Mark 5:1-20 (Too many verses to print out, please may you read in your Bible)
Can you imagine the headlines of the Daily Gadarenes Post that day. It might have said,
2000 PIGS THUNDER DOWN HILL TO THEIR DEATH. DEMONS CAST OUT OF CRAZY MAN! LOCALS TERRIFIED! JESUS TOLD TO LEAVE!
What was it that frightened the people so much? Was it the thought of their pigs rushing down the hill to their death and livelihood being lost? The air would have been full of their shreiks. Was it the thought of demons being cast out? Was it the power and authority of Jesus that frightened them? Whatever it was Jesus had stirred them all up and caused a bit of a riot!
And yet in the middle of all that now sits one man, now clothed and in his right mind probably for the first time in years. What a wonderful picture. Earlier we met him possessed with the strength to break metal chains and shackles with his own hands, having cut himself over and over again with stones, howling in the graveyard. But now he's at peace. Jesus gave him back his dignity and a new life, a new beginning.
Jesus is still in the business of rescuing the lost and those who are no longer in control of their own minds. There is hope for everyone.
Now fast forward to Jesus leaving the earth after His resurrection. His last words to His disciples say this:
Mark 16:15 And then He told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.
Jesus is still the same yesterday, today and forever as we know, and He lives in us and we are His disciples and He has told us to go and do what He did. He authorised us with His power and authority to cast out demons in His Name just like He did.
My prayer is that we believe Jesus' last words to us and if and when He calls us to do it, that we will be willing and obedient to follow His instructions by the Holy Spirit, so He gets the glory and people are set free like this man was. Amen.
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