WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.120 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:00:09.380 --> 00:00:15.080 And it's my joy to bring God's word to you. A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:15.140 --> 00:00:19.940 We're glad that you're here. And we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:23.379 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:23.820 --> 00:00:27.760 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:32.399 They don't need God's grace and no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:32.859 --> 00:00:38.740 That's why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in his word. 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:42.060 We're continuing our series in the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:42.160 --> 00:00:48.079 You'll remember that the Gospels tell the story of Jesus and his life and his death and his resurrection. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:52.799 And our stories from last week and this week serve as a pair. They're meant to go together. 00:00:53.160 --> 00:00:57.560 Last week showed that Jesus is the one who has power and control over nature. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:04.200 We're following that up with this week's story, which shows that he has power and control over evil and demonic forces. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:11.500 And so these two stories are meant to pair together as twins to demonstrate that Jesus' control and power is over everything. 00:01:11.900 --> 00:01:16.159 It's over nature and the world. It's over evil and the demons. 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:20.420 As we come to the Gospel, we're continuing to ask the same two questions. 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:23.599 We ask over and over. Question one, who is Jesus? 00:01:24.060 --> 00:01:26.379 And question two, how do we respond to him? 00:01:26.379 --> 00:01:34.500 As we saw last week, and we'll see again in chapter 8, these are not questions that we are bringing outside and imposing them on the text. 00:01:34.699 --> 00:01:39.019 They're actually questions that are coming from inside the Gospel that we're bringing out. 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:42.479 We saw that last week in verse 41 when they ask this question, 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:47.299 Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him? 00:01:47.979 --> 00:01:49.219 That's the question they ask. 00:01:49.259 --> 00:01:51.819 That's the question Jesus will ask in Mark chapter 8. 00:01:51.879 --> 00:01:55.019 He'll say, Who do you say that I am? 00:01:55.019 --> 00:02:00.599 As we come to this passage, we're in Mark chapter 5, verses 1 through 20. 00:02:00.659 --> 00:02:03.599 I just want to say there is a lot going on in this passage. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:05.219 And I'm going to stay focused. 00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:07.659 I'm going to try to stay focused on our two questions. 00:02:07.859 --> 00:02:11.419 Which is another way of saying I'm going to say something, not everything. 00:02:11.620 --> 00:02:15.180 And I'm going to warn you in advance, I'm not going to talk a lot about the pigs. 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:16.680 Okay? Sorry. 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:20.180 Everyone has theories about the pigs. 00:02:20.280 --> 00:02:23.040 I'm not sure if anyone knows quite what's going on. 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:26.920 If we have any extra time, it's going to be time that I spend talking about demon possession. 00:02:27.260 --> 00:02:27.420 Okay? 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:30.439 With that, we're going to jump in together. 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:33.580 I invite you to turn with me to Mark chapter 5. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:35.080 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:36.580 You can turn in your Bible. 00:02:36.920 --> 00:02:38.520 You can turn in your phone. 00:02:38.939 --> 00:02:42.120 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:46.560 And God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold. 00:02:46.860 --> 00:02:51.219 And it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:02:51.780 --> 00:02:54.840 And that's why we read now chapter 5, starting at verse 1. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:00.240 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 00:03:00.939 --> 00:03:05.480 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs, 00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:07.640 a man with an unclean spirit. 00:03:07.639 --> 00:03:13.819 He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind Him anymore, not even with a chain. 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:17.519 For He had often been bound with shackles and chains, 00:03:17.739 --> 00:03:21.779 but He wrenched the chains apart, and He broke the shackles in pieces. 00:03:22.519 --> 00:03:24.819 No one had the strength to subdue Him. 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:26.479 Verse 5. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:31.439 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains He was always crying out 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:33.439 and cutting Himself with stones. 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:37.960 And when He saw Jesus from afar, He ran and fell down before Him. 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:40.979 And crying out with a loud voice, He said, 00:03:41.539 --> 00:03:45.719 What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:49.060 I adjure you by God, do not torment me. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:53.620 For He was saying to him, Come out of the man, you unclean spirit. 00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:55.240 Verse 9. 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:58.039 And Jesus asked him, What is your name? 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:01.719 He replied, My name is Legion, for we are many. 00:04:02.340 --> 00:04:05.719 And He begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 00:04:06.519 --> 00:04:09.479 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. 00:04:09.859 --> 00:04:12.699 And they begged Him, saying, Send us to the pigs. 00:04:13.239 --> 00:04:14.319 Let us enter them. 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:16.379 So He gave them permission. 00:04:17.219 --> 00:04:19.800 And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:22.399 And the herd, numbering about two thousand, 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:26.800 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:28.819 Verse 14. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:58.980 As he was getting into the boat, 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:03.520 the man who had been possessed with demons begged Him that he might be with him. 00:05:04.500 --> 00:05:06.560 And he did not permit him, but said to him, 00:05:06.980 --> 00:05:11.680 Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:14.240 and how He has had mercy on you. 00:05:15.080 --> 00:05:18.240 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:20.360 how much Jesus had done for him. 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:23.000 And everyone marveled. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:27.899 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:34.060 Our Father in Heaven, we thank You again that You speak to us. 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:36.860 You don't speak to us in a foreign language, 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:40.779 but You speak to us in words that we can understand and comprehend. 00:05:41.259 --> 00:05:42.779 We ask that You would do that. 00:05:43.339 --> 00:05:47.079 This morning, we're aware of how weak and feeble we are, 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:50.599 that we can't hear clearly from You without Your help. 00:05:51.019 --> 00:05:55.159 And so we ask that You would send Your Spirit to us now, 00:05:55.719 --> 00:05:57.159 that You'd honor Your promise. 00:05:57.979 --> 00:06:01.839 In Isaiah 55, that Your Word will not return to you empty, 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:04.319 but it will accomplish what You have for it. 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:08.019 We ask that You would use it to accomplish Your purposes in our lives, 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:09.659 that You would challenge us, 00:06:10.299 --> 00:06:11.319 You'd encourage us, 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:13.379 and most of all, You would show us Jesus. 00:06:14.159 --> 00:06:17.040 We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:06:17.579 --> 00:06:17.879 Amen. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:24.379 So they say that hindsight is 20-20, 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:29.899 and it turns out it was a really good idea for Jesus to take a nap last week, 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:33.259 because as soon as He gets out of the boat after the storm, 00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:34.980 picking up from our previous story, 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:36.860 things do not stop for Him. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:39.180 It is this sort of non-stop action. 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:42.860 We see in verse 1, they come to the other side of the sea. 00:06:42.980 --> 00:06:45.259 That's where they headed out at the end of chapter 4. 00:06:45.620 --> 00:06:48.300 And so we're just quickly finishing last week's story 00:06:48.300 --> 00:06:50.540 and beginning the new story for this one. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:53.780 Verse 1, we see the region they're in there in the Gerasenes, 00:06:53.860 --> 00:06:57.519 which helps us understand that Jesus is no longer in Jewish territory. 00:06:58.060 --> 00:07:01.100 You'll remember that we were in Capernaum in the region of Galilee. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:05.139 Capernaum had a synagogue in it because it was a place with lots of Jews. 00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:09.740 Now Jesus is in this place, not with lots of Jews, but lots of Gentiles. 00:07:09.919 --> 00:07:10.959 And He's just moving. 00:07:11.099 --> 00:07:14.120 We see this word that's come again and again in the Gospel of Mark, 00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:14.979 which is immediately. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:19.079 It also appears here, verse 2. 00:07:19.479 --> 00:07:20.819 Jesus steps out of the boat immediately. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:25.519 There met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 00:07:25.899 --> 00:07:28.819 And so Jesus is still in the same day 00:07:28.819 --> 00:07:31.579 that started at least in the beginning of chapter 4. 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:32.919 He's been teaching. 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:34.740 He's calmed this storm. 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:36.180 He's taken a nap. 00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:37.240 It's the evening. 00:07:37.599 --> 00:07:38.279 He lands. 00:07:38.419 --> 00:07:39.839 And the very next thing He knows, 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:41.859 He encounters this man with an unclean spirit. 00:07:42.419 --> 00:07:44.240 Now I want us to pause for a minute 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:45.939 because we need to understand 00:07:45.939 --> 00:07:49.740 what we are talking about when we talk about demon possession. 00:07:50.219 --> 00:07:53.019 There are two errors that we can run into 00:07:53.019 --> 00:07:55.099 when we start talking about demons in this world. 00:07:55.099 --> 00:07:58.240 The first error is to believe that everything is demonic. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:02.759 There's a demon hiding behind every door and in every corner. 00:08:02.900 --> 00:08:04.699 You know, you need to say a prayer before you go 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:06.100 to the bathroom in the church 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:07.680 because there might be a demon hiding there. 00:08:08.139 --> 00:08:09.120 That's one error. 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:10.540 There are just demons all over the place 00:08:10.540 --> 00:08:11.500 and they're doing everything. 00:08:12.060 --> 00:08:14.300 The other error that we can fall into 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:16.519 is to believe nothing is demonic. 