2023

Mark 5:1-20      (Also in Matthew 8:28-33 and Luke 8:26-39)

(1) And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. (2) And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, (3) who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: (4) because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. (5) And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. (6) But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, (7) and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. (8) For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. (9) And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. (10) And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. (11) Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. (12) And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. (13) And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. (14) And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. (15) And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. (16) And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. (17) And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. (18) And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. (19) Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (20) And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

  We have 3 versions of this same story and it seems Matthew really only gave a brief summary, while Mark and Luke went into more detail. I think as we look at today’s miracle, we will almost see a parallel of a lot in what we see into todays society. So this person who is clearly someone who is "out of their mind/crazy/can’t control themselves”, definitely a very unclean spirit. As we look at how this person is described when can certainly say we have seen many like this in our society today. This person clearly recognized who Jesus was, even at a distant, thinking He was coming to "torment him?” After all this person had been tormenting other people, pretty ironic to say the least. They say their name is Legion for they are many, and notice, the spirits did not want to be cast out without a host/ no where to habit, that is why the sought out to be cast into the pigs. And of course Jesus sends them into the pigs and all the pigs go drown themselves.

  As I was reading and meditating on this story, I want to share with you a few things.

     We are starting to see here in the United States, we see on the news and video clips all the protesters, people looting stores, rioting violence, literally tormenting others. Totally losing control of themselves. We see them coming unhinged, acting at times unhuman. It is almost a parallel correlation of the man that confronted Jesus. The difference in today’s unclean spirts I believe, is there are not enough TRUE Jesus followers for guidance and direction. All of us "Christians” do is point fingers and at times make things worse. The man with te unclean spirits asked Jesus if He had come to torment him. And as seen here in the US, these tormentors/unclean spirits are met with more tormentors. We have to do better to start showing the love and compassion of Christ, it is the only way change can take place. We have to not be afraid of being persecuted for our belief and start standing firm.

   As we are starting to see more and more activity within the LGBTQ and other letters community, I was noticing that they Legion of unclean spirits would be that representative. Notice how the unclean spirits did not want to be cast out into nowhere but were looking for a new host. Notice how are stores and city/county/government office are now starting to cater to the LGBTQ community. Remember Jesus asked who the unclean spirits name were. Notice they did not give the man’s name. They did not choose to go with his identity. We see the same thing happen today with the people with unclean spirits. They change their names and Identities from who they are. These spirits are looking for new hosts. They are looking for the vulnerable ones, our kids! We, have to be sure we keep our armor of God on. (Ephesians 6) We are not in a physical fight, but a very spiritual fight. Jesus changed the World with only 12 Disciples. The man whom Jesus cast out unclean spirits went and shared with everyone the great things the Lord had done and how he had compassion on him. If we were to show compassion and love to just one person that would change their world, look at what that would leave to.

The one thing we need to understand is what is happening today is nothing new. I think what the difference is, is the Christian community today has not equipped themselves to properly handle the situation. We keep wanting others or the "government” to do it for us. Jesus’s love and compassion is for EVERYONE! We need to make sure we represent that.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places

John 15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Lamentations 3:22 It is of the LORD 's mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not.

Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

I would love to hear your thoughts.