One of the greatest expressions of appreciation is to help others understand what you found in Jesus.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 7
Copyright © 2006, 2007
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ
The objective of this lesson: to stress that Jesus cares about the undesirable.
Mark 5:1-20 relates an incident in Jesus' ministry that is most unusual. It is unusual because it indicates (a) Jesus performed a miracle among gentiles [not Jews], and (b) Jesus was in a gentile area [most of Jesus' work was among the Jewish people]. Please note the site of this place is debated. Some of the details are debated because of the unusual nature of the incident. To note how unusual this entire situation was, consider Matthew 15:21-28. In that text a Canaanite woman begged Jesus to heal her daughter of demon possession. Jesus refused to speak to her and justified his action by declaring he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus finally responded to her and granted her request because of her humble, persistent faith.
Begin this lesson by stressing that it records an incident so unusual, so "out of character," that it would be deeply troubling to a Jewish reader as well as being deeply troubling to us. An understanding of this incident suggests to us that there are not "throw away" people.
In the incident in Mark 5 the man with demons lived in tombs [an unclean or impure place to Jewish people]; he was a continual disturbance as he cried out; he practiced a form of self-mutilation by gashing himself with stones; he possessed incredible strength; in his typical condition he was naked and out of his mind; and people were not strong enough to restrain him. This certainly does not present the image of a person who would be regarded as useful or "salvageable" under any consideration. He was the kind of person that many would say, "Everyone would be better off if he just died." He was the type of person who scared everyone.
In no consideration would we regard this man as (a) a good evangelism prospect or (b) a potential messenger about Jesus' power and concern. Evidence suggests that at least some demon possessed people were in the condition due to their own evil choices made prior to the demon possession.
I presume his incredible strength and socially undesirable traits were manifestations of his demon possession. I also presume that the demons spoke through his voice. He would be a scary, formidable welcoming party as Jesus and his disciples arrived in the area! To see a naked man of incredible strength running toward you is the image of nightmares!
Demon possession made this man an intimidating, frightening person.
Your attention is called to these facts. (a) Though he had never met Jesus, he [or the demons in him] recognized Jesus from a distance. (b) Jesus immediately was acknowledged as the superior power (verse 6). He bowed before Jesus! The demons may have given the man incredible strength, but his strength was no match for Jesus' power. (c) He came running to Jesus, and Jesus did not run from him! What would appear as disaster to us appeared as opportunity to Jesus. (d) Jesus' true identify was known and acknowledged (verse 7). The demons in the man wanted nothing to do with the superior Jesus. They were concerned because they did not know what Jesus' purpose was. Had he come to torment them? (e) They earnestly wanted to stay in the area (verse 10). If Jesus cast them out of the man, they pleaded to be allowed to inhabit a herd of pigs nearby. What the man physically could tolerate with their presence, the pigs could not physically tolerate with their presence. The end result was the herd of pigs drowned.
Though the demons knew and feared Jesus, they quickly approached him. Though he was their superior enemy, they made a request of him. Though they knew who he was, they did not know why he was there. Though they knew they could inhabit the man, why did they wish to invade the pigs? Emphasize that we have many more questions about demons than we have answers. Please do not be afraid to say, "I don't know." Do not pretend to know or understand what you do not know.
Two unusual things happened. First, when people heard what happened, they came to see for themselves. When they saw the dead pigs and the man clothed and in his "right mind" sitting quietly near Jesus, they were afraid. They could tolerate a demon possessed man they understood to be demon possessed more than they could tolerate a man powerful enough to subdue the demon possessed man [whom they could not subdue]. The result: they begged Jesus to leave the area. How sad! Here was one who could heal the undesirable and control demons, and they in fear decided it was not economically feasible to keep him in the area! The people would rather live with demons than live someone they did not understand! The unknown caused them to react with fear instead of joy! They had many reasons to feel joy instead of fear!
Stress that it must have been a most unusual, frightening sight to see a man they could not control sitting near Jesus under complete control behaving normally. What an eerie, unnerving sight!
Second, the man relieved of Legion truly appreciated his deliverance. Jesus did for him something he could not do for himself. As Jesus left, he begged Jesus for permission to go with him. However, Jesus refused to let the healed man come with him. Instead, Jesus told the man to stay there. He was to go tell his family what Jesus had done for him. The focus was to highlight the mercy Jesus showed him.
While those who viewed the effects of the miracle were fearful, the man who received the miracle was appreciative.
The man wanted to go with Jesus. Jesus wanted him to stay. Consider: the man may have felt he was a different kind of outcast when people rejected the one who freed him. Jesus' request was likely a difficult request!
The man went into the area of the ten cities. These cities were gentile areas. It was one of the regions where the Roman military located soldiers who retired. In these gentile regions he told of the great things Jesus had done for him. He was effective because people who heard him were amazed.
Note the man did not confine his "good news" to just his family.
What he wanted to do in appreciation for his blessing was not what Jesus wanted him to do. Likely, like us, he could have given Jesus multiple reasons why it was best for him to go with Jesus. It is hard to stay at the place of your failures! It takes a special selflessness to stay where you failed so horribly. Yet, if you are truly a changed person, when you credit Jesus with what occurred in your life, your testimony is a powerful evidence of Jesus' love and power!
Because our motive is right does not mean our godly motive fits God's eternal purpose.
Jesus is thrilled to bless us! Yet, he blesses us to bless others. He wants to help others who struggle as slaves to evil as much as he wanted to help you. Freeing undesirable people who are powerless of themselves to escape evil is Jesus' specialty! He died to free those who want to be free! Of all people, they deeply appreciate what he can do that no one else can do!
As interested as God is in us, His interest does not end with just us. Christians need to view blessings as opportunities to bless others.
One of the greatest expressions of appreciation you can give Jesus is to help someone else find what you found in Jesus!
If we wish to show appreciation to Jesus for his blessings, surrender to his purposes.
For Thought and Discussion
Jesus refused to listen to the woman. He said his purpose was to go to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." He healed the demoniac daughter of the woman only because of her humble, persistent faith.
He lived in tombs.
He was a continual disturbance because he cried out.
He practiced self-mutilation, had incredible strength, and was often naked.
He was "out of his mind."
His incredible strength and his socially undesirable behavior.
Jesus wanted the man to stay where he was possessed and instructed him to go tell his family what Jesus had done for him.
Jesus blesses us so we will bless others.
One of the greatest expressions of appreciation is to help others understand what you found in Jesus.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 7