Title: Real Freedom
Theme: To show how Christ can bring us real freedom
Text: Mark 5:1 - 18
Introduction
Review the Miracles of Jesus.
Last week we looked at the miracle of the Wedding at Cana. This was Jesus 1st miracle. As we continue this series on the Miracles of Jesus let us now turn to Mark 5. This story is also found in Matthew 8 and Luke 8. Matthew mentions that there were two men the second man is not mentioned in Mark or Luke probably because only one man spoke.
So lets get into the word as we celebrate freedom this Sunday. I have titled this message. Real Freedom.
(Mark 5:1) Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.
This area is believed to be settled by Gad, Reuben & half the tribe of Manasseh in Numbers. They got disconnected from the others tribes physically by the Jordan but also spiritually. Sad commentary on many of the tribes is that they failed to drive out the enemies of the land.
Maybe they were enthusiastic at the beginning but they got more focused on living than they did fighting. They got settled. They compromised.
Now we find this land here, pig farmers and land of the demonic.
(Mark 5:2) And when He had come out of the boat,
Mark 4 tells us of another miracle where Jesus calms the storm. Some infer that this was also a demonic attack. Mainly because of the wording where Jesus says, “Peace be still”. He also uses the same Greek words in Mark 1:25 where He tells the demon to “Be silent, and come out of him”. We also see the quickness and unpredictability of the storm. These were experienced sailors and should have known this.
Early in Jesus ministry there were a lot of confrontations with the demonic. They were trying to stop Him. This ceases as they notice that this does not work with Jesus. Satan focus on different areas like Jesus’ disciples, followers and the religious leaders.
immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
Man’s Description of Desperation
(Mark 5:3) who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, (4) because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. (5) And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
His Condition
Dwelling among the tombs. This was a graveyard. Caves were often used to bury the dead. He lived in one of the caves among the dead. This is how captured he was.
Could not be bound, even with chains” These demons inside him were so powerful that he could break shackles & chains. To me it is interesting he could break the physical chains but struggle breaking the spiritual control of the enemy.
Two things society does with people like this. 1) they will bind them with chains 2) they will isolate them. In other words they have no hope for them. They see them as a menace to society. They do not see what God can do in them.
His Desperation
Crying out – for relief, he was crying for help yet no one could help him.
Cutting himself – self harm. This was the only relief he had. This caused a distraction from the real pain that is on the inside.
God has given us power to help this man:
Matthew 16:18-19 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
(Mark 5:6) When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.
Interesting ploy of the enemy who will try to disguise himself as a worshiper. This may not make sense but I believe and have seen the enemy disrupt a service like this. They look like worshipers but are there to disrupt the service. To bring confusion and distraction to the people.
I watched it with my own eyes.
Yet Philippians 2:9 – 11 also reminds us:
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Good News
But, “Whatever separated the man from others, did not separate him from Jesus. Jesus did not turn away from him, nor did Jesus ignore his condition. Jesus confronted the evil that controlled the man and cast it out. Jesus healed the man and put him in his right mind. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus—not even the evil of this life.”
From Sermon “Breaking Shackles” by Kevin Ruffcorn (found on Sermon Central)
(Mark 5:7) And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me."
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!
This story is also found in Matthew 8 & Luke 8. Matthew tells us there were two demon possessed men. This is not a contradiction but the focus for Mark and Luke is on the man speaking.
Matthew tells us that the demons also said to Jesus “why are here to torment us before the time”. They know there is a time of Judgement and Jesus holds the key.
(Mark 5:8) For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"
Jesus command, but did it work?
(Mark 5:9) Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."
It would seem like Jesus command did not work. Yet it was probably that this man was so full of demons. Legions were used as a name in the Roman armies. It was an army of 6,000.
The name here was as a confession. It was recognized for the man and the people around. Confession leads to repentance which leads to salvation. Salvation is Real Freedom
(Mark 5:10) Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
In Luke 8:32 uses the term “abyss”. This is the eternal place. This is the final place of judgement. This is a terrible place and the demons were afraid of going back.
(Mark 5:11) Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. (12) So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." (13) And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
This area that was once occupied by Jews who were followers of God had now become a place that was against the law of God. God had forbid them for eating pigs. They were unclean. Yet now we see that they had lost their way.
This in itself says a lot. The enemy is so erratic. If you want to know whether the enemy is working in your life then watch for the erratic behavior. Behavior that gets out of control. Addictions.
(Mark 5:14) So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. (15) Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.
What they saw?
The man was in his right man. Sitting, not agitated. Not hyper. Settled and at peace with God. Clothed. Not only in physically but with the righteousness of Christ.
Clothing lends identity to a person. This says a lot about them. There are certain brands that we wear or don’t wear.
What were they afraid of?
Not everyone will like it when you are set free. They do not like what they lose. For some they lose the profit of drugs. For others they lose the friendship of sin. Someone to join in their misery. For others they lose the satisfaction of being where they are. When they see someone else experience freedom, they lose it.
You would think that they would have been happy that this man was clean and in his right mind. Instead of moving to the place where he was, they decided to try to bring him back down by abandoning him.
Tattoos or Scars of the past.
I read where someone was commenting on post of a person who was full of tattoos. From head to foot. He was covered. The caption was, what would you do if this person showed up at your church. I quickly commented that I believe we would welcome them in and believe that God would change their life. Another commenter wrote, “They would hope they would change then look in the mirror and live in regret for the rest of their life”.
This man carried scars of the past. You may to. But they do not have to be regret but they can be your testimony. They do not have to be something you look down on.
I told you the story of the man whom I visited in jail who was going up for a major sentence. He surrendered his life to Christ. He looked at me one day and said, “What am I going to do?” He held his arms out full of tattoos. On one arm was full of images of death and destruction. Surprisingly on the other was a picture of heaven and religious images. He said, “How can I share Christ with these.” So, I said, “What a testimony. From destruction to life”.
You do not have to live in the regret of the past. Christ has set you free. He has given you hope. Let your scars represent your testimony. No matter what it may be. I would prefer to have the scars and live in freedom than have the “stuff” and live in bondage.
(Mark 5:16) And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. (17) Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
This is a powerful statement. They begged Jesus to leave. Wow!
(Mark 5:18) And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.
Luke puts it this way in 8:39 "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you." And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.
From possessed to and evangelist. It was so important to share his testimony.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Conclusion
I shared with you at the beginning of the message that Jesus calm the storm right before He gets to the shore here. What is interesting is He left a multitude of people to get into the boat the cross to this side. Then He gets right back in and heads back to the multitude. Wow! This shows us the truth of Luke 15 where Jesus talks about the shepherd that leaves the ninety and nine to find the one.
Jesus will meet you where you are but not leave you there.
You must be willing to come to Him and let Him set you free.
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
