Kingdom Come (Mark 5:1-20)
Gary McManus, 01/24/2016Part of the God's New Year series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Jesus said, quoting Isaiah, Chapter 61:
I have come “to proclaim freedom. . .
and recovery of sight. . . and to set
the oppressed free,” This applies to you.
The hogs = the enormity of the affliction:
1 man afflicted what afflicted a large swine herd!
The Bible suggests that the swine reaction to
the evil spirit resulted in death; neither Jesus
nor the evil spirit intended the swine deaths.
Mark tells us of several demonic possessions
and exorcisms; NINE times!
This is the longest report and the most detailed.
Ancient Greeks and Romans CERTAINLY did
believe that religion was a part of the picture
of illness and health. We have “no clue how
religious ancient peoples were.”
Divine and human healing were complementary
and how and when each was to be used was a
personal decision.
Let’s notice our sick man:
--this man was shrieking (verse 5)
( not under the man’s control or volition—
involuntary (See also Mark 1:23-25).
--the man is uncontrollable.
--seizures? (Mark 1:26).
This man’s actions are often violent.(5:5)
The man is an outcast because of his affliction.
[Notice: NO ONE asked for this healing.]
The man is healed: (vs. 15): “they saw the man
who had been possessed by the legion of demons,
sitting there, dressed and in his right mind. . .”
To be in your right mind is to be self-controlled.
(1 Tim 2:9, 2:15, 3:2; 2 Tim 1:7, Titus 2:2 2:12)
Being self-controlled is one of the qualities
of being an Elder.
The man’s affliction had a mental and emotional
component to it. He WAS mentally ill.
The Bible reports other practitioners of healing
and even exorcism (see Acts 19:13).
The wonder and marvel of Jesus is that
Jesus healed them ALL.
(See Mark 1:34)
The man’s affliction was spiritual.
Jesus’ first words (1:15)
“The Kingdom of God is at hand!”
(See Ephesians 6:12) What happens when
the Kingdom of God comes to the places of
darkness? Those powers cannot co-exist.
Jesus answered. (Mark 3:27)
Also, Jesus drives out demons.
Jesus does not CONJURE. Jesus commands!
Jesus drives out demons in accordance
with God’s rule.
We participate in the healing.
God didn’t dress the man, he dressed himself.
IF you seek the power of Jesus to put you in
your right mind, there might be things for you
to do like prayer and worship.
Jesus later gives the man instructions.
Walk in the light. (1 John 1:7).
Inviting the light of Jesus into our lives
every day will drive out the darkness. Amen.
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