00:08:17.220 --> 00:08:19.500 There are no evil forces in the world. 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:23.019 Anyone who believes something like that is a little bit weird. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:26.460 As Christians, we believe not in a closed universe, 00:08:26.459 --> 00:08:27.819 but in an open universe, 00:08:27.819 --> 00:08:29.039 which is to say we believe 00:08:29.039 --> 00:08:31.639 there are supernatural forces in the world. 00:08:31.739 --> 00:08:34.299 There are powerful things that we cannot see. 00:08:35.819 --> 00:08:38.879 First error then is saying that demons always happen. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:42.259 The second error is to say they never happen. 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:45.439 C.S. Lewis talks about this in his preface 00:08:45.439 --> 00:08:47.639 to the Screwtape Letters when he says, 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:50.100 there are two equal and opposite errors 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:52.860 in which our race can fall about the devils. 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:56.200 One is to disbelieve in their existence. 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:59.840 The other is to believe and to feel an excessive 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:02.440 and unhealthy interest in them. 00:09:03.180 --> 00:09:06.580 They themselves are equally pleased by both errors 00:09:06.580 --> 00:09:10.039 and hail a materialist or a magician 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:12.220 with the same delight. 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:16.180 Materialist being a person who only believes 00:09:16.180 --> 00:09:17.340 in the world that we can see. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.180 A magician, someone who believes 00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:21.339 that everything is magical all the time. 00:09:22.359 --> 00:09:24.899 Okay, those are our two errors. 00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:27.079 That doesn't answer the important question though, 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:28.639 which is what are we talking about 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:30.219 when we discuss demon possession? 00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:33.299 People probably have all kinds of different ideas, 00:09:33.459 --> 00:09:35.519 vague theories about what's going on, 00:09:35.579 --> 00:09:37.379 and we need to have clarity about this. 00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:38.839 So one man presents it this way. 00:09:39.419 --> 00:09:42.000 When the New Testament talks about demon possession, 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:46.220 it is talking about not a psychological problem 00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:47.340 of the one afflicted, 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:50.580 but as a matter of alien occupation. 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:53.320 Okay, not a psychological problem, 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:55.700 a matter of alien occupation. 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:58.080 And we've seen that already as we read this passage. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:00.759 These demons are in a sense aliens 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:01.980 from outside this man. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:02.940 I don't mean space aliens. 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:04.179 I mean they don't belong to him, 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:06.039 that live inside of him. 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:07.639 They have occupied his body. 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:09.879 It is not simply that he has 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:11.539 some sort of psychological problem. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:13.120 It is that there is a real, 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:15.139 powerful, demonic presence 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:16.259 that has taken him over. 00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:19.439 So when we talk about demon possession, 00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:20.980 one of the ways we prevent 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:22.539 believing demons are everywhere 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:24.539 is understanding this definition 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:28.320 that it is an alien occupation. 00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:30.960 If it's a psychological problem, 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:33.439 then probably all of us are demon possessed, right? 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.539 And so it's with that then 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:37.840 we can begin to understand 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:40.440 what's going on in this story. 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:42.019 It's not just an alien occupation, 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:43.360 but there are certain characteristics 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:44.620 that we can recognize 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:46.720 go along with demon possession. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:49.280 I had a seminary professor 00:10:49.280 --> 00:10:50.980 whose name was Chris Florence, 00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:53.340 and he taught us about some of this, 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:54.800 and he talked about the characteristic 00:10:54.800 --> 00:10:56.180 that we see in the Bible 00:10:56.180 --> 00:10:58.080 of demons having this supernatural, 00:10:58.700 --> 00:10:59.680 superhuman strength. 00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:01.900 And he told us about his time 00:11:01.900 --> 00:11:03.280 before he'd become a pastor 00:11:03.280 --> 00:11:04.639 when he worked in a psych ward, 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:06.120 and he would meet people 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:07.419 who met this criteria. 00:11:07.560 --> 00:11:08.899 They would have this basically 00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:10.840 unexplainable strength. 00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:14.480 That's one of the ways we know 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:16.379 we can suspect that we're dealing 00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:18.560 with someone who is actually possessed. 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:19.440 And it's not just, 00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:21.039 doesn't just come from this one man. 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:22.539 Other sources confirm this. 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:24.600 We see this other places in the Bible. 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:26.879 So for example, in Acts chapter 19, 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.519 there's a man who's demon possessed. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:31.740 He single-handedly fights seven brothers, 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:34.639 and he sends them away running and naked. 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:37.580 There is a superhuman, 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:40.500 unexplainable supernatural strength. 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:42.480 With that understanding in mind, 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:44.000 we're gonna jump right back into the story 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:46.639 because this helps us know what's going on. 00:11:46.680 --> 00:11:48.379 If you remember from chapter four, 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:49.399 our previous story, 00:11:49.779 --> 00:11:51.180 we were told, verse 35, 00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:52.659 when Jesus sat out on the sea, 00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:54.060 evening had already come, 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:56.560 which reminds us that it is nighttime now 00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:59.240 when Jesus lands and encounters this demon. 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:00.419 In verses two and three, 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:02.039 there's this spooky setting. 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:04.440 The word tombs is repeated twice 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:06.019 to remind us we're in a place 00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:08.539 that's filled with death and decay and despair. 00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:11.279 That's meant to give us a feel 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.039 and in a sense, some symbolism as well 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:15.779 for what Jesus is encountering here. 00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:19.940 He is in a sense in entering into the land of the dead. 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:22.519 He is encountering a man 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:25.460 who for all practical purposes might as well be dead. 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:28.740 He's living among the tombs, isolated and alone. 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:32.620 We find out verse five that he cries out night and day. 00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:35.279 And so that might also explain 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:38.480 why Jesus is encountering this demon-possessed man at night. 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:40.879 It sounds like he never sleeps. 00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:42.379 Maybe that's it. 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:42.899 No, I'm just kidding. 00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:47.919 And so there's high tension here in the story. 00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:49.860 We, if we're familiar with the Bible, 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:50.919 may know how this ends, 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:52.360 but I want you to think for a second 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.259 how you would feel 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:55.200 if you were reading this for the first time. 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:57.000 One of your questions might be this, 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:59.279 what is going to happen to Jesus? 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:01.820 Here's this man. 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:04.419 We've heard, we've learned he can't be bound. 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:07.720 Is Jesus going to get hurt? 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:11.039 And in fact, we know here this sign 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:12.539 checks out for this man 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:14.820 because he does have this supernatural strength. 00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:15.379 Verse three, 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:17.600 no one could bind him anymore, 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.980 not even with a chain. 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:20.700 So he's strong enough. 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:22.299 He's able to break chains. 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:23.980 Verse four, 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:26.360 he had often been bound with shackles and chains, 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:27.879 but he wrenched the chains apart 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.279 and he broke the shackles in pieces. 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:33.539 No one had the strength to subdue him. 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.100 And so what we're discussing here 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:36.019 is a type of strength 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:39.139 that's at least a few standard deviations higher 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:40.460 than ripping a phone book, right? 