Mark 5:1-20
Jesus’ arrival in the land of the Gadarenes was a momentous occasion for both the people of that land, and the disciples of Christ. The land was on the east side of the Sea of Galilee, in the northernmost region of Decapolis. This land was technically Israeli land, though on the wrong side of the Jordan River. Most of the tribes of Israel had chosen land on the west side of the river, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, but Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh had chosen to dwell on the eastern side. This separation from their kinsmen led to a drifting from the principles of God, and in some cases, outright idolatry.
The first man that Jesus meets when He steps off of the boat is “a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs” (Mark 5:2, 3). He is demon possessed with 6,000 demons, knowledge we gain in verse 9 when he identifies himself as Legion (6,000 troops). He dwells among the dead for that is the only place that the powers of darkness feel comfortable.
Jesus casts the demons out of the man and sends them into a herd of 2,000 swine that is feeding on a nearby cliff, overlooking the sea. The moment that the demons enter the pigs, they overrun one another and rush headlong into the sea, drowning them. What an amazing sight to see, as this herd of swine goes madly into suicide. Having watched their herd kill themselves, the keepers of the herd run into the nearby city and tell the owners what has occurred.
The people of that land worshipped false gods, and rather than use a lamb or bullock as the children of Israel did, they used pigs as their animal of sacrifice. It is typical of Satan to use that which was abominable in the eyes of God to mock worship. The Jew was not to touch a pig, much less eat one, and the thought of using it as a sacrifice was the ultimate mockery. In casting the demons into the herd of swine, Jesus had destroyed the sacrificial crop of the city in one fell swoop. Not only had he set a man free from the power of darkness, He had rendered the worship of that darkness obsolete as well.
When people become attached to the forces of darkness in their lives, the presence of light and purity tends to frighten them (Mark 5:15). The people of the Gadarenes were faced with a choice; either accept the fact that this Jesus can do miracles without the power of darkness, or beg Him to leave them to their darkness. They pray that He will depart, for they preferred their false religion of darkness and pain to the truth of the light of the world. In essence, they preferred their swine to the Savior.
The ultimate rejection is when those who are in the dark are given light and they still prefer to dwell in darkness. Jesus said that condemnation is on those who love darkness rather than light. “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:20).
Jesus has come to the shores of your heart. Won’t you let Him bring light and peace and deliverance to the areas of your life that are touched by darkness? Don’t choose the swine of self-righteousness and effort when you have the Savior of the world at your side. Go in peace believer!
Jesus’ arrival in the land of the Gadarenes was a momentous occasion for both the people of that land, and the disciples of Christ. The land was on the east side of the Sea of Galilee, in the northernmost region of Decapolis. This land was technically Israeli land, though on the wrong side of the Jordan River. Most of the tribes of Israel had chosen land on the west side of the river, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, but Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh had chosen to dwell on the eastern side. This separation from their kinsmen led to a drifting from the principles of God, and in some cases, outright idolatry.
The first man that Jesus meets when He steps off of the boat is “a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs” (Mark 5:2, 3). He is demon possessed with 6,000 demons, knowledge we gain in verse 9 when he identifies himself as Legion (6,000 troops). He dwells among the dead for that is the only place that the powers of darkness feel comfortable.
Jesus casts the demons out of the man and sends them into a herd of 2,000 swine that is feeding on a nearby cliff, overlooking the sea. The moment that the demons enter the pigs, they overrun one another and rush headlong into the sea, drowning them. What an amazing sight to see, as this herd of swine goes madly into suicide. Having watched their herd kill themselves, the keepers of the herd run into the nearby city and tell the owners what has occurred.
The people of that land worshipped false gods, and rather than use a lamb or bullock as the children of Israel did, they used pigs as their animal of sacrifice. It is typical of Satan to use that which was abominable in the eyes of God to mock worship. The Jew was not to touch a pig, much less eat one, and the thought of using it as a sacrifice was the ultimate mockery. In casting the demons into the herd of swine, Jesus had destroyed the sacrificial crop of the city in one fell swoop. Not only had he set a man free from the power of darkness, He had rendered the worship of that darkness obsolete as well.
When people become attached to the forces of darkness in their lives, the presence of light and purity tends to frighten them (Mark 5:15). The people of the Gadarenes were faced with a choice; either accept the fact that this Jesus can do miracles without the power of darkness, or beg Him to leave them to their darkness. They pray that He will depart, for they preferred their false religion of darkness and pain to the truth of the light of the world. In essence, they preferred their swine to the Savior.
The ultimate rejection is when those who are in the dark are given light and they still prefer to dwell in darkness. Jesus said that condemnation is on those who love darkness rather than light. “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:20).
Jesus has come to the shores of your heart. Won’t you let Him bring light and peace and deliverance to the areas of your life that are touched by darkness? Don’t choose the swine of self-righteousness and effort when you have the Savior of the world at your side. Go in peace believer!
No comments:
Post a Comment