MARK 5:1-20     Lesson 9

POWER CONFRONTATION

I. Greetings:

II. Introduction:

I ate lunch with a gentleman who has just returned from Malaysia. He ministered to, and was ministered to, by the Christians among the Ebond tribe there. He spoke about how young missionaries would go into a “long-house” and before they could witness, there would often be a power confrontation between them and the tribal Shaman. The power of Jesus had to be seen as superior to the power in the Shamans. After such a power confrontation, they would then listen to the Christians.

Q When the issue of demonic possession of someone today comes up, what do you think? What runs through your mind?
An = For some of you, discussion of demonic power may seem a bit unusual, but it is discussed as a real condition in the Gospels, and it is a real condition encountered by and daily dealt with in the third world as well as by many here in America.
Let us see what the Gospels have to say about such powers and their relationship to Jesus Christ.

III. The Condition: Misery and Sorrow. Mark 5:1-5.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:1-5

Note: The description portrays the function of demonic possession: “to distort and destroy the image of God”.

Q Is more space given to this description than to the actual exorcism or healing itself?
Q What are the actual things done to this man?
An = He had to be constrained, and he often cut himself with stones. The description clearly stresses that this man was miserable, ostracized from society, and willing to inflict harm upon himself. It is not a pretty picture.

Q What did Satan do to this human being?
An = He got him to hurt themselves. That is the devil’s trade mark, his M.O. Remember this is a dramatic illustration of what the devil can do, but he can get us to hurt ourselves subtle, in less dramatic ways. It is obvious in the drug addict, but just as true in the gossiper or an anorexic.

IV. Healing/Encounter: Mark 5:6-9.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:6-9.

Note: “Most High” is not a messianic title, though a divine title. Through out the Scriptures this particular title is often found in the mouth of Gentiles. In Mark the title is often an indication of syncretistic (all religions can be mixed) understanding. The Bible is famous for being monotheistic; there is only “ONE” Lord. Maybe that is why Jesus did not want testimony from demonic forces. They told the truth, He is the “Most High”, but subtlety lied by indicating He was one power among many. It may also be that Jesus just did not want the witness of Demons on any level.

Q Did Jesus struggle to free the man?
An = Despite the strong adjuration (word of power countering Jesus’ command) by the demons, they had to leave.

Q Is this a manual on how to do an exorcism? How extensively was the exorcism described?
An = Jesus merely said, “come out”. The emphasis was not on how to do this but on the amazing power of Jesus Christ to free someone of possession.

Q Are there other ways to be in the grip of the devil? Let’s list them.
An = After their list is made you might add that if you are bound by sin, you are in the grip of the devil. If you will not forgive, or are addicted to pornography you are in the grip of the devil, etc.

Q How about the possession of materialism, is that being in the grip of Satan?
An = Perhaps, the false god of material well-being or of being an American success is an allure of the devil! I believe more people in America are diverted from the things of God by materialism than by anything else.

Q To say being caught with money is being in the grip of Satan, is this too strong?
Q What story did Jesus tell about Hell? What put that man in hell?
An = There is a story in Luke 16 about this topic. In Hell the man described in Luke 16 was a rich man. >>>> Turn to Luke and read 16:19-23.

V. The Aftermath. Mark 5:10-17.

>>> Have someone read Mark 5:10-17.

Q What strikes you most here?
Note: The fate of the swine demonstrated what would have been the eventual fate of the man, destruction.

Q Why the death of the pigs?
An = 1. Some say demons seek a body. They could have realized they had met tremendous power and so took what body they could. They also might have had a trick in mind… 2. Jesus saw pigs as unclean animals (proof they were in the Gentile territory). 3. Jesus did not worry about the economic ramifications that were entailed with destroying this town’s entire herd. To us as readers of this story we see that He was effectively making sure they would not want Him to stay in their territory. Mark tells us they did ask Jesus to leave. Another example of this is in Acts 16:16-24, financial gain (especially from pigs or spiritualism) did not take precedence over a human’s need. 4. Jesus could have been letting the demon-possessed man see a physical demonstration that he was indeed free. He had overheard the conversation between the demons and Jesus.

Q What did the people see at 5:15?
An = The demon-possessed man was seated, clothed, and in his right mind. A possible point from some scholars is that in the ancient world, clothing a man was a sign of adoption. A more secure conclusion is that the man’s humanity was restored. He was fully human again, regular humans wear clothes.

Note: Can Christians be possessed? The text does not answer that question here. What we do know for certain is this: suffering and distortion of humanity come from demonic possession. Jesus’ power stops both. No matter the depth of the oppression or depression we know Jesus can heal.

Q Did the healing of this one crazy messed up man prohibit Jesus from sharing the Gospel with the whole town?
Q Why did Jesus give so much attention to this seeming worthless man and his perception of his freedom?

VI. The Commission of a Task: Mark 5:18-20.

>>> Have someone read Mark 5:18-20.

A. The Role of Fear.

Note: The text presents a sharp contrast between the man and the crowds. He was no longer afraid, but they were. The man was delivered from fear. Often when someone is delivered it brings fear, unless you are the direct recipient of the touch of Jesus. It may seem overwhelming to you as it did to these people who saw this crazy, oppressed man set free.

B. The Role of Limits.

Q Why did Jesus refuse to take him into the boat?
An = My heart always goes out to this guy. To be around Jesus, or one who is powerfully filled with Him, is where I always want to be. However, the commentators point out that we must be able to hear God’s “No”, and then we can do His work. Often the great characteristic of seriously mentally ill people is they cannot hear the word “no”. This is the same with spiritually ill people. They may not be possessed, but they cannot accept limits. No one can tell them what to do that is against what they want to hear. The exorcism was only the beginning. The beginning of true healing, after the exorcism, was to be freed from the grip of sin. He needed to stop being his own god. He had to be able to accept a “no” to his plans and desires and obey God’s plans, for Jesus is the true God. When we can accept a “no” from God we are beginning to reverse the Fall of Mankind. We begin to actualize our salvation.
The Desert Fathers of the 3rd to 5th century AD say all spiritual growth starts with the word “no”.

Q Is the “no” given to the man a “no” to doing evil or “ no” to a reasonable, good plan?
An = Most of have found that God does say “no” to positive, moral and spiritually good plans that we have. It is so tough to hear, but we do not see the bigger picture and it takes faith to hear a “no” and obey what we are commanded to do.

C. The Role of Tasks:

>>>Have someone re-read 5:19.

Q What else did Jesus give this man?
An = He said “no” but gave him a task. Part of the dignity of being a human is having a task to do.

>>> Have someone read Genesis 2:15.

Q Can the command “go to your people” mean he was to go to his family?
An = We need to witness to our own when we receive mercy.

Q Is it easier to witness to “others” or our own?
An = Whether hard or easy when we receive mercy, we need to witness, remember 4:21-22.

Q Did the man obey? Did he learn to not get his way, and still be free?
An = >>>> Re-read Mark 5:20.

Q Who is more effective on the mission field, the natives or the foreign missionaries?
An = In-depth study has shown conclusively in multiple settings and in multiple cultures that the foreign missionaries can start a work, but it never really takes off until the locals take over.

Q Who would be more effective in witnessing to the goodness and mercy of God to your family; a changed you or a stranger like me?
Q Finally, who had more faith; the disciples who panicked in the boat in 4:40 or the new convert from demon possession?
RQ Who was more pleasing to God?[:]