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:43.540 He is beyond that strong man territory. 00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:45.120 This is a man who rips, 00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:46.500 not phone books, but chains. 00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:49.920 No one is able to bind him. 00:13:50.680 --> 00:13:53.139 That is the tension that we feel in this story 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.580 because Jesus is coming up 00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:58.139 against this extremely dangerous and volatile man. 00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.940 In fact, it sounds like from the story 00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:03.280 that Jesus does not cast out this demon immediately. 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:06.019 We jump here, verses seven and eight, 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:08.139 we're actually not told the beginning of the story. 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:10.860 We come into it at the middle of the story 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:13.199 because we're told Jesus, verse eight, 00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:14.399 was saying to him, 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:16.259 come out of the man, you unclean spirit. 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:17.159 In other words, 00:14:17.199 --> 00:14:18.919 Jesus seems to be having this process 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:20.120 of saying to this man, 00:14:20.199 --> 00:14:21.240 perhaps multiple times, 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:22.679 that the spirit needs to come out. 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.679 In verse seven, 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:28.319 he names Jesus as the son of the most high God. 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:30.220 Let's pause for a second. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:32.059 Remember when we talked about 00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:34.059 the last time this happened in chapter one, 00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:36.559 one of the power of the demonic struggle 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:38.139 is to know someone's name. 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:41.099 And so in calling Jesus by name, 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:43.079 this demon is probably trying to gain 00:14:43.079 --> 00:14:44.679 some sort of advantage over him. 00:14:45.319 --> 00:14:47.959 Jesus, however, is much more powerful than that. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:49.359 It does not work on him 00:14:49.359 --> 00:14:53.379 in the same way it did not work in chapter one. 00:14:53.599 --> 00:14:55.079 But it helps us understand why, 00:14:55.219 --> 00:14:57.459 verse nine, Jesus asks him his name. 00:14:58.199 --> 00:14:58.919 And he replies, 00:14:59.459 --> 00:15:01.339 my name is Legion, for we are many. 00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:03.859 Now this isn't a coincidence. 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:06.659 Legion would have been a military unit. 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:09.460 Reminds us that Jesus is in 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:11.379 a sort of military struggle here. 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:13.919 He is taking part in the cosmic war 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:15.000 between good and evil. 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:18.639 He is in a very serious battle 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:20.200 with demonic forces. 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:25.039 And they know that Jesus is more powerful. 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:27.419 And so as he tells them to get out, 00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:28.720 verses 10 through 13, 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:31.180 the demons enter into these peace talks with Jesus. 00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:34.139 They know they're not going to win. 00:15:34.219 --> 00:15:35.479 And so they want to at least 00:15:35.479 --> 00:15:37.359 have a surrender that helps them. 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:39.419 Verse 10, they don't want to go out of the country. 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:40.779 And so they present this solution. 00:15:41.099 --> 00:15:42.620 If you let us go into the pigs, 00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:45.019 that will be satisfactory for us. 00:15:45.859 --> 00:15:47.359 And so Jesus here, 00:15:47.439 --> 00:15:49.099 he finds that to be a good compromise. 00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.579 He lets them go into the pigs. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:53.919 The pigs rush into the sea and they're drowned. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:54.839 That's verse 13. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:58.099 Now we could get caught up in the pigs. 00:15:58.100 --> 00:16:01.720 Lots of people have lots of different ideas 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:03.220 about what's going on with the pigs. 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:05.100 If we focus on the pigs, 00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:07.779 we have missed the point of this passage. 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.399 The point is not the pigs. 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:11.940 The point is this man who Jesus meets 00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:14.200 frees from the power and forces of evil 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:16.560 and sets in his right mind. 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.500 In other words, 00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:19.740 the point here is not verse 13. 00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:21.320 It is verse 15. 00:16:21.420 --> 00:16:23.899 Verse 15, we find out why this is such 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:25.740 an incredible and supernatural event. 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:27.940 Because the people from the surrounding towns 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:30.419 come in to see what's been happening with Jesus 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:32.139 and this man as word spreads 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:33.680 and they see something frightening. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.340 The demon-possessed man, 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:37.720 the one who had the legion sitting there, 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:40.860 clothed and in his right mind. 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:46.279 The pigs, in a sense, are a minor detail. 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:49.279 The major theme is that Jesus has taken this man 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:51.019 who was living among tombs, 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:52.340 isolated and alone, 00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:54.360 who might have otherwise been dead, 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.940 unable to be bound, 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:58.280 and a pariah in the culture around him. 00:16:58.300 --> 00:17:00.340 And he has made him to sit calm, 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.940 not crying out day and night, 00:17:02.060 --> 00:17:03.860 clothed, finally, rather than naked, 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:06.140 and in his right mind. 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:11.440 Verse 15 is the point of this passage. 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:14.000 As we ask our question, 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:15.019 who is Jesus, 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:17.180 we see Jesus is not just the one 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:18.279 who controls the world. 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:21.440 Jesus is also the one who restores people. 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:25.339 His power is not just for the calming of storms 00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:27.019 on seas from last week. 00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:29.339 It is also taking people and restoring them 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:32.079 to bear the image of God more and more. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:34.259 He is taking people and restoring them 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:36.119 to what we read in Genesis chapter one, 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:38.240 that they were made in the image of God 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.940 with dominion over the creation. 00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:42.420 This man, more than ever before, 00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:45.559 is able to image God in a powerful way. 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:47.599 And we can assume as he moves forward, 00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:49.519 he will be able more and more 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:52.059 to exercise dominion in this world. 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:54.480 Jesus is the one with power, 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:55.839 not just over creation. 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:58.059 Jesus is the one who restores 00:17:58.059 --> 00:18:01.759 and reconciles and redeems individual people. 00:18:03.919 --> 00:18:06.519 Jesus takes people and sets them 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:09.059 that they are clothed and in their right mind. 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.700 I want you to see, though, 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.099 not just Jesus' power, 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.579 as incredible as it is, 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:16.579 also Jesus' compassion. 00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:19.119 In his divinity, 00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.759 we see his compassion 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:22.079 simply in the fact 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:23.980 that he moves towards the oppressed 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.960 and those in bondage. 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:29.539 Yes, Jesus has the power to free this man. 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:31.240 No, he doesn't have to. 00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:33.019 And he does. 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.879 In Jesus' humanity, 00:18:35.879 --> 00:18:38.279 we also see his compassion. 00:18:38.439 --> 00:18:40.919 Remember that this has all happened in one day. 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.399 Jesus has been teaching 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:44.140 probably since early in the morning 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:46.320 out in a boat all through chapter four. 00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:47.860 Then he gets into the boat. 00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:49.100 He's trying to take a nap 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:50.040 and there's a great storm 00:18:50.040 --> 00:18:51.600 and his disciples are frustrated with him. 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.740 They wake him up 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:54.060 and he has to control nature. 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:56.620 Then he makes it to this other shore 00:18:56.620 --> 00:18:57.500 at the evening. 00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:59.200 It's probably dark at this point. 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:02.340 And Jesus chooses to then, 00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.660 after all of that, 00:19:03.780 --> 00:19:05.220 engage with this demon. 