What's Next?
After Jesus heals the man with the Legion of demons, the man wants to stay with Jesus. Instead, Jesus sends him on mission:
"Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”
Luke 8:39
Jesus heals so that we can go on mission.
What's your mission today?
Today’s Scripture:
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Of Pigs and Human Nature
Do you actually want to change, or would you rather wallow in the filthy status quo?
5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.Mark 5:1-20
Jesus performs an astounding miracle in their village, freeing this forsaken man from filth and misery, and the villagers would prefer he leave than cause any more changes to the way things are.
You don't think that those villagers had parts of their lives that needed healing? But rather than begging Jesus to stay and work among them, their immediate response is to beg him to leave and never come back.
How true of human nature--so often we prefer the pain we know to the possibility of change.
[This was previously published for the Gospel of Matthew readings, and has been updated.]
Today’s Scripture
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Jesus & the Demonic
Mark tells us that the central message of Jesus was that the Kingdom of God has arrived through him. This message provokes immediate conflict, and one of the forms this conflict takes in Mark's Gospel is spiritual conflict with the demonic powers. For many modern Americans, the idea of demonic oppression is lunacy. Yet, I don't think you can read Mark and conclude that the conflict Jesus has with demons is merely metaphorical. I have personally never seen a demon, but I do know that Christians in other parts of the world have a much wider view of spiritual conflict than most Americans, and I know enough about life to admit that there do seem to be evil forces at work warping and tempting human desires. That said, however, the point of today's reading is not the reality of evil, but the power of Christ over evil. I find this comforting: Jesus is stronger. Period.
Today’s Scripture
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Of Pigs and Human Nature
Do you actually want to change, or would you rather wallow in the filthy status quo?
"When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 'What do you want with us, Son of God?' they shouted. 'Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?'
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, 'If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.'
He said to them, 'Go!' So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region."Matthew 8:28-34
Jesus performs an astounding miracle in their village, freeing these two men from filth and misery, and the villagers would prefer he leave than cause any more changes to the way things are.
You don't think that those villagers had parts of their lives that needed healing? But rather than begging Jesus to stay and work among them, their immediate response is to beg him to leave and never come back.
How true of human nature--so often we prefer the pain we know to the possibility of change.
Today's Scripture