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Today, chapter five of Mark. Powerful stories found there!
Jesus and the Twelve cross the lake only to find a man possessed by an evil spirit awaiting them. This in the region of the Gerasenes. This man was known for his possession by demons. He lived among the tombs, cut himself, and easily broke chains that were used to try to subdue him. He would cry out in pain. The demons, upon seeing Jesus and hearing Jesus order them out of the man, cry out, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" Interesting to note several things at this point. The demons know Jesus. They know His name, and Who He truly is: Son of the Most High God. They also request that they not suffer what they had been inflicting on this man for many years, torture. It reveals to me more of the nature of evil; they can dish it out; they can't take it. They also made a request of Jesus that they not leave the area. Jesus sends them into pigs in that area, and that herd of 2,000 run off the cliff and into the lake where they drown. This made headlines and people came out to see Jesus. Once they learned of what had happened, they ask Jesus to leave. Losing a herd of two thousand affects the economy. Never mind that a man is now healed and free! The man, now fully clothed and in his right mind, asks to join Jesus, but Jesus sends him home to give witness to what God had done in his life. The man goes to the Decapolis, a region of ten cities, and shares there his testimony of what God had done. It is interesting to note that this man, out of his gratitude to God, decides to share his story among ten cities; these were connected loosely by their common language, culture, and ties to Greek and Roman influence; it was there that this man evangelized in the name of Jesus, the great things God had done for him.
Jesus crosses the lake once again and again, a crowd awaits Him. This crowd included an influential man of the area, Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, whose 12 year old daughter, was dying. Jairus falls to his knees in begging for his daughter's life, and Jesus agrees to go to his home to heal the daughter. Another healing occurs on the way to the house; a woman afflicted with an ailment of 12 years, who had spent all her money on doctors, decides that if she can but touch His garment, she would be healed. And so she makes her way into the crowd and touches Jesus and Jesus feels power leave Him. He turns and asks who touched Him. The disciples, almost to the point of laughter, ask, Lord, with all these people around You, You dare ask who touched You? But this was a touch of faith; sincere searching faith. Faith enough to bring healing to this woman. She, healed, but fearful of what Jesus might do, falls to the ground and tells Jesus the whole truth. Jesus responds with, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
The news meanwhile, at Jairus' house were not so good, for his daughter died while Jesus was making His way there. The news bearers want it to be over and to not bother Jesus anymore, and Jesus replied, "Don't be afraid, just believe." And, taking with Him Peter, James, and John, makes His way to Jairus' home. There He finds the expected crowd of mourners, and declares to them that the child was not dead, but sleeping. This makes them laugh and Jesus puts them out and goes in and with the words, "Talitha koum," (literally, "Little girl, get up!") the daughter gets up and walks around. Jesus orders them to not say anything about this, and to give the little girl something to eat. Proof that this resurrection was physical.
MARK MY WORDS PRAYER: Lord, lead me to faithfulness and fruitfulness. Let me serve Thee in all places. Remove the evil from my life that cuts at me with doubts and thoughts that should not be there; lift me from life among the tombs to live free from those chains of despair. Let me seek only You and grant me the faith to seek complete healing for me, and faith to see beyond death. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