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:08.220 Jesus' compassion, 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.740 both in his divinity 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:11.100 and his humanity, 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:13.799 as he stretches his humanity 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:14.980 to the breaking point. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:18.700 Jesus doesn't just have the power 00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.839 to restore people. 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:22.539 Jesus actually does it. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:27.079 Jesus comes to those 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.420 who are in bondage, 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:30.420 those who are filled with shame, 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:32.400 those who are isolated and alone, 00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:34.100 and he sets them free. 00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:39.100 Now, there's a question for us 00:19:39.100 --> 00:19:40.380 about what we're gonna do 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:41.039 with this passage, 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.019 and we have a problem, 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.460 which is that, 00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:44.140 on the one hand, 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:45.579 this is a true story, right? 00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:46.640 This is not just some kind 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.720 of metaphor or analogy. 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:49.620 Jesus actually healed a man. 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.720 He cast out demons 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.059 from someone who is possessed. 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:55.559 And I am not currently aware 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:58.240 of anyone in our church community 00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:58.980 at Cheyenne Mountain 00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.259 who is possessed by a demon. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.940 Even more than that, 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.740 I'm not aware of anyone right now 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.940 outside of our community 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:07.200 who's possessed by a demon. 00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:09.180 What in the world 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.059 does this passage 00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.940 have to do with us? 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:13.259 This is actually a question 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:13.920 that I'm asking about 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.200 how do we read the Bible? 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.799 How do we read stories 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.519 that don't directly talk 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.539 about our context 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.359 and our situation? 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.559 I believe you talked 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.660 about this a little bit, 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.599 those of you who are with 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:25.099 Jim Franks in Sunday School, 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.299 about how we come 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.299 to these sorts of passages. 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.380 And here's what we do. 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:31.019 We look at a specific situation, 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:34.180 we draw out a general principle, 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:36.879 we apply that general principle 00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:38.639 to our specific situation. 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:41.059 There's a bridge in other words. 00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:44.559 We do not frequently share 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.779 the exact situation 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.859 of the characters in the Bible, 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.500 especially in the Old Testament. 00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:50.839 And so we're always pulling out principles 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:52.000 and reapplying them 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.480 to new situations. 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:56.000 Principle here. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.480 However, 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:59.259 there is this controlling power 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.680 of evil in the world, 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:02.160 Jesus is more powerful. 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:05.079 There are real evil 00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:06.039 and demonic forces 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.119 in this world 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:09.220 and we don't have to fear them 00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:10.640 because of Jesus' power 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:12.559 and his compassion. 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:14.240 Not all people 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.460 are demon-possessed 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:18.500 and all people 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.980 are slaves to evil 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:21.180 apart from Christ. 00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:23.579 Not all people 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.660 are demon-possessed 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:26.100 and all people 00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:27.300 are slaves to evil 00:21:27.300 --> 00:21:28.519 apart from Christ. 00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:30.000 This is what Ephesians 2, 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:31.040 verse 1 tells us. 00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:31.680 We're dead 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.560 in our sins 00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:33.500 and our trespasses, 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.880 which is a way of saying 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:36.340 that outside of God 00:21:36.340 --> 00:21:37.140 and his intervention 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.820 in our lives, 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:39.580 we are spiritually dead. 00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:42.300 We might as well 00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:43.180 be possessed 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:44.320 by many demons 00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:45.680 living among tombs, 00:21:45.800 --> 00:21:47.160 crying out night and day 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:47.960 by ourselves. 00:21:50.840 --> 00:21:52.140 There are places 00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:53.460 where we are not 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:55.240 in our right minds 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:56.060 because of sin. 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.460 And so, yes, 00:21:58.520 --> 00:21:59.100 not everyone 00:21:59.100 --> 00:22:00.180 is demon-possessed. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.200 Everyone lives 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.920 in a world 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:02.820 with evil 00:22:02.820 --> 00:22:04.400 and evil forces. 00:22:06.300 --> 00:22:08.100 And Jesus comes 00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:09.660 to you and me 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.360 as people 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.259 who would otherwise 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:12.360 be in the bondage 00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:12.800 of sin, 00:22:13.320 --> 00:22:14.320 spiritually dead, 00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:15.880 and he also 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:17.259 exercises his power 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:17.880 and authority 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:19.200 and control over evil. 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.620 He also comes 00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:21.539 and sets us 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.700 to be clothed 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.240 and free 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:24.180 in our right minds. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.539 We are also freed 00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.460 from the power 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.620 and bondage of sin. 00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:28.840 For some of us, 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.620 that's the freedom 00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:30.500 of being able 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.500 to finally say 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.440 that we are sober. 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.640 That is a form 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:35.000 of being in your right mind, 00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.860 whether it is being 00:22:35.860 --> 00:22:37.080 addicted to a substance, 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.559 whether it's sobriety 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.700 that comes from a time 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.500 when you were enslaved 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.480 to sexual sin, 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.660 whether it's pornography 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.700 or something else. 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.880 You've had seasons 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.559 of fighting 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.380 in community 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.240 with others, 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.140 confessing sin 00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:48.980 in transparency, 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:49.980 working forward 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:51.180 as God is at work 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:51.920 in your life 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.680 with his people 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.519 and by his spirit. 00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:56.000 And you know 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.620 the peace 00:22:56.620 --> 00:22:57.259 and the joy 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:57.779 that comes 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.640 from being free 00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.599 from the bondage 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.099 of addiction. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:02.140 And if you've experienced 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:02.519 that, 00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.360 you know exactly 00:23:03.360 --> 00:23:04.360 what I'm talking about. 00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.779 You know what it's like 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.620 to feel like 00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:08.519 you are finally clothed 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.480 and in your right mind. 