Let Us Remain April 2
Mark 5:6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”
8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?”
And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
The man has lived in the tombs of the dead, himself spiritually dead.
The evil spirits within him have sown their seed in the unclean soil of a decayed spirit. Unchecked for so long, they are legion (literally, the Roman legion was 5,000 – 6,000 men), too numerable to count. Their home has been in a God-less heart in a God-less land filled with man-made idols.
The man runs and prostrates himself before Jesus. The evil spirits recognize the Son of God.
Evil knows good better than the average person knows either evil or good.
The unclean spirits beg that they not be taken from an unclean place. They have found a home in an unclean body in tombs for the dead in an unclean land. They do not want to suffer torment in a place not intended for them.
Jesus grants their request.
Into the Swine April 3
Mark 5:11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
Being a Greek land without a concept of unclean animals, there is a large herd of swine nearby. The demons ask that Jesus send them into the herd of swine. Jesus grants their request and gives them permission to enter the swine.
The unclean spirits enter the herd of swine. Unclean spirits escape into unclean animals. There is a sense of justice in this.
There is also a sense of order, of justice, in the evil spirits recognizing the authority of Jesus over them. Begging Jesus to honor their request, they show their submission.
The pigs receive the legion of spirits from the man. Although unclean themselves, we have the sense that they have been violated by these evil spirits. Rather than be infested with evil, they assert their own will. The herd rushes down into the sea and drown.
This is not what the evil spirits had anticipated, for they would not wish for their new hosts to be destroyed.
The unclean spirits receive what they have requested, and this has worked to their destruction.
There is a caution here to be careful in what we request.
Depart April 4
Mark 5:14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
Swine (includes hog, pig, boar, etc.) are scavenger animals, recyclers. The purpose of such animals is to devour waste and break it down. They destroy the rotten and decaying, transforming it into the base for productive soil.
The swine have served their purpose by scavenging the evil spirits. The swine die in the sea, returning to the earth from which they came. The evil spirits are trapped without a home.
On the shore, a madman has been cleansed, restored, made whole. Witnesses proclaim the miracle to the people of the region. This is good news and must be shared.
But the people’s reaction reveals their moral and spiritual state.
Hearing the details of Jesus’ freeing the region of the evil spirits, the people are offended at the destruction of the valuable animals.
The Gentiles react little differently from the Jews. Jesus is a disruption to the status quo. A change for the better comes at too high a cost. Better the bondage that is known than the freedom of uncertainty.
The price of freedom from bondage to evil is too high, so they banish their rescuer. They plead with Jesus to depart.
Tell It April 5
Mark 5:18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Freed from bondage to the evil spirits that had possessed him, the Gadarene man seeks to become a follower, a fellow traveler with Jesus. No doubt, he would serve Jesus well, and he would feel safe from the return of those banished spirits.
Jesus does not accept the man’s offering, but does give him a job to do. “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
Jesus accepts all who want to follow Him. He will put us to work in the fields in the way most beneficial for us and for the kingdom. He utilizes us where we are with what we have.
This man has a testimony. And his story will be most meaningful among those who have known him at his worst and now see him at his best. This visual contrast speaks louder than his words.
Giving this testimony regularly, speaking of Jesus and pointing praise toward his Healer, also gives the best protection against further demonic attacks.
The man has received his personal Great Commission – go and tell. It is a simple command. To follow Jesus is to follow His command.
A Crisis of Faith April 6
Mark 5:21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
Having been to the Gentile “other side,” and being no better received than at home, Jesus returns to the Jewish side of the Lake of Galilee. He is met by a great multitude.
Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, comes to greet Jesus and beseech a miracle from Him – to save his dying daughter. The name, Jairus, is Strong’s H215; as a noun: light, enlightened. The name is appropriate whether Jairus’ light is a testimony to Jesus or he is enlightened as to Jesus’ identity.
This coming to Jesus of a ruler of the synagogue shows a man in a crisis of faith. The foundation of his faith has been challenged by the teachings of Jesus.
