Mark 5:1-20
CONFRONTATION
LIFE OF CHRIST #25
In 1971 Mel Goebel was convicted of burglary and sentenced to five years of hard labor at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. He was bitter and cynical and turned to drugs to pass the time. Another inmate witnessed to him and he eventually accepted Christ.
Being a Christian made him a different person. He learned to be content, formed close friendships and practiced his faith. About a year later an 18 year old inmate named Rocky came to Mel's cell. He had heard about Mel's conversion.
With tears in his eyes, the boy explained his story: When he had first come to prison he had accepted a carton of marijuana and cigarettes from a gang of older inmates. Now they wanted him to provide them with "favors."
Mel and some other Christians bought a carton of cigarettes at the commissary. Then Mel walked alone to the gym to give them to the men, who used to be his gang. "Here's the carton Rocky owes you. And you still owe me two cartons of pot that I never collected, so Rocky's debt is cancelled."
The leader, named Eric, stepped forward. "Who do you think you are, telling us what to do?" Mel's heart beat quickly, but he stood his ground. "Because of Christ, Rocky is my brother. I have to help him." Mel walked away.
Later that day the gang approached him and two of his Christian friends in the yard. They decided not to resist and prepared to be beaten up, just as their Lord Jesus had been. Eric was face to face with Mel, and growled, "I don't like what you did in there."
Mel took a deep breath and looked his old leader in the eyes. "Eric, if you were being threatened I would do the same thing for you." Holwick’s Illustrations
Mel Goebel had a confrontation with a gang leader.
Here are three of four definitions for the word "confront" found in Webster's New World Dictionary: "1) To face; stand or meet face to face 2) To face or oppose boldly, defiantly or antagonistically 3) To bring face to face."
Like me, you have probably had several confrontations in your lifetime. You younger folk have probably been confronted by your parents for doing something wrong. This might have been a verbal scolding, a spanking, or both.
In church, sometimes we need to confront a person concerning sin in the life.
And husbands and wives sometimes confront each other with various issues.
This morning, as we continue our series on the Life of Christ, we turn to the Mark 5:1-20 where we find a confrontation between our Lord Jesus and a demon possessed man. Of course, our Lord will win the confrontation, and we will see some of the spiritual lessons involved.
The event we will study this morning took place right after the great storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had been asleep in the back of the boat, when the storm came up. The disciples panicked and woke Jesus up, asking the question, "Master, carest thou not that we perish."
Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and the waves. We are told that he said "Peace, be still," "and the wind ceased and there was a great calm."
We are also told that Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith.
Mark 4:40 - And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
It is after this event that the Lord Jesus arrives on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. This morning we will look at:
SATAN'S CONTROL Vss. 1-6
THE SAVIOR'S VICTORY Vss. 7-17
THE SAINT'S RESPONSIBILITY Vss. 18-10
SATAN'S CONTROL Vss. 1-6
Vs. 1 - Our Lord is entering an area that is on the opposite side of the Lake from where He performed much of His ministry. It is a largely Gentile area. He probably coming on shore near a little village called Kersa.
Vs. 2 - I personally think that Satan had something to do with the storm, hoping to destroy the Son of God. When Jesus comes on shore, it appears that Satan is going to try again.
The tombs mentioned here were either natural or man-made caves in the side of a hill. These caves were burial places. They were also the haunt of demented men.
Mark and Luke talk about one man. Matthew talks of two. It seems that Mark and Luke were simply zeroing in on the worse of the two men.
It says that the man had an "unclean spirit".
We would call him a demon-possessed man.
A demon is an agent of Satan. He can control an unsaved man. I think that most likely, Demons are fallen angels.
Vs. 3 - No man can bind this demoniac. He is too strong!
I am reminded that no man is strong enough to resist Satan in his own power.
Vs. 4 - The neighbors evidently tried on a number of occasions to bind this man but it was impossible to keep him bound. I can imagine a bunch of local men holding him down while others clasped chains around him. But he managed to break free from the strongest of chains. According to Mark, this man was untamable.
Vs. 5 - Notice how distraught this man was. He spent his nights and days cutting himself and crying. Satan had quite a hold on this man.
Allow me to remind you of what we were like before we were saved.
We were probably not demon possessed, but we were under Satan's control. He was running our lives, no matter how peaceful, or religious we thought we were.
Ephesians 2:1-3 - And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
This is why it is so important to reach the unsaved. They are in Satan's dominion and in his bondage.
They need Christ!
Vs. 6 - This man comes down, perhaps to attack, and finds the Lord Jesus. Because the demoniac is in the presence of the God of the universe, even he, a demon, through the man he possessed, bowed down and gave homage.
It makes me think. We are Christians. God is our Father. Jesus is our Savior. How often do we bow the knee to them in reverence and glad adoration?
Psalms 95:6 - O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
I am also reminded of the great day when Philippians 2:9-11 will be fulfilled. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
SATAN'S CONTROL
THE SAVIOR'S VICTORY Vss. 7-17
Vs. 7 - I find two very ironic things in this verse.
First, please note that while demons recognize Jesus as who He truly is, "Son of the most high God," there are liberal Christian Theologians who deny this truth. They deny the deity of Christ, but the demons do not.
Second, I am amused to find the demons who were tormenting this poor man cried out, "Torment me not." Here the tormentors are asking that they not be tormented. They could dish it out, but they couldn't take it.
There is a place for demons called "the abyss." They did not want to go there!
If demons fear the punishment of God, shouldn't that put a little fear in our hearts for those who are not saved.