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:11.460 Maybe for you, 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.380 it's not sobriety 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:12.900 and addiction, 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.000 but you have been 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.160 a person who's enmeshed 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:15.860 in relationships 00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:16.799 with no boundaries 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.799 and you've found 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.500 that the fear 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.259 of God 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.220 is what shrinks 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.240 and weakens 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:21.720 the fear 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.159 and the love 00:23:22.159 --> 00:23:22.599 of man. 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.919 Maybe it's being freed 00:23:24.919 --> 00:23:25.799 from the power 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:26.319 of evil 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.159 that makes you 00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:27.879 feel like you 00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.720 always have 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.440 to justify 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.319 yourself. 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:31.000 You're the sort 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.399 of person 00:23:31.399 --> 00:23:31.899 who always 00:23:31.899 --> 00:23:32.980 has the last word 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:34.379 in every discussion 00:23:34.379 --> 00:23:36.519 because of your 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.180 insecurity 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:38.240 and your shame. 00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:40.339 You have to control 00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:41.480 every situation. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.319 You can never 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:43.200 be at rest 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:43.879 or at peace. 00:23:44.840 --> 00:23:45.780 You think 00:23:45.780 --> 00:23:46.300 that it makes 00:23:46.300 --> 00:23:46.880 you strong, 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.380 but instead 00:23:47.380 --> 00:23:48.060 it reveals 00:23:48.060 --> 00:23:48.920 how fragile 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.960 and weak 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.860 you actually are 00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:52.980 and you don't 00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:54.100 realize the toll 00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:54.760 that it's taken 00:23:54.760 --> 00:23:55.300 on you 00:23:55.300 --> 00:23:56.720 and your relationships. 00:23:58.100 --> 00:23:58.920 You believe 00:23:58.920 --> 00:23:59.700 you have to hold 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:00.920 the world together 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:03.060 and there's a pile 00:24:03.060 --> 00:24:04.200 of bodies behind you 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:05.080 to prove it. 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.220 And so sitting 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.620 clothed 00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:08.400 and in your right mind 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:08.980 is being able 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.660 to sit still 00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.520 and be at peace 00:24:10.520 --> 00:24:12.080 even when being 00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:12.620 misunderstood. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:13.420 It's being able 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:14.340 to have the relief 00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:15.480 and breathing room 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.060 that comes 00:24:16.060 --> 00:24:16.759 from being willing 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.460 to repent 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:17.920 and know 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.340 and admit 00:24:18.340 --> 00:24:19.060 when you're wrong. 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.039 Not occasionally 00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.420 wrong, 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.420 but frequently wrong. 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.440 It's the ability 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.100 to say that you 00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:24.120 messed things up, 00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:25.100 especially to those 00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:26.080 who have less power 00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:26.519 than you. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.420 It's the ability 00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:28.400 to say you don't 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:29.380 know everything. 00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:31.860 When we come 00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:32.980 together every Sunday 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.779 morning and we 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.640 confess our sins, 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.240 when we confess 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.140 our sins throughout 00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:37.640 the week and in 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:37.960 worship, 00:24:38.060 --> 00:24:39.019 the invitation is 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:40.259 for you to come 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.440 and to finally be 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.680 in your right mind. 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.779 It is to finally 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.940 be in touch 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.740 with reality. 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.880 When we speak 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:48.140 our sins out loud 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:48.799 to God 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.740 and one another, 00:24:49.840 --> 00:24:50.460 there is a sense 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.279 in which it breaks 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:51.920 the power 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:52.700 and the bondage 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.680 of that sin 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.460 in our lives. 00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.799 It is one of the 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.539 tools that God 00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.259 has given us 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.259 to restore us 00:24:58.259 --> 00:25:00.060 to our right minds. 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:02.799 This man, 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.500 despite his possession, 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.259 is coming 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.120 to admit 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:07.039 his need 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.759 to God. 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.600 We're in our right 00:25:09.600 --> 00:25:10.019 minds 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:10.980 and as we 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:11.559 understand 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.460 God's reality 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.160 and his power. 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:13.920 We're in our 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.559 right minds 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.460 as we understand 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.180 the twins 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:16.879 of grief 00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:17.519 and relief 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.299 that go together. 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.319 On the one hand, 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:19.960 we grieve 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:21.400 recognizing our sin 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.079 and letting go 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.639 of the lies 00:25:22.639 --> 00:25:23.379 that we've believed. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.680 And on the other hand, 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.660 we have the relief 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.240 that comes 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.980 from knowing 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.559 that we're not 00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:27.980 the ones 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.339 who hold 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.059 the world together, 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.980 but God does. 00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:30.960 We have the relief 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:31.500 that comes 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:31.980 from knowing 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.680 that we can be 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.539 human and admit 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.480 our imperfections 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:34.920 and sin 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.740 and rebellion. 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.740 We have the relief 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.460 from no longer 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.180 having to keep 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:38.720 the game 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.620 and charade 00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.519 and act together 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.380 of being always 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:41.779 perfect 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.779 and always competent. 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:45.100 We have the relief 00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:46.380 that comes 00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.160 from struggling 00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:47.980 with sin 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:49.460 and our appetites, 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:51.220 not being a slave 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.100 to sin 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:53.299 and our appetites. 00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:55.620 Jesus comes. 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.900 He sets us 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:58.060 so that we can be 00:25:58.060 --> 00:25:58.560 clothed 00:25:58.560 --> 00:26:00.279 and in our right minds. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:03.160 I had a friend 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:03.720 in college 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:05.000 who had a 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.519 radical 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.900 transformation 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:07.840 and in his encounter 00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:08.900 with Jesus 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:09.640 and afterwards, 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.680 he went back 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.340 on his computer 00:26:11.340 --> 00:26:12.620 and he looked 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.580 at the old list 00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:14.600 of all the bookmarks, 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.259 all the sites 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.980 that he had gone through. 