Like Nicodemus in Jerusalem in John 3, Jairus is willing to test his old faith against the new faith that Jesus is teaching.
Jairus crosses over to the other side.
He asks Jesus to perform a miracle. He places his faith in Jesus’ ability: “Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
Who Touched Me? April 7
Mark 5:25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
Jesus has a limited time. Mark continually emphasizes the sense of urgency in His mission. Jesus is here to show us the character of God: love. Training the disciples is paramount. Instructing people on how to live in the kingdom of God here and now is important.
Healing the body of those consumed with illness is a good thing. This work relieves suffering, enabling them to refocus their lives. What can be better?
He is going to restore life to a young girl. What can be better?
Jesus’ time could be consumed with teaching, as with the parables. What can be better?
Hastening to Jairus’ daughter, to save her and also to save her father, Jesus is distracted by the faith of a woman suffering incurable blood loss. He feels not her touch, for many touch Him, but He senses her drawing the power of a restored life from Him. To delay may cost Jairus’ daughter her life.
The good and the best compete. Jesus must decide.
Affirming Faith April 8
Mark 5:30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes? 31”But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
This, too, is a teaching moment. Jesus pauses to affirm the power of faith. At this moment, He chooses the best.
The healed woman has learned the power (dunamis, Strong’s G1411) of faith. The spectators have seen faith affirmed by the power of this miracle. And the disciples have had another lesson in miraculous spiritual power, the dunamis of verse 30.
Note that the word dynamite is from this Greek word. The translation of dunamis into English as “power” hardly does justice to the concept here in the Gospels. Dunamis is the power of God, transcending all earthly laws, displayed for mankind.
This fits well with the word iaomai in verse 29 for the word “healed.” This is the only time Mark uses the word indicating a miraculous healing rather than the therapeuo word indicating a “therapeutic” hands-on healing.
We will constantly face choosing between the good and the best. We must ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in weighing among two or more competing choices.
The near enemy of the best is the good. The dunamis of the Holy Spirit directs us to the best choice.
Next day
Mark 5:6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”
8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?”
And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
The man has lived in the tombs of the dead, himself spiritually dead.
The evil spirits within him have sown their seed in the unclean soil of a decayed spirit. Unchecked for so long, they are legion (literally, the Roman legion was 5,000 – 6,000 men), too numerable to count. Their home has been in a God-less heart in a God-less land filled with man-made idols.
The man runs and prostrates himself before Jesus. The evil spirits recognize the Son of God.
Evil knows good better than the average person knows either evil or good.
The unclean spirits beg that they not be taken from an unclean place. They have found a home in an unclean body in tombs for the dead in an unclean land. They do not want to suffer torment in a place not intended for them.
Jesus grants their request.
Into the Swine April 3
Mark 5:11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
Being a Greek land without a concept of unclean animals, there is a large herd of swine nearby. The demons ask that Jesus send them into the herd of swine. Jesus grants their request and gives them permission to enter the swine.
The unclean spirits enter the herd of swine. Unclean spirits escape into unclean animals. There is a sense of justice in this.
There is also a sense of order, of justice, in the evil spirits recognizing the authority of Jesus over them. Begging Jesus to honor their request, they show their submission.
The pigs receive the legion of spirits from the man. Although unclean themselves, we have the sense that they have been violated by these evil spirits. Rather than be infested with evil, they assert their own will. The herd rushes down into the sea and drown.
This is not what the evil spirits had anticipated, for they would not wish for their new hosts to be destroyed.
The unclean spirits receive what they have requested, and this has worked to their destruction.
There is a caution here to be careful in what we request.
Depart April 4
Mark 5:14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
Swine (includes hog, pig, boar, etc.) are scavenger animals, recyclers. The purpose of such animals is to devour waste and break it down. They destroy the rotten and decaying, transforming it into the base for productive soil.
The swine have served their purpose by scavenging the evil spirits. The swine die in the sea, returning to the earth from which they came. The evil spirits are trapped without a home.
