The Mean, The Smelly, The Ugly, The Crazy

Numbers 19; Numbers 20; Psalm 28; Mark 5
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Scripture

Mark 5

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

1 So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. 3 This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.
6 When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 7 With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”
9 Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”
And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” 10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
11 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. 12 “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”
13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
14 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. 15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 16 Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. 17 And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

Observation

Do you like to walk around in cemeteries and check out what is written on tombstones? Our family on my mom’s side has an old family cemetery that has some really neat tombstones. In the daytime I don’t mind walking around in it, but you wouldn’t catch me in there at night…no way…it is too spooky to be in a cemetery at night.

I wouldn’t have wanted to be in the cemetery where Jesus met this demon filled man even in the daytime. This guy was wild and crazy. He was wild and crazy until Jesus took time to go into that cemetery to set him free. When Jesus left him the guy was clothed and in his right mind. He left the cemetery a missionary. In fact, I believe that he is probably the first missionary to be sent out.

The people from the village weren’t worried about the man being healed they were only worried about the pigs that were lost. They turned away the Savior. How very sad.

There are walking dead people all around us today. Spiritually speaking most of the folks we will encounter today are dead people walking. The majority of the people around us are living crazy lives, lives of sin, lives on a downward spiral of destruction and despair and you and I have Jesus and only Jesus can set them free. We are their only hope.

Application

I will try my best to witness to the ugly, crazy, damaged people that God brings into my life today and I will do my best to steer them to Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, the ugly, the crazy, the mean, the dirty, the smelly, I know that they all need you. Help me to see past all of that like you did with this demon-possessed man to be able to see the person inside of them that you love. Help our leadership team in Celebrate Recovery to see through the hurts, hang-ups, and habits of people to the person inside. Give them strength today. Help me love people that are difficult for me to even like much less love. In Jesus Name...Amen.

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