00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:16.460 Now, I don't think 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:16.840 there was anything 00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:17.740 salacious there, 00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:19.480 but he was shocked 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:21.480 by his previous self 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.680 because there were 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.440 ideologies 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:24.540 and communities 00:26:24.540 --> 00:26:25.240 that had been 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:26.420 so attractive 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:26.960 to him 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:29.040 and now 00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:29.980 in his right mind, 00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:30.720 they didn't even 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.380 make sense. 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:33.340 He wasn't even sure 00:26:33.340 --> 00:26:34.259 why it was 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.900 that those things 00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:35.420 had appealed 00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:35.860 to him 00:26:35.860 --> 00:26:36.980 so much 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:39.000 because Jesus 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.780 had come 00:26:39.780 --> 00:26:41.180 and transformed him. 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:43.160 Who is Jesus? 00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:44.040 Jesus is not 00:26:44.040 --> 00:26:44.759 just the one 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.320 who changes. 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.620 He is the one 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:47.019 who changes 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.500 our hearts 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.080 and minds 00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:48.540 and lives. 00:26:48.780 --> 00:26:49.140 Christianity 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:50.140 is not simply 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.920 a different 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.700 mental map, 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:53.340 although it is. 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.000 Christianity 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.780 is a complete 00:26:54.780 --> 00:26:55.400 and absolute 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:55.920 change 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.560 and transformation 00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.320 in our hearts 00:26:57.320 --> 00:26:57.940 and our minds 00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.640 and our lives. 00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.560 Christianity 00:26:59.560 --> 00:27:00.140 does not just 00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:01.320 change the periphery 00:27:01.320 --> 00:27:01.920 of our lives, 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.540 it changes 00:27:02.540 --> 00:27:03.140 the center. 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.080 This is what we 00:27:04.080 --> 00:27:04.560 talked about 00:27:04.560 --> 00:27:05.480 a few weeks ago. 00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:06.200 It is not an 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:07.300 accessory commitment, 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:08.600 it is a keystone 00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:09.040 commitment. 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.860 It is something 00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:11.400 that comes 00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:12.320 and changes 00:27:12.320 --> 00:27:13.620 everything. 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.480 It changes 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.280 our values 00:27:16.280 --> 00:27:17.280 and our beliefs 00:27:17.280 --> 00:27:18.340 and our lives. 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:23.380 And so this passage 00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:23.920 tells us 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.520 that when Jesus 00:27:24.520 --> 00:27:25.000 comes, 00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:25.540 he gives 00:27:25.540 --> 00:27:26.360 all of us 00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:28.220 a radical 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:29.160 change. 00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:29.200 change. 00:27:30.800 --> 00:27:31.860 You may not 00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:32.500 be possessed 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.320 by a demon. 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.340 And in fact, 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.080 I hope you're not. 00:27:37.820 --> 00:27:39.279 And if you are 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:39.779 a Christian, 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.880 your transformation 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:43.019 is no less 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.940 miraculous. 00:27:47.040 --> 00:27:48.460 Jesus has taken 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.259 you from 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.320 spiritual death 00:27:50.320 --> 00:27:51.700 to spiritual life 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.700 by the power 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.660 of his word. 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:56.240 the change 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.700 that Jesus 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.500 brings in 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.080 your life 00:27:58.080 --> 00:27:58.860 may seem 00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.820 more mundane 00:27:59.820 --> 00:28:00.900 from a worldly 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:01.580 perspective. 00:28:02.300 --> 00:28:03.140 It is no 00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:03.880 less radical. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.560 It is no 00:28:06.560 --> 00:28:07.519 less powerful 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.080 than what we 00:28:08.080 --> 00:28:08.779 see here. 00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:11.540 And if you're 00:28:11.540 --> 00:28:11.960 a Christian, 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.420 you have had 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.160 this sort of 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.759 interaction 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.500 with Jesus 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.340 whether you 00:28:16.340 --> 00:28:17.200 realize it 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:17.759 or not, 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:18.820 whether you 00:28:18.820 --> 00:28:19.519 admit it 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.320 or not. 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:22.740 it is a 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.139 miracle 00:28:23.139 --> 00:28:23.799 to take 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.200 someone 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.019 from spiritual 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.519 death 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.639 to spiritual 00:28:26.639 --> 00:28:27.519 life. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.539 Jesus 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.240 sets this 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.939 man free 00:28:30.939 --> 00:28:31.799 from bondage 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:33.339 that is 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.299 no less 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.419 true of you 00:28:35.419 --> 00:28:36.679 if you're 00:28:36.679 --> 00:28:37.139 in him. 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.879 Jesus 00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.879 has also 00:28:40.879 --> 00:28:42.679 made you 00:28:42.679 --> 00:28:43.359 clothed 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:43.819 and in your 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.379 right mind. 00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:47.500 Jesus 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.279 and only 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:48.659 Jesus 00:28:48.659 --> 00:28:49.599 is the 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.059 one who 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:50.440 has the 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:50.799 power 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.599 to do 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:51.879 that. 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.200 So how 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:57.399 do we 00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:57.899 respond to 00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:58.079 him? 00:28:59.119 --> 00:28:59.839 Just like 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.200 we've seen 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.659 before, 00:29:00.919 --> 00:29:01.519 we have 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.099 some positive 00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:02.679 examples 00:29:02.679 --> 00:29:03.839 and some 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.159 negative 00:29:04.159 --> 00:29:04.720 examples. 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.639 Our negative 00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.460 example here 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:06.919 are the 00:29:06.919 --> 00:29:07.319 locals 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:07.879 who in 00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.720 verse 17 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:10.440 after seeing 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:10.799 Jesus' 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.359 power, 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.119 his ability 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:12.679 to cast 00:29:12.679 --> 00:29:13.179 out evil 00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:13.579 in this 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.000 world, 00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:15.519 ask him 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.119 to live 00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.740 among them 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.500 for years 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.319 and transform 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.019 them as 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.419 well. 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:21.679 or not. 00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.440 Verse 17, 00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.339 they are 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:25.319 desperate for 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:26.039 Jesus to 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.539 leave. 00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.220 Why? 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.579 Well, 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:30.919 Jesus 00:29:30.919 --> 00:29:32.720 has severely 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:34.359 disrupted 00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:35.919 the bacon 00:29:35.919 --> 00:29:36.700 industry 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.659 in the 00:29:37.659 --> 00:29:38.099 country 00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:38.740 of the 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.319 Gerasenes. 