Something Greater is Here pt II

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon

This morning we’ll continue in Mark.

Last week we saw that Jesus demonstrated his incredible power over nature

I referenced it last week, but when Jesus explained the sign of Jonah to the pharisees he gave this answer

Matthew 12:40

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth

…for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.”

This story does not have a direct one for one, chronological pairing with the Exodus

Jesus has come to free the world, much like Moses had freed the Israelites.

If you only hear two things today, let it be this. 

First, we human beings are insane in our sin. Sin has a large impact on our world.

The second point this text makes it that Jesus is the only way to be free.

5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 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. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

– Right away, we are introduced to a man with an “impure spirit”.

– Their goal was to destroy the man who was made in the image of God. 

– The man is an example of all human kind. He is uncontrollable.

-I think this maps well to the Israelites enslaved in Egypt. This man was a slave to the demons. He was held captive by a mighty power. And unable to liberate himself. 

– Jesus taking them here is a preview of what was to come once Jesus left

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 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!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

– The demons immediately recognize his presence

– no sense of submission or worship.

– Compare this to the disciples who call him “Lord”. Similarly it is a declaration of power, but also a surrender. Recognizing not just power but authority too. 

9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

– They beg to be shown mercy

11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 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.

– A wild image to picture

– If Jesus will no longer allow these demons to destroy the man, they beg to destroy the pigs. All they want to do is destroy Gods creation.

– This is reminiscent of God no longer allowing his people to be held captive by the Egyptians, and he frees them by running their captors in to the red sea to drown.

14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 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. 

– Every part of this man had been restored. 

– how can we be lukewarm about Jesus? There are two reactions, terror and amazement. 

16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

– There are repercussions if Jesus is God. And they do not want to deal with it.

– This resonates with what Pharaoh tells Moses. Once God has struck down all the Egyptian firstborns, Pharaoh says he has had enough.

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 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.” 20 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.

– It’s AFTER he’s saved he’s begging to walk with Jesus. Only after he is clothed and in his right mind that he is able to desire Godly things.

– By no actions of his own was the man healed. In fact it was in the face of his opposition to healing!

– Jesus did not liberate him so the man could continue living in the tombs. 

Mark 16:15

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

Our salvation story is a tool that God has given us, we need to be prepared to use it.

Moses was called by God to free their ancestors from their captors. But it didn’t come to fruition, both physically and spiritually. 

But Jesus has come here to bring about a new exodus for mankind, ultimately defeat satan at the end of all days. 

Jesus has liberated us from our sin, we are no longer in Egypt. But we remain in the wilderness.

Something greater than the exodus has happened. God himself came down to free us, let us celebrate it.