Monday: Can You Hear a Whisper Above a Shout?
Daily Lesson for Monday 29th of July 2024
Read Mark 5:1-20. What can we learn about the great controversy from this amazing account and, again, about the power of Jesus?
If the night before on the lake was unforgettable, the arrival at the Gadarenes the next morning was just as impressive. The history of the demon-possessed man is laid out in heartbreaking detail. Breaking away from all constraint, he lived in the tombs and cut himself with stones. “No one had the strength to subdue him” (Mark 5:4, ESV)—and then he met Jesus.
Image © Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com
The man rushed at Jesus—no word about the disciples (they probably ran off). When the man came near to Jesus, he fell down before Him. The words “fell down” translate the Greek verb proskyneō, usually translated “to worship.” It seems the man recognized that Jesus was Someone who could help him. But when he opened his mouth, the demons inside him shouted at Jesus, who could hear the man’s whispered plea for help above the demons’ shouts. When they asked to be released into a herd of pigs, Jesus permitted them to enter the pigs. The entire herd, about two thousand, rushed down the embankment and drowned in the water. It was a financial disaster for the owners.
What’s amazing is that the demons knew exactly who Jesus was, and they also knew their impotence before Him, which was why they “begged Him” twice (Mark 5:10,12, NKJV) to do what they asked. Obviously, they knew His power over them.
This story has two overriding characteristics. First, it is filled with items of uncleanness or ceremonial defilement according to Old Testament law. Tombs and the dead were unclean (Numbers 19:11,16). Bleeding made one unclean (Leviticus 15:1-33). Pigs were unclean (Leviticus 11:7).
But, second, overarching this litany of defilement is the back-and-forth battle between good and evil forces. Jesus drives out the demons (two points for Jesus), the demons kill the pigs (two points for Satan). The townspeople ask Jesus to leave (two points for Satan), but Jesus sends back the healed man as His witness (three points for Jesus). In some ways this man was the unlikeliest missionary, but he definitely had an amazing story to tell.
|
What hope can you draw from this story about the power of Jesus to help you in whatever you are struggling with? |
(18)
Much as salvation is free, to some extent it's costly. The book of mark is replete with stories that with in-depth reading and cryptic analysis,the reader is left in awesome wonder on the salvation of just a single soul.The healing of the paralytic man had to cost somebody his roof,and,now comes Jesus at Gadarenes in relief of a demon-possessed man where a soul is rescued at the demise of 2000 pigs, something which appears economic sabotage!! Have we asked ourselves as to why we use a lot of money on camp meeting expenses and even running of evangelistic crusades for weeks only to realise a soul for baptism or sometimes we end up with no soul at all?
My wife just came back from a mission trip to Kenya. It was a difficult decision and a financial hardship for us.
I told my 2 kids that this was a test of faith. I asked them to see if we lacked anything during the month mom was gone and not working, and I stayed home with them, no working either.
I also explained to them that if only 1 person would hear about the love of God, it would be worth any hardships we endured.
It wasn't easy but I can testify to you that God's promises are faithful and true.
We lacked NOTHING!!!
And over 800 people were baptized in Kenya, but if only 1 had accepted Jesus it would have been worth any little sacrifice we made.
1 soul for the Lord is worth EVERYTHING
It cost God everything, so to speak, for our salvation. That is how valuable a soul is. Jesus would have died just for one soul!
A live pig weighs about 70kg and is worth about $2USD per Kilogram. That makes a live pig worth about $150 in round figures. A herd of 2000 pigs would be worth about $300 Thousand in today's market. That is a lot of money and represents a very big investment.
The miracle healing the possessed man is remarkable enough but the destruction of what is most likely the income source for the city of Garda would have been quite confronting, and probably a little embarrassing. My understanding was the Garda was a Jewish city and Jews had a strict code concerning the uncleanliness of pigs. It was quite possibly a salient lesson for these folk.
It is against his background that we see Jesus instructing the healed man to stay:
This was a very public miracle and I think Jesus knew that this man would be a strong witness.
The way I look at this, Satan won nothing and he certainly didn't trick Jesus.
Jesus used this to make the Jewish community of Gadara look at themselves.
What were they going to value more, pigs or a fellow human being that was transformed and saved by the power of Jesus?
The story tells us what many of them chose.
I hope we chose different.
From what I've read the Decapolis (of which Gadara was one city) was more Gentile. I'm sure there were some Jewish people, but I suspect the swine owners were not Jewish.
Also, Jesus did not tell this man to keep the healing a secret which seems likely because the Gentiles didn't have the preconceived notions that the Jews did. There wouldn't be the same issues with misconceptions.
It seems that the man did his work because when Jesus returns to the Decapolis (Mark 7:31) many people came to him and it seems the feeding of the 4000 was in this area.
In reading Mark 5:1–43, I am reminded again that faith is more than knowing who God is. It is more than praying to God. The demons knew who Jesus was, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God”. They implored (prayed to) Jesus. Yet their prayer and their knowledge could not bring them salvation. It is only in being willing to surrender to the Most High God and in allowing His Son to be King of my heart that I find salvation.
The pig keepers did not find salvation that day even after witnessing this great miracle of God. Instead, when they saw the man in his right man, sitting at the feet of Jesus, they were afraid. How bizarre! Even though the demon possessed man was scary, they could explain his existence based on their superstitions. These superstitions were now shattered, and they couldn’t understand this. Their total inability to explain what happened and their innate feeling that what happened to the demon possessed man should somehow influence their life was scary to them. So they begged Jesus to leave. Can we be guilty of the same?