On the shore, a madman has been cleansed, restored, made whole. Witnesses proclaim the miracle to the people of the region. This is good news and must be shared.
But the people’s reaction reveals their moral and spiritual state.
Hearing the details of Jesus’ freeing the region of the evil spirits, the people are offended at the destruction of the valuable animals.
The Gentiles react little differently from the Jews. Jesus is a disruption to the status quo. A change for the better comes at too high a cost. Better the bondage that is known than the freedom of uncertainty.
The price of freedom from bondage to evil is too high, so they banish their rescuer. They plead with Jesus to depart.
Tell It April 5
Mark 5:18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Freed from bondage to the evil spirits that had possessed him, the Gadarene man seeks to become a follower, a fellow traveler with Jesus. No doubt, he would serve Jesus well, and he would feel safe from the return of those banished spirits.
Jesus does not accept the man’s offering, but does give him a job to do. “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
Jesus accepts all who want to follow Him. He will put us to work in the fields in the way most beneficial for us and for the kingdom. He utilizes us where we are with what we have.
This man has a testimony. And his story will be most meaningful among those who have known him at his worst and now see him at his best. This visual contrast speaks louder than his words.
Giving this testimony regularly, speaking of Jesus and pointing praise toward his Healer, also gives the best protection against further demonic attacks.
The man has received his personal Great Commission – go and tell. It is a simple command. To follow Jesus is to follow His command.
A Crisis of Faith April 6
Mark 5:21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
Having been to the Gentile “other side,” and being no better received than at home, Jesus returns to the Jewish side of the Lake of Galilee. He is met by a great multitude.
Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, comes to greet Jesus and beseech a miracle from Him – to save his dying daughter. The name, Jairus, is Strong’s H215; as a noun: light, enlightened. The name is appropriate whether Jairus’ light is a testimony to Jesus or he is enlightened as to Jesus’ identity.
This coming to Jesus of a ruler of the synagogue shows a man in a crisis of faith. The foundation of his faith has been challenged by the teachings of Jesus.
Like Nicodemus in Jerusalem in John 3, Jairus is willing to test his old faith against the new faith that Jesus is teaching.
Jairus crosses over to the other side.
He asks Jesus to perform a miracle. He places his faith in Jesus’ ability: “Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
Who Touched Me? April 7
Mark 5:25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
Jesus has a limited time. Mark continually emphasizes the sense of urgency in His mission. Jesus is here to show us the character of God: love. Training the disciples is paramount. Instructing people on how to live in the kingdom of God here and now is important.
Healing the body of those consumed with illness is a good thing. This work relieves suffering, enabling them to refocus their lives. What can be better?
He is going to restore life to a young girl. What can be better?
Jesus’ time could be consumed with teaching, as with the parables. What can be better?
Hastening to Jairus’ daughter, to save her and also to save her father, Jesus is distracted by the faith of a woman suffering incurable blood loss. He feels not her touch, for many touch Him, but He senses her drawing the power of a restored life from Him. To delay may cost Jairus’ daughter her life.
The good and the best compete. Jesus must decide.
Affirming Faith April 8
Mark 5:30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes? 31”But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
This, too, is a teaching moment. Jesus pauses to affirm the power of faith. At this moment, He chooses the best.
The healed woman has learned the power (dunamis, Strong’s G1411) of faith. The spectators have seen faith affirmed by the power of this miracle. And the disciples have had another lesson in miraculous spiritual power, the dunamis of verse 30.
Note that the word dynamite is from this Greek word. The translation of dunamis into English as “power” hardly does justice to the concept here in the Gospels. Dunamis is the power of God, transcending all earthly laws, displayed for mankind.
This fits well with the word iaomai in verse 29 for the word “healed.” This is the only time Mark uses the word indicating a miraculous healing rather than the therapeuo word indicating a “therapeutic” hands-on healing.
We will constantly face choosing between the good and the best. We must ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in weighing among two or more competing choices.
The near enemy of the best is the good. The dunamis of the Holy Spirit directs us to the best choice.
Next day