An Issue Of Blood

While Jesus walked to the home of Jarius, a synagogue leader, a woman looking for her own medical cure grabbed his garment. Today we consider the woman, her need, her desire and her reaching out for help.

Mark 5:25-34

• 12 years is a long time to suffer from a medical problem
• Yes, she had consulted physicians. Many of them. At great expense. To no avail.
• Having spent all of her money seeking a cure, she now looks for a no-cost option. Free health care. The only option available to the poor.
• Had she heard of Jesus? Of course. Who hadn’t? She was determined to find him, no matter the difficulty of getting near him.
• Why did she suppose that all she needed to do was to touch the hem of his garment? (Haggai 2:12-14).
• She was healed. Immediately. She knew it; she felt something.
• Jesus also knew that something had happened, that “virtue” had gone out of him.
• The disciples thought it strange that Jesus would try to learn who had touched him when so many were crowded around.
• But Jesus would discover the truth. The woman came forward and confessed all that had happened.
• The Master assured her that she was indeed healed and that she could leave confident of the healing.
• “Your faith has made you whole.” Has your unbelief kept you from the same?

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Demons Out

About 2000 pigs were herded nearby Would Jesus allow the demons to move from the man to the swine?

Mark 5:1-20 (see also  Luke 8:26-39 and Matthew 8:28-34)

• All the demons cried out for permission.
• They did not want to leave the country.
• They sought refuge in the herd of swine.
• Permission was granted.
• Upon entering the pigs, the pigs ran uncontrollably toward and over the cliff and into the water below where they drowned.
• Those who were watching the pigs watched this mass swine suicide; then they ran into the city to tell others.
• Coming from the city, the crowd found the man who previously had been possessed by the Legion of demons.
• There he was clothed and calmly sitting in his right mind with Jesus. He had been delivered.
• Instead of thankfully glorifying God for the deliverance, they demanded that Jesus depart the area. Were they afraid the demons would return?
• The man wanted to travel with Jesus; but Jesus told him to go into the city and tell his friends what had happened. The man gladly did just that.

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Demons In

Demonic possession is a popular movie theme. As such the reality is oft cast aside as mere fiction. As we will see in today’s lesson, demonism has been around for over 2000 years.

Mark 5:1-20 (see also  Luke 8:26-39 and Matthew 8:28-34)

Note: The village of Gerasa was in the area of Gedara. Mark points to many things that are not found in the accounts of Matthew and Luke.

Matthew mentions two men; both Mark and Luke only one. The events are one and the same.

• A man with an unclean spirit (Mark), possessed with demons (Matthew), having demons (Luke), met Jesus immediately upon his arrival by boat.
• The man lived among the tombs; and from thence he came to meet Jesus.  What possesses a man to live in a burial ground? If your mind were not evil affected before, surely such an environment would not contribute to positive mental health.
• The man was wild and untamable. Though others had often sought to restrain him he always broke the restraints and freed himself.
• Day and night he was in those mountain haunts.
• One could hear him crying aloud as he cut himself with stones.
• He fiercely guarded his turf and refused passage to all who came that way.
• He was without clothing as well as homeless.
• Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell down before the Savior.
• With a loud voice, he asked “What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the most high God?” He recognized Jesus. He called Jesus by name. He acknowledged the deity of Christ. The demoniac had better theology than many “normal” folks.
• Moreover, the demon was concerned about the judgment which he knew Jesus would bring. Was it to be today?
• Under direct questioning from Jesus, the demon gave his name as Legion, holding that there were many demons in the man.
• Seeing a herd of swine nearby, the demon asked permission to leave the man and possess the pigs.

What happened next? Conclusion tomorrow…

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“Why are you so fearful?”

What frightens you? Are your fears reasonable? Fearing violent weather’s affect upon one’s ship at sea seems reasonable enough. But Jesus questions the fear…

Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25, Matthew 8:23-27

• The journey started simply enough. They’d oft been in a boat on that body of water before. Why should this day be any different?
• Would they have set sail if there had been any indication of the tempest that was to follow?
• Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat, on a pillow.
• The wind blew; and waves filled the boat with water.
• Realizing the danger as life-threatening, the disciples awakened Jesus, wondering what to do.
• Calmly Jesus rebuked the wind and settled the rushing sea.
• Then He turned to the disciples and asked why they had been frightened. He questioned their faith.
• Fear of wind and water, fear of dying, was soon replaced by fear of God who can command both wind and water to obey.

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