It seems sometimes we are more afraid of what Jesus will do in our lives than what Satan is doing. What if Jesus asks us to leave that relationship, or forsake that beloved habit? What if he takes us out of our life of comfort and asks us to be willing to suffer for his names’ sake?
Ours may not be a full rejection and kicking Jesus out of our lives completely as these people did. It may show itself in our silent refusal to fully surrender to his control; in keeping the form of godliness, but denying the power and refusing to let that power take full control of every aspect of our lives.
I see myself in this story and so I pray that beautiful prayer offered by Ellen White, “Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it... Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul.” ( COL 159)
Beautiful prayer indeed. Help me Lord! Help Your people Lord!
Yes Jocelyn that is the best suggested prayer I have run across in Ellen G. White's ministry for the Lord. Dare I say it applys to all of us, certainly me.
People event the preacher always say : “ Give your heart to Jesus” while Mrs. White her self said that she cannot give her heart to Jesus, but ask Him to take it,,,,
Tom, when quoting Ellen White it is a good idea to give an actual quote and reference rather than just asserting that she said it.
And having said that we, sometimes get ourselves into a semantic "chicken or egg first" argument, when we all know what we mean when we say "we give our hearts to Jesus!" We know who gives us the motivation and the power. Jesus does not mark us on semantic correctness. It is a relationship thing.
The crazy dangerous man fell down before Jesus and worshiped. The normal safe people sent Jesus away. 🤔
Jewish people weren’t to eat pork. So the townspeople were engaging in business in raising pigs, something they didn’t believe in, just to make money. They were under Roman rule and seems like they had dialed it in. Forget about being a witness and blessing to all the nations. Was that even possible now? Just keep your head down and sell the people what they want. And if someone impedes the cash flow, send him away!
Contrast that with the living man in the graveyard. Can’t think a straight thought without demons interrupting, breathing suicidal suggestions. Things pouring out of his mouth that he doesn’t mean to say. Shivering without his clothes at night. Vulnerable and exposed. Alone. No one is sympathizing. Like the prodigal son, maybe he thinks the pigs have it better off than him. When he sees Jesus, he’s aware only of his own needs. His desperate need. He holds onto Jesus like the chains holding onto his ankles and cries, “Save me, Jesus” with just an eye flicker …. even though his voice box screeches taunts.
Sooo…. I think that the madman was the only sane man amongst the Gadarenes. No wonder Jesus told him to go back into town and tell of God’s mercy. His family and neighbors were possessed by a sick spirit … a selfish wicked spirit that cared more about their own comfort than anyone or anything else. They would send Jesus away without even thanking Him for restoring one of their own. Mercy! They needed their once-rejected brother to show them the way.
This comment right here says it all. Sadly, even today, many of us are guilty of doing the self-same thing.
Lord, open our hearts to recognise You, hear You, receive You and share about who You are and Your awesome power with others. Amen
Hearing the Whisper above the Shout
Many of our brothers and sisters are dying in sin and they can only whisper a cry for help. Are we attuned to the Holy Spirit to hear these feeble cries for help amid the noise of everyday life???
My prayer for us is that we will be still enough to hear the feeble cries of help from those around us and respond in like
manner as Jesus did!!!!!
I do believe that the people of the Gaderenes at that time, were of the mind set to not understand the plans of Jesus ministry. I believe rather than preaching to them, Christ used the shock technique we learned about in Isaiah 6 and Mark 4 last week. I believe Jesus plan was to have the healed men be a testimony of what Christ did for them, to the people of the Gaderenes, their friends, and their kindred. That is much more powerful than thus saith the Lord aproach.
Not only can Jesus hear a whisper over a shout, something that I can't do, but He can also hear a moan or groan above a whisper, and the Holy Spirit translates it.
A simple one word prayer, "help", shouted, whispered, or moaned does not escape the ears of our Great God.
Amid the cacophony of the world we need to turn down the noise and listen for the whispers and groans of those seeking the Savior in spite of their shackles and broken chains. As we attune ourselves to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit we will be empowered to hear their whispers above the clamoring of the world.
Does Jesus address the man or the spirits possessing the man? It appears to me that, though He speaks to the man, it is the spirit that answers Him. All that we know from the man himself is that he expresses his desire to remain with Jesus and His disciples. Though Jesus declined his request, He admonished him to instead ‘go home to your friends, and 'tell them what great things the Lord has done for you!’
It occured to me: "Is not ‘testifying of the power of Jesus to change lives' the reason of our ‘being with Jesus’?" The man freed by Jesus from the demon’s possession was to learn that he is able to be in the ‘presence’ of the 'One who set him free' even though he is not physically with Him - - he learned to live by faith!
Knowing to be in His presence by faith at all times, sets us free from the oppression and fear of bondage! When we first came to Him we were lost in our trespasses and sins. Just like the man Jesus met living between the tombs was not in his right mind, so were we not in our ‘right mind and heart’ before we met our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Only by the Father’s Mercy and Grace were we saved from the influence of unclean spirits using our bodies to live out the life they want to indulge in. Even though ‘possession’ is not always as sever and obvious as described in the story, it is incredibly important to recognize and understand that all life is the target for the unclean spirits. Now, we follow our Lord and Savior and do no longer provide a 'home' for them because we are called to be holy - 1 Peter 1:14-16.
I conclude that, before Jesus Christ meets us through the Holy Spirit, all mankind lives 'between the tombs'; unclean spirits, always present, wanting us to 'accommodate them'. We were rescued from a life of bondage to sin when we met Jesus Christ and answered His invitation to testify that we are now save from the spirits of this world and able to live the true life fostered by the Holy Spirit – John 10:9-11.