�m sure I�m getting a little off the point and am in danger of never being asked to do a study again However, I really feel as a Christian and as someone who has access to the greatness of God, I should have a passion for life that is contagious, like Steve.

I think people should be able to look at me and think ââ?¬Å?heââ?¬â?¢s a little crazy but man he loves life.ââ?¬Â

Now obviously we all have different personalities and characteristics but when Jesus is talking about a lamp; that must be you and me? We surely have to shine the love of Jesus on this dark place.

I have just finished reading an excellent book by Rob Bell called Velvet Elvis. There are tonnes of things that really spoke to be while reading it but one of them was the reminder that becoming a Christian isn�t about life after death, but life now.

Often I find myself caught, reminiscing about the past.

Often I can�t stop dreaming about the future and the possibilities.

What about the right now, how am I being a light to my work colleagues? How am I being Jesus to my neighbours? How am I being the best husband I can be? The best friend I can be?

I ask these questions of myself not to feel guilty about the bad job I often do but to get excited about the possibilities a life with God offers. I want to be as excited about Jesus as Steve was about crocodiles; I want to dedicate my life to sharing that passion with the people around me.

I pray that God is with Steve�s family and friends right now and that we can celebrate his life and use it to challenge and inspire us all. Rest in peace, crocs rule!

‘Crowds follow Jesus – Mark 3: v7-12′

These folks were average Joe’s, no different to you or I, and they see something in Jesus that the religious folk just don’t. The sick wanted to be healed and you can almost picture these people desperate for a touch from Jesus, because they knew it would change their lives.

During this time Jesus cast out demons and they knew that he wasn’t a faker, he was the real thing…Jesus was the son of God. Jesus told the demons not to say anything, and this demonstrates Jesus’ incredible obedience to God and the path that He has to follow to defeat satan.

‘The disciples get appointed – Mark 3: v13-19′

Jesus then goes up a mountain, which he often did when he wanted to be alone with God, away from all of the noise and attention. Jesus took with him the disciples that He had chosen to appoint. He then chose the disciples ‘that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons’ (v14: NIV).

Note that these guys were just like you and me, average people who weren’t superspiritual or perfect and yet Jesus chose them! That’s mind blowing. These guys were firstly going to be with Jesus, before they go out and serve him. They had to spend time with him and learn from him before they set off to do their thing. Sometimes I neglect to spend time alone with God, before I try and do stuff and I fall flat on my face…why? Well because I need to be with him, to learn from him and be changed.

‘Jesus and the evil one – Mark 3: v20-30′

Jesus goes to a house and yet again a huge crowd follow him, the place is so packed that people can hardly move. Jesus’ family think that he is ‘out of his mind’ (v21:NIV), for putting himself in this situation. The religious folk also went along and said that Jesus is possessed by satan and that what he is doing is evil.

Now this gets a reaction from Jesus, immediately he explains why their accusation is ridiculous. Jesus says ‘how can satan drive out satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand’ (v23: NIV). Jesus wanted to show that by driving out demons he was not in league with satan, but that he is against evil. Jesus then warns that ‘whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will never be forgiven, he is guilty of an eternal sin’. (v29: NIV)

I had to re-read this passage several times, the words ‘never’ and ‘forgiven’ seemed alien to me when referring to Jesus. So I checked this out in a bible commentary and this is thr jist of what it said…Basically, the sin of blaspheming against the holy spirit is the deliberate closing of a persons heart to the holy spirit, by choosing to believe a work of God is a work of satan. It isn’t that God won’t forgive the person but that the person won’t receive god’s forgiveness.

‘We are family – Mark 3:v31-35′

So people are still not getting their heads around the kingdom of God. Jesus has just got a message from someone in the crowd, that his mother and brothers are looking for him. Jesus responds by saying ‘who are my mother and my brothers’? (v33: NIV) and answers his own question by explaining that everyone who loves God in the crowd is his family.

Overall, what stands out for me in this part of chapter 3, is that Jesus wants to be with us, just like he wanted to be with the crowds and his disciples. So lets seize that opportunity and be with him! Following Jesus’ example of spending time alone with God is a must, and this is something I’m trying to build in to my daily life. After all we are family.