October 15, 2017
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Reading along with us in Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
Mark 5 (ESV)
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea….Continue Reading
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The frightening the faithful and the marvelous
33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
15And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.
35While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” ❤️
Another thing to notice about the gospel of Mark that is reflected in this chapter is although it is the shortest gospel, it provides more detailed accounts of certain events as compared to the other gospels. But here we have three accounts that show Jesus can overcome the things that are insurmountable to us. People could not handle the demon possessed man. He would even break chains placed on him. The man could not control the demon hurting himself. Yet Jesus has authority here that even the demons recognize. He is the one who is in control, even to the extent of deciding whether or not to honor their request. This woman and all the doctors could not control this blood disease….it seemed insurmountable. But all it takes is a touch of Jesus’ garment to fix what this woman or others could not. And what a great picture and affirmation of faith that this account displays. What differentiated this woman’s touch from the other people who were touching Jesus. She had a need and believed Jesus could take care of it. The same goes for us as we come to God in prayer. Faith is what matters!
And talk about insurmountable…death, especially the death of a child. The people even say, Jesus could have handled healing her, but now that she is dead, don’t bother the teacher. Oh but this, even this , is not too difficult for Jesus. He says “Get up”, like anyone could but His statement has power to bring life to a dead body. Once again the message is What a Savior!