Vs. 8 - The demons were pleading for mercy because Jesus had commanded them to come out! Notice they can not fight back against the Son of God. If Satan and his demons can not resist the Lord Jesus, who should we send to the door the next time they come knocking, trying to tempt us? The Lord himself!
1 Peter 5:8-9 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Vs. 9 - I believe that Jesus knew the name of the demon. He wanted those watching to hear the testimony of who this was. The demon states that his name is "Legion."
A Roman legion was made up of about 6,000 infantrymen. The one speaking is the leader, or spokesperson for the rest.
Although we do not know how many demons were actually in the man, it was certainly a great number to carry the name "Legion".
Vs. 10 - They continue to request that remain in the area.
Vss. 11-12 - There were a number of swine feeding in the area. They were being watched by herdsmen.
For the Jews, the pigs were unclean animals.
They felt that going to the swine was better than going into the abyss.
Vs. 13 - The demons were allowed to enter the swine. They are "spooked" and run off a steep place and into the sea.
Why did Jesus permit the entry of the demons into the pigs?
Perhaps it was to show the former demoniac just what forces had lived within him.
Perhaps it is to show us as believers, the awesomeness and awfulness of Satan's power.
Some have a problem with this destruction of property. And we could speculate as to why Jesus permitted it.
But why not just say, "Jesus is God. And as God He does what is right."
By this we mean, Jesus as God allows this destruction, so it must have been the right thing to do. Let us accept the fact that Jesus knew what He was doing.
Vs. 14 - The destruction of a large heard of swine got the attention of those in town and country. They came out to investigate!
Vs. 15 - Here's the biggest surprise of all. The former demoniac is now seated - He's calm and under control!
He's also clothed - Before he ran around naked.
He was in his right mind. He was sane. You could talk to him. They probably had not seen the man like this before.
They were afraid. And when a person comes to Christ, and experiences great change, those who are unsaved, may ever be a little afraid of this new situation.
This demoniac is a picture of each new Christian. August Van Ryn used three words to describe the great change that takes place in us when we are truly saved. August Van Ryn, Meditations in Mark, (Neptune, New Jersey, Loizeaux Brothers, 1957), p. 123
SITTING = REST
When a person comes to Christ as Savior he finds that he can "sit", just as the former demoniac could.
There is no longer the restless of guilt.
There is no longer the fear of eternal punishment.
There is no longer a striving to try and earn salvation by doing good works or keeping the law.
Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Matthew 11:28-30 - Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
SITTING = REST
CLOTHED = RIGHTEOUSNESS
The man in our story was now clothed, after he had been naked.
Remember that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags."
When we come to be saved God declares us as righteous, as we saw in Romans 5:1.
God has given us a "garment of righteousness."
And when someone has been declared righteous, I find they start to have a different attitude towards righteousness.
Born-again Christians are not perfect, but they have a desire to do right, because they have been declared right.
They are sad when they sin, because they know that as born-again Christians, they should be doing what is right.
The man or woman, boy or girl who is truly born again is going to show off their new clothes. Righteousness!
SITTING = REST
CLOTHED = RIGHTEOUSNESS
RIGHT MIND = REASON
The man who is in his right mind has the ability to reason correctly.
When we were born again, the Holy Spirit of God came inside of us, and gave us the ability to reason as God would have us to reason.
This means, with the Holy Spirit's help we can see things as God would have us to see things. it means we have the capacity to understand the Word of God.
It means my attitude towards life, towards sin, towards serving God should all change, because I have a new mind.
This new mind must be cultivated.
Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The new mind is cultivated by meditation on the Word of God. If you have been saved, your manner should be different. There should be Rest, Righteousness and Reason.
Vs. 16 - The witnesses, probably the disciples included, told the story.
Vs. 17 - Here's another irony.
There had been a great miracle performed.
Instead of wanting to know more, instead of seeking His teaching, instead of asking Jesus to take care of other demons and diseases, they ask Jesus to leave!
We need to beware!
Every time an unsaved person turns down Christ, he is asking Jesus to leave.
Every time we, as Christians, want nothing to do with our Savior, we are, in a sense, asking Him to leave. I'm glad that He hasn't.
SATAN'S CONTROL
THE SAVIOR'S VICTORY
THE SAINT'S RESPONSIBILITY
Vs. 18 - The man was truly changed.
Instead of attacking Jesus He now wants to go with Jesus.
That should be our attitude as well.
The only difference is, we can spend time with Jesus.
And, we are able to follow Him.
Vs. 19 - There's another irony here.
The demons asked Jesus to enter the swine, and He said yes.
The villagers asked Jesus to leave, and He did.
The new Christian wants to go with Jesus, and Jesus said "no".
Why is it that the Christian got the only "no" answer.
The demons and villagers were not Christians. They had no part of His lordship. The Christian is a believer, and is to submit the Lordship of the Lord Jesus.
Why did Jesus say "no" to this man?
Because God had another plan for His life.
Some are called to 9-5 jobs as witnesses.
Some are called to full time Christian work.
Some are called to the home.
The most important thing is that we go where we are sent.
That's our responsibility.
This man's responsibility was to go home to family and friends and tell what God had done.
Indeed this is something each one of us should do as Christians.
We are witnesses of the grace of God.
1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Psalm 107:2 - Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Just wondering - Can Jesus say no to you, as He did to this man without you getting upset.
Vs. 20 - This man did exactly what he was told and caused many to marvel.
SATAN'S CONTROL
THE SAVIOR'S VICTORY
THE SAINT'S RESPONSIBILITY