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12 January 2017
READING: MARK 5:1-20
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!’ For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you impure spirit!’
Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’
‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’ He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man – and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
REFLECTION
Hello again and welcome to Thursday’s Foundation Podcast. Today our passage is Mark 5: 1-20. Do take the time to read this incredible passage through in full.
In verse one, we see that Jesus has travelled to an area across the sea of Galilee, an area outside of traditional Jewish territory where he had so far been operating. It’s here that Jesus encounters a man in a terrible state. Possessed by demonic forces, this man has been driven out by the locals to live amongst the tombs of a gravesite. We read that ‘no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.’ He was out of control and out of his mind, overrun and overpowered by the evil forces at work within him. Despite all this, Jesus confronts him.
Today, I want to focus on verses 11-12 which take place during this confrontation between Jesus and the demons which have taken possession of this man.
‘A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.’
‘He gave them permission’. Jesus gave the demons permission to leave. As I read this section, the key word that sprung to mind here for me was ‘Authority’. Jesus spoke and acted with God-given authority. In Mark’s Gospel, there many other examples, like the one in today’s passage, where we see Jesus exert his authority over sickness, injury, and over death itself- a sign of the new kingdom that Jesus came to bring. Jesus has the ultimate authority over all things.
Authority can be defined as having the power or right to give orders, make decisions and act in a specified way. Here Jesus shows he has both the power and the right to act – to release this man from the powers that were trying to destroy him.
Where does his authority come from and what does this mean for us?
Jesus knew his authority came from above. He listened to the voice of the Lord and spoke the very words of God. Jesus spent time with his Father. Mick shared this last week. He spent time alone with God in prayer, listening to what he was saying. He knew his Father intimately and he knew that he had given him authority to act on his behalf. To push back the darkness and bring in the light.
Well, what does this mean for us?
We are to follow Jesus example. We too need to prioritise spending time with God. As we do so, our relationship with him deepens. We hear his voice, we begin to know more of God in our lives and one aspect of that is discovering that we too have God-given authority. On the cross, Jesus removed the barrier between us and God and allowed access into his family. As a disciple, we discover that we are part of God’s family, we a part of the family business and that gives us the authority to speak and act in ways which do that – which extend God’s kingdom.
So what should we take from today’s reading?
1. We need to continue to spend time with God. Where and how can you do this? See Mick’s podcast from last Wednesday for more on this.
2. We need to continue to ask God to show us where we can use the authority he has given us to do good. It might be asking a friend or a family member if you can pray for them. Maybe it’s having the strength to stand up against things you see around you which you are wrong – the person that you see being bullied, the gossip that flies around the staffroom. Perhaps it’s sharing your faith with someone – telling them that you go to church, inviting them to an event. Or maybe it’s simply to have the confidence to go out and do good – to send that encouraging text, to offer help, to give someone an expected gift.
PRAYER
Father we thank you for Jesus. We thank you that you gave him authority over all things – to act in ways which brought healing, justice, freedom and forgiveness. Thank you that as part of your family, we too have the authority to go and out and do good in your name. Help us to walk with you into this day with renewed confidence in who our God is and what you call us to do. Amen.
How to access these podcasts: see http://stthomascrookes.org/podcast/
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By STC SheffieldREADING: MARK 5:1-20
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!’ For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you impure spirit!’
Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’
‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’ He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man – and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
REFLECTION
Hello again and welcome to Thursday’s Foundation Podcast. Today our passage is Mark 5: 1-20. Do take the time to read this incredible passage through in full.
In verse one, we see that Jesus has travelled to an area across the sea of Galilee, an area outside of traditional Jewish territory where he had so far been operating. It’s here that Jesus encounters a man in a terrible state. Possessed by demonic forces, this man has been driven out by the locals to live amongst the tombs of a gravesite. We read that ‘no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.’ He was out of control and out of his mind, overrun and overpowered by the evil forces at work within him. Despite all this, Jesus confronts him.
Today, I want to focus on verses 11-12 which take place during this confrontation between Jesus and the demons which have taken possession of this man.
‘A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.’
‘He gave them permission’. Jesus gave the demons permission to leave. As I read this section, the key word that sprung to mind here for me was ‘Authority’. Jesus spoke and acted with God-given authority. In Mark’s Gospel, there many other examples, like the one in today’s passage, where we see Jesus exert his authority over sickness, injury, and over death itself- a sign of the new kingdom that Jesus came to bring. Jesus has the ultimate authority over all things.
Authority can be defined as having the power or right to give orders, make decisions and act in a specified way. Here Jesus shows he has both the power and the right to act – to release this man from the powers that were trying to destroy him.
Where does his authority come from and what does this mean for us?
Jesus knew his authority came from above. He listened to the voice of the Lord and spoke the very words of God. Jesus spent time with his Father. Mick shared this last week. He spent time alone with God in prayer, listening to what he was saying. He knew his Father intimately and he knew that he had given him authority to act on his behalf. To push back the darkness and bring in the light.
Well, what does this mean for us?
We are to follow Jesus example. We too need to prioritise spending time with God. As we do so, our relationship with him deepens. We hear his voice, we begin to know more of God in our lives and one aspect of that is discovering that we too have God-given authority. On the cross, Jesus removed the barrier between us and God and allowed access into his family. As a disciple, we discover that we are part of God’s family, we a part of the family business and that gives us the authority to speak and act in ways which do that – which extend God’s kingdom.
So what should we take from today’s reading?
1. We need to continue to spend time with God. Where and how can you do this? See Mick’s podcast from last Wednesday for more on this.
2. We need to continue to ask God to show us where we can use the authority he has given us to do good. It might be asking a friend or a family member if you can pray for them. Maybe it’s having the strength to stand up against things you see around you which you are wrong – the person that you see being bullied, the gossip that flies around the staffroom. Perhaps it’s sharing your faith with someone – telling them that you go to church, inviting them to an event. Or maybe it’s simply to have the confidence to go out and do good – to send that encouraging text, to offer help, to give someone an expected gift.
PRAYER
Father we thank you for Jesus. We thank you that you gave him authority over all things – to act in ways which brought healing, justice, freedom and forgiveness. Thank you that as part of your family, we too have the authority to go and out and do good in your name. Help us to walk with you into this day with renewed confidence in who our God is and what you call us to do. Amen.
How to access these podcasts: see http://stthomascrookes.org/podcast/