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:39.379 God 00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:40.000 has 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.319 done. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:41.319 It's 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:43.439 time for 00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:44.179 Jesus to 00:29:44.179 --> 00:29:44.639 leave 00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:45.079 before 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:46.299 things 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:47.220 get worse. 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.000 That is 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.839 all these 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.299 people are 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:50.700 able to 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:50.859 see. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.179 They have 00:29:51.179 --> 00:29:51.359 this 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:51.899 extremely 00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:52.619 narrow 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:53.639 field 00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:54.579 of vision. 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:54.960 They can 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.679 only see 00:29:55.679 --> 00:29:55.939 what's 00:29:55.939 --> 00:29:56.279 right in 00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:56.599 front of 00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:56.779 them. 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:58.720 This is 00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.319 what C.S. 00:29:59.359 --> 00:29:59.939 Lewis talks 00:29:59.939 --> 00:30:00.439 about in 00:30:00.439 --> 00:30:00.799 The Weight 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.339 of Glory. 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:02.419 He says, 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:02.660 It would 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.060 seem 00:30:03.060 --> 00:30:03.940 that our 00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:04.640 Lord finds 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.259 our desires 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.759 not too 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.340 strong but 00:30:06.340 --> 00:30:06.900 too weak. 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:07.900 We are 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.519 half-hearted 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:10.279 creatures fooling 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:10.820 about with 00:30:10.820 --> 00:30:11.460 drink and 00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.100 sex and 00:30:12.100 --> 00:30:13.320 ambition when 00:30:13.320 --> 00:30:14.400 infinite joy is 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:15.100 offered us. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.180 Like an 00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:17.200 ignorant child who 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:17.980 wants to go on 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:19.259 making mud pies in 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.920 a slum because 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.900 he cannot imagine 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:22.660 what is meant by 00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:23.539 the offer of a 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.380 holiday at the 00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:24.640 sea. 00:30:25.300 --> 00:30:26.620 We are far 00:30:26.620 --> 00:30:27.640 too easily 00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:28.680 pleased. 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:31.259 These folks 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.200 want to go on 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.279 making mud pies 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.420 in a slum 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:35.759 because that's 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.240 all they can 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:36.539 see. 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.340 They don't 00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:39.120 realize that 00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:40.120 Jesus' power is 00:30:40.120 --> 00:30:40.799 showing them that 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:42.120 he's the one who 00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:43.039 can actually bring 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:43.980 a holiday at the 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.240 sea. 00:30:44.580 --> 00:30:45.279 They have let 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:46.580 proximate things 00:30:46.580 --> 00:30:47.420 eclipse ultimate 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:47.799 things. 00:30:47.900 --> 00:30:48.460 They have let 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.360 good things 00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:50.500 replace the 00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.160 best things. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.480 And so they 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:53.920 miss out. 00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:56.180 Jesus to them 00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:56.759 is merely 00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:58.220 an inconvenience. 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.360 Jesus gets in 00:31:00.360 --> 00:31:01.680 the way of 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:02.440 what they want 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.840 most right 00:31:03.840 --> 00:31:04.120 now. 00:31:06.060 --> 00:31:06.940 The man on the 00:31:06.940 --> 00:31:07.779 other hand gives 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:09.140 us a positive 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.980 example and not 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.620 just a positive 00:31:10.620 --> 00:31:11.060 example. 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.840 He goes above 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:14.000 and beyond. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.539 Jesus tells him 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:17.480 verse 19 he's 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:18.140 supposed to go 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.120 home and tell 00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:20.420 his friends how 00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:21.340 much the Lord has 00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:22.220 done for you and 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:22.720 how he's had 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.380 mercy on you. 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:24.779 And so we would 00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.880 expect if he's good 00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:26.560 and obedient he 00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:27.279 would go home. 00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.240 He'd tell his 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.500 friends how much 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:29.920 the Lord had 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.519 done for him, 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:31.220 how much mercy 00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:31.960 he had on him. 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.319 Except he 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:34.200 doesn't do that. 00:31:35.620 --> 00:31:36.680 19 home and 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.039 friends. 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.339 Verse 20 he 00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.019 goes throughout 00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.779 the entire 00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:40.440 Decapolis. 00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.259 Decapolis is a 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.500 term deca ten 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.160 polis city. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:43.940 He goes 00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:44.359 throughout the 00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:45.440 entire ten 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:47.079 city region on 00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:48.079 a tour to 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:48.920 explain to 00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:49.640 people in these 00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.599 ten cities how 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.359 much Jesus has 00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.039 done for him. 00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:53.019 It is not 00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.819 enough for this 00:31:53.819 --> 00:31:54.579 man to simply 00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:55.400 go home and 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:56.420 share with a 00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:56.880 few of his 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.640 friends how 00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:58.320 good Jesus 00:31:58.320 --> 00:31:58.720 is. 00:31:58.800 --> 00:31:59.700 No, he is 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.340 preparing the 00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:01.060 way for Jesus 00:32:01.060 --> 00:32:01.680 later in the 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:02.420 gospel of Mark 00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:03.600 by going around 00:32:03.600 --> 00:32:04.560 to ten different 00:32:04.560 --> 00:32:05.640 cities spreading 00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.279 the word to 00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:06.860 everyone he 00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.460 meets about 00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:08.240 Jesus' goodness 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.019 and mercy and 00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:09.380 grace. 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.360 Reminds us of 00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:12.240 Jesus' words that 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:12.940 he who has been 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.759 forgiven little 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.400 loves little. 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.560 He who has been 00:32:15.560 --> 00:32:16.400 forgiven much 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:17.320 loves much. 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:19.400 This man has 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.700 been so affected 00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:21.660 and transformed 00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:23.080 by Jesus' love 00:32:23.080 --> 00:32:24.060 and power in 00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:24.940 his life that 00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.960 he can't help 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:27.019 himself from 00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.700 going around 00:32:27.700 --> 00:32:28.259 and telling 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.460 everyone how 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.519 good Jesus 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.339 is. 00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.919 Where were 00:32:36.919 --> 00:32:37.899 you when 00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:38.599 Jesus found 00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:38.819 you? 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:44.519 If we have 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.720 good news of 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.539 transformation 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:49.119 of Jesus in 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:49.859 our lives, we 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.720 have to remember 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.799 one of two 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:52.179 things. 