There was a man with an unclean spirit living among the tombs. This was the case of demons taking over a man and using him as a dwelling place...a possession. Luke 11:24-26, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” The demon(s) not having a dwelling place probably was the torment referred to in the following verses, and involved them not being able to find rest. Verses 6-8, "When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” For He said to him, 'Come out of the man, unclean spirit!' ” Notice it IS possible to know who Jesus is without being under His authority. James 2:19, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!"
Verses 9-12, "Then He asked him, 'What is your name?' And he answered, saying, 'My name is Legion; for we are many.' Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, 'Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.' ” Because the demons did not want to be idle, they ask to dwell in the herd of swine, but their destructive nature becomes clear as soon as they entered. Verse 13, "And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea." The owners of the swine were probably more concerned about their loss of property than on their spiritual well being, or anyone else's for that matter.
Verses 14-17, "So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region." How crazy is it that people were more afraid of what Jesus could do in their lives than what Satan was already doing? They were more comfortable with the man being demon possessed, than being in his right mind. Jesus would mess up their little systems and ways of life, so they'd rather He just leave the territory and not cause any harm to their way of living. Does that sounds familiar? There are people even in the church who do not want to hear the truth because they don't want anything to change. They even get mad when others experience a real move of God because it sheds light on their ungodly ways of thinking and unholy behavior. The "unsaved church" will tell you that you can go too far with this religion stuff becoming a fanatic, and that you need "balance." Balance is keeping one foot in the church with one foot out. The Bible calls this "lukewarm" and is very clear what God thinks about this state. Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."
Mark 5:25-34 Now a certain woman had flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, 'If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.' Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?' But the disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, who touched Me?' And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, 'Daughter, you faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.'
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine being this woman? She had been suffering for years with bleeding and probably had to set apart from her family and the rest of her countrymen because she would be considered unclean according to the law. Years she dealt with her affliction, her loneliness. But as she heard about Jesus passing through that day on His way to Jairus' home to heal His daughter. She realized that her savior had come and that if she could only be before Him that and touched Him that He would heal her. Her faith to me is amazing. In all that she was going through she showed so much courage and strength to go out in the crowd of people who once turned their backs on her to be in the presence of the Lord.
As Jesus was passing through this crowd of probably hundreds of people. All of them pushing to get to Jesus. Wanting His attention for themselves. The woman found a way to be close enough to Jesus to touch His garment. She didn't know what would become of her actions that day but she had faith that the Lord would know her. When she touched Him, He felt the power come out of Him that healed her of her twelve year affliction. He called out 'who touched Me?' Humbling herself she answered Him bowing her knee in the presence of the Lord. Knowing what many others in the crowd were to stubborn to come to realize that He was the Messiah. He was the man that the people would reject.
To be in the presence of the Lord and be able to touch a part of Him, I am sure was an amazing experience. I look forward to the moment were I will come face to face with my Savior and He will know me. He will know me for my past, present and future. He will call me daughter. Everything that we hold on to in this life that doesn't mean anything in comparison to the kingdom of Heaven. There will be a day that we all will be completely healed and we will never have to worry about the crowds of people who turned their backs on us for sticking up for the truth. We will no longer be the outcasts that people avoid because our faith is to convicting.