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Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson Mark - Who is Christ?
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to MARK
PART 4 - Jesus' Great Miracles in Galilee and its Surroundings (Mark 3:7 - 8:26)
6. Jesus’ Power Over the Storm, Spirits, and Death (Mark 4:35 - 5:43)
b) Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man in the Country of the Gadarenes (Mark 5:1-20)MARK 5:1-20 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not comprehend it. Jesus set out from his homeland eastward to the country of idolaters, where people lived without the law of God, ate swine’s flesh, and contacted unclean spirits, which possessed some of them. The demon-possessed lived among the tombs as dead rather than alive. Woe to our earth if men move away from the Spirit of God, rely on philosophers and scientists, and call upon the spirits of the dead! Then they become evil, powerful in destruction, without humanity, and even dead spiritually. Jesus came to this region which was affected by evil, and the spirits soon raced as moths meet together around a shining lamp at night, for the power of Christ is known in other places. While his presence brings peace and rejoicing to his believers, unclean spirits become desperate and afraid. As Jesus did not fear the roaring storm, so he feared neither demons, nor the demon-possessed, from whom people fled fearfully when they saw them, and heard how they roared with iron chains, showering passers by with big stones, wounding many and hitting themselves too. Yet, Jesus spoke to them kindly, for he was certain that no spirit could hurt him. The demon-possessed fell down before Jesus’ feet, knowing that God himself dwelt in this Man Jesus. Jesus knew the malice of hell, and showed his disciples that many unclean devils dwelt in that poor suffering man, for the spirits sought a human body as an instrument to carry out their destructive designs. They exhausted him, tore his soul, and made him a hellish thief. Jesus cast an unclean army of demons out of this suffering man with the word of his power. He considered the healing of a man more important than a herd of two thousand swine, which rushed down into the sea and drowned. Thus, we find that unclean spirits cannot keep quiet even in animals. In their violent running the herd was destroyed. Then, we see the picture of paradise. He who became free from the power of unclean spirits sat at Jesus’ feet clothed and in his right mind, thanking and praising him. This is the result of Jesus’ salvation, that whoever comes to him is dressed, in his right mind, at peace with God, working hard, and becoming a new creation. The love of Christ prompts and edifies man. It makes him a messenger of order, a seeker of truth, and an image of divine love in the world of fear, lying, and prostitution. The people of that region felt the effect of the power of heaven against the spirits of hell, and they were greatly afraid. They did not worship Christ, but begged him to go away, preferring their properties and animals rather than the living Christ. The man who was healed and freed wanted to accompany Jesus and stay under his protection, but Jesus commanded him to be his witness in his own country. His comforting Spirit accompanied the man, and his salvation became the hope of that region which was darkened with death. This man obeyed Christ and testified to his divine power in eastern cities and towns of Jordan. Are you in your right mind sitting at Jesus’ feet, and bearing witness to his name and power in public? PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, we worship your divine power, for you are the loving Almighty One. You do not destroy us, but free us from all impurity, hatred, and destruction. Make us lovers of good order, and filled with love and truth. Help us to spread the news about your power to our brothers and sisters in this age. Amen. QUESTION:
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