Mark 5: 1-20 Devo

January 26th, 2020

Devotional

“Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac”

      Mark 5: 1-20

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Monday: “Unclean” - Mark 5: 1-5

  When someone was referred to as unclean in Jesus’s time, it wasn’t speaking about being dirty, persay. It was more about being ritually unclean. Who was and was not suited to be able to come forth for public worship. 

There were lists of things that could make someone unclean. But here is a man who is living in an unclean place, amongst the dead, and who has been cut off from society because he is possessed by spirits. He is deemed to be a nuisance at best and a danger at worst to those around him.

So the town’s people try to contain him. They chain him up and when that doesn’t work they simply cut him off from their every day lives, even if it means leaving him to hurt himself in the process.

Yet, this is exactly the person that Jesus sought out. 

Who are the people that we cut off today and how do you think Christ would treat them?

Prayer: God, we sometimes find ourselves cutting folks off from your Church without realizing it. Sometimes it comes across in the way that we treat people. Other times it may be communicated just as much by what we do not say. Forgive us, O Lord, and change our hearts to see as you see, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Legion” - Mark 5: 6-13

Jesus took time to ask the man his name, probably something that has not happened in quite some time as his humanity has been stripped from him in so many ways. Only it isn’t the man who answers, but the unclean spirits within him. They identify themselves as Legion, saying that it is because there are many. 

We are often told throughout the Gospels that even the demons recognize Jesus and this scripture is no exception. They know this is Jesus. They know his power. They know Jesus is not going to let them stay, tormenting this man. And so they ask Jesus to send them into the nearby swine instead.

It is my hope and prayer that we, as the body of Christ, recognize Jesus’s power as well. Jesus power to set free. To transform lives. To completely change this world. And that is what we are praying for daily. 

How have you seen the power of Christ in your life?

Prayer: Lord, make us people who recognize your power. May we be a people who are down on our knees, praying for your power to be made known in this world so that lives can be changed for your Kingdom. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Came to See” - Mark 5: 14-17

The people in the town came to see what was happening after. One would think that they would be struck with awe to see this man who they had once sent away into the tombs as whole and healed. But that was not the case. In fact, instead of worshiping Jesus or wanting to follow him, they beg him to leave.

Sometimes when people have a life changing encounter with Christ, we too can react with fear. Or when God is calling us to do a new things for the sake of his Kingdom. We can turn away in fear. 

We need to examine our hearts to see where there are places where fear dwells instead of awe and bring those before the Lord in prayer. 

What fear of what God is doing do you want to bring before the Lord in prayer?

Prayer: Lord, you not only transform the people we hear about in scripture but you transform us as well. Search us for any places where we may be in need of such transformation, we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “Go Home” - Mark 5: 18-19

  While the townspeople were begging Jesus to leave, the man who has been healed is begging Jesus to let him go with him. But Jesus says no. That’s not his call at this point in life. Instead, Jesus does something odd for the Gospel of Mark. He commands him to go home and tell what the Lord has done for you. 

It is also interesting that Jesus doesn’t start by telling the man to go far and wide sharing what God has done. Instead, he sends him first back to where he came from. Back to the people who know him. So they too can give witness to this transformation within him. 

We, too, are sent forth with a similar mission and message, to tell what God has done for us. This is at its very heart what testimony is. Giving glory to God for what God has done.

  How do you share your testimony with others?

Prayer: Lord, give us the boldness in spirit to testify to what you have done in us, O Lord. To the change you have brought. And then send us out to proclaim it, all for your glory. Amen. 

Friday: “Obedience” - Mark 5: 20

  It’s interesting when you think of the man as shown at the beginning of chapter 5 of Mark as compared to verse 20. At first, he seems to be free. Even chains cannot hold him. Yet, he is not truly free until the end, when he makes the choice to be obedient to Christ. 

We can often become confused about what freedom truly means. Free will was given to us in hopes that we would choose to worship and follow God, as the man did at the end of this scripture passage. 

How are freedom and obedience related in your life?

Prayer: Lord, free us to be your obedient servants we pray. Remove anything in our lives that may prevent us from freely following your will and your way. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word:

You are invited to read and pray over this coming week’s text: “Jairus’ Daughter Healed” - Mark 5: 21-45