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:53.240 Either where we 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:53.980 were when Jesus 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:54.680 found us. 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:57.039 Or if we can't 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:57.839 remember that, if 00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.579 you never knew a 00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.220 day when you 00:32:59.220 --> 00:32:59.880 weren't following 00:32:59.880 --> 00:33:00.940 after Jesus, ask 00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:02.259 this, where would 00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:03.900 you be without 00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:04.279 him? 00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:10.240 If you wonder 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:12.620 why you don't 00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:15.059 have more joy in 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.579 your spiritual 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:18.279 life, this is 00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:18.700 one of the 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.099 answers. 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.620 Joy comes 00:33:21.620 --> 00:33:22.819 through repentance, 00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:24.720 joy comes as 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.519 and when we 00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:26.819 recognize our 00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:27.299 need. 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.899 Joy comes when 00:33:28.899 --> 00:33:30.000 we realize how 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.200 bad things were 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:32.240 without Jesus and 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.240 how far he's 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:34.299 taken us and 00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:35.139 transformed us. 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:37.139 Joy comes when 00:33:37.139 --> 00:33:38.599 we see how 00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:39.500 great and 00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.939 powerful God is 00:33:40.939 --> 00:33:41.899 in our lives. 00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:43.799 And so the 00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.839 application here is 00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:46.039 not to lay 00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.819 guilt on us and 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:48.759 say we must go 00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:49.839 and share like 00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:50.460 this man. 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:50.500 man. 00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:51.100 The application 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:52.200 is this, when 00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:54.319 we know and 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:55.059 see and 00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:56.500 understand how 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.480 much God has 00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.380 done for us, 00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:59.500 when we experience 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.400 the depth of his 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.340 transformation in 00:34:01.340 --> 00:34:02.319 our lives, we 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.319 will have no 00:34:03.319 --> 00:34:05.220 choice but to 00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:06.200 share what he 00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.700 has done. 00:34:08.280 --> 00:34:09.340 I doubt that 00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.820 this man went 00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:11.880 home and had to 00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:13.240 psych himself up 00:34:13.240 --> 00:34:14.179 to go out to the 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:14.740 ten cities. 00:34:14.739 --> 00:34:14.819 strategies. 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.699 I doubt that he 00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:17.559 had to read a 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:18.099 book about 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.319 evangelistic strategies 00:34:19.319 --> 00:34:19.899 so that he could 00:34:19.899 --> 00:34:21.039 convict himself to 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:21.739 go out and share 00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:22.339 about Jesus. 00:34:23.299 --> 00:34:24.879 No, his life 00:34:24.879 --> 00:34:26.119 transformation was 00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:27.399 so joyful and 00:34:27.399 --> 00:34:28.179 radical and 00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:29.519 complete that there 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.459 was no other 00:34:30.459 --> 00:34:31.979 option for him. 00:34:34.139 --> 00:34:34.959 Brothers and 00:34:34.959 --> 00:34:35.819 sisters, the same 00:34:35.819 --> 00:34:37.039 is true for us. 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:38.699 We must understand 00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:40.199 how much God has 00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:41.299 changed us in 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:41.699 Christ. 00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:43.159 we must know 00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:44.599 that his love and 00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:45.119 joy and 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.039 transformation, his 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:47.099 power over evil 00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:47.960 and demonic forces 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:49.079 has come and is 00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:50.159 true for us as 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:50.460 well. 00:34:50.759 --> 00:34:51.659 If you have lived 00:34:51.659 --> 00:34:52.460 as a Christian 00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:54.019 your entire life, 00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:55.399 it is easy to 00:34:55.399 --> 00:34:57.319 forget where you 00:34:57.319 --> 00:34:58.079 would be without 00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:58.339 him. 00:34:59.939 --> 00:35:00.879 And Jesus' 00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.659 power, his 00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:02.579 transformation are 00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:04.279 no less real and 00:35:04.279 --> 00:35:05.859 no less miraculous 00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:06.659 for you. 00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:09.659 Jesus has changed 00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:11.000 your life. 00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:15.039 we see Jesus' 00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:16.779 power over evil 00:35:16.779 --> 00:35:18.799 ultimately in his 00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:20.039 death and his 00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:20.559 resurrection. 00:35:21.279 --> 00:35:22.359 Because it's in 00:35:22.359 --> 00:35:23.339 Jesus' death and his 00:35:23.339 --> 00:35:24.259 resurrection that he 00:35:24.259 --> 00:35:25.299 puts the greatest 00:35:25.299 --> 00:35:26.939 form of evil to 00:35:26.939 --> 00:35:27.259 death. 00:35:27.319 --> 00:35:28.779 He puts death to 00:35:28.779 --> 00:35:29.159 death. 00:35:30.279 --> 00:35:30.939 That's what 1 00:35:30.939 --> 00:35:32.239 Corinthians chapter 15 00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:33.179 tells us. 00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:34.079 For as by a man 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:35.119 came death, by a 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:36.500 man has come also 00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.460 the resurrection of 00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:37.879 the dead. 00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.379 For as in Adam 00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:41.460 all die, so also 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:43.140 in Christ shall all 00:35:43.140 --> 00:35:44.119 be made alive. 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:46.519 For he must reign 00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:47.860 until he has put all 00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:48.860 his enemies under 00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:49.440 his feet. 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.640 The last enemy to be 00:35:51.640 --> 00:35:53.400 destroyed is death. 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:56.760 Who is Jesus? 00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:59.320 Jesus is the one who 00:35:59.320 --> 00:36:00.800 has power over evil. 00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:04.200 And so, Jesus is the 00:36:04.200 --> 00:36:05.580 one who frees and 00:36:05.580 --> 00:36:07.660 restores you and 00:36:07.660 --> 00:36:07.860 me. 00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:11.180 How do we respond to 00:36:11.180 --> 00:36:11.360 him? 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:14.300 We know what Jesus 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:15.560 has done for us 00:36:15.560 --> 00:36:19.680 so that we can share 00:36:19.680 --> 00:36:21.720 what Jesus has done 00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:22.640 for us. 00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:28.019 Verse 15. 00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:30.500 And they came to 00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:31.280 Jesus and saw the 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.239 demon-possessed man, 00:36:32.739 --> 00:36:33.559 the one who had had 00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:34.380 the legion sitting 00:36:34.380 --> 00:36:36.360 there, clothed, and 00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:38.000 in his right mind. 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.280 Let's pray. 00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:41.679 Our Father in 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:43.099 heaven, we praise you 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:44.460 and thank you again 00:36:44.460 --> 00:36:47.119 for the reminder from 00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:48.340 your word of your 00:36:48.340 --> 00:36:49.360 power, and not just 00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.219 your power, but also 00:36:50.219 --> 00:36:50.900 your compassion. 00:36:51.219 --> 00:36:52.139 We thank you that you 00:36:52.139 --> 00:36:53.599 use your power to set 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.159 us free. 00:36:54.759 --> 00:36:55.619 We ask that you would 00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:58.039 remind us this week of 00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:59.039 the glory and the 00:36:59.039 --> 00:36:59.679 grace of your 00:36:59.679 --> 00:37:00.859 transformation in our 00:37:00.859 --> 00:37:02.539 lives, that we would 00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:04.359 be filled with the joy 00:37:04.359 --> 00:37:05.400 that comes from that 00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:06.199 knowledge, and we would 00:37:06.199 --> 00:37:07.519 share it with those 00:37:07.519 --> 00:37:08.059 around us. 00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:09.440 We ask these things in 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:10.159 the mighty name of 00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:10.819 Jesus Christ. 00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:11.319 Amen.