Today’s authors are Prince of Peace’s Sacred Settlement Intentional Neighbors, Mischa & James Beary.
“And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.” Mark 5:2 We can come to meet Jesus no matter what, even at the fringes of life. And when we do, it’s a ripple in life; pouring onto others. It seems that Jesus’ mission to the region of Gerasenes was successful because the demon-possessed man had nothing to cling to, no objections to what Jesus was about to do for him- restoration, healing, and freedom!
Does it seem like a life you would want to live? Living amongst the tombs of the dead, being tormented by demons, and destroying yourself?
How could Jesus heal a man with a demon in him? Because the demons are subject and powerless to Jesus. For example, think about the Pharisees and the Sadducees who don’t have demons living in them, yet they reject Jesus and can’t even hear or claim that He is the Son of God. To the point the Pharisees say: ” So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” John 19:21 These people appear to be righteous and godly which you would think would be ‘good soil’ yet Jesus says: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside, you appear to people as righteous but on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” Matthew 23:27-28
The difference is that in society you would think that the people that portray themselves as righteous would be good soil but this man who has been outcasted from society and seems beyond help is the soil that will receive the Word of God.
What we can conclude from the above passages is that it seems that the man who was demon-possessed and without life is like the soil that is tilled and ready for planting seeds. On the other hand, there are the Pharisees and Sadducees who believe that they have life yet their soil is obstructed with rocks and thorns rendering it not good for planting seeds and unable to produce fruit.
In essence, we can relate that good soil is equitable to surrender which may sometimes come out brokenness. Being broken clears the way for something new, for life and for re-birth.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Luke 4:18. This demon-possessed man was clearly a captive and needed freedom and a new beginning! Jesus gave him just that- freedom! “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17.
There is no chain, no shackle the Lord cannot break. When we come to meet the Lord in our brokenness, in shackles, coming to Him truly how we are; He will break the shackles into pieces and make what was broken whole.
I can look back in my own life and see so many shackles broken, so much healing, so much restoration the Lord has done! Take a moment to think back to when the Lord has healed what seemed impossible, or restored what seemed broken beyond repair in your own life. “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for You are the One that I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
The ripple and hope comes when we share our testimonies, sharing the good news of who Jesus is! Our Savior is alive and active! Just as the demon-possessed, now free man, shares his testimony in the Decapolis and his hometown: “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you. “And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.” Mark 5:19-20. Everyone is amazed, and I’m sure hungered in their own lives, for the freedom they saw in this new man!
We can embrace the outcast, the broken, the marginalized with the love of Jesus! Drawing him or her close to the Father’s heart by being a listening ear, a helping hand, an acknowledging eye, and a bright smile. These small acts of kindness and love can nurture a weary soul and give hope. There is a way through the pain and brokenness. Jesus says I am the Way the Truth and the Life. He leads the way; He speaks truth and He gives life; life abundantly!
Jehovah Rapha (God Who Heals),
Thank You for all you have done in our lives! Thank You that we can come meet You in our crazy moments, our quiet moments, in our joyful moments, and in our dark moments; and You are there. May we run to You first and always. Thank You that Your Holy Spirit lives within us and the old man has passed away, the new has come! Each day may we remember that we are a new creation in You! May we surrender every part of our lives to You, having faith and believing that You are the same today and yesterday and in our future. May Your healing go forth in bodies and minds that need healing. May You break the shackles to pieces that may hold us captive and allow for freedom in our lives. May we invite the outcast into Your Kingdom and see all people with eyes as You see, hear them as You hear them, and serve as You served.
In Jesus name,
Amen