WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.440 This area was primarily a Gentile area, and the Jews that did happen to live in that area would 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:14.040 have been very much influenced by the Hellenist culture, the Greek culture that was there as well. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:21.339 And this is significant because the Jews believe that the Messiah was a rescuer that belonged only 00:00:21.339 --> 00:00:30.880 to them. But Jesus confronts this misconception by intentionally going to a Gentile area, 00:00:31.439 --> 00:00:37.899 by intentionally performing a miracle in the life of a man who likely was not a Jew. 00:00:38.760 --> 00:00:43.280 And everything that takes place in this story has nothing to do with Judaism. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:51.219 And so, as the Bible makes clear, Jesus came to save sinners from all nations, 00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:59.460 from all peoples, from all languages, from all tongues, and his ministry made this abundantly clear. 00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:09.359 So then we're reminded that our race, our nationality, our ethnicity is entirely irrelevant 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:16.480 when it comes to our eternity. Who you are and your background and how you have been raised 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:24.359 does not make you any more worthy or any less worthy of salvation. We are all equally unworthy. 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:32.300 And Jesus is equally gracious to all types of people from all types of places. And this is of 00:01:32.300 --> 00:01:39.240 great encouragement to us, isn't it? Because if it's true that Jesus is a Messiah only for the Jews, 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:47.479 then none of us are included. Not one of us. And so we rejoice in these instances. We rejoice in these 00:01:47.479 --> 00:01:53.919 moments because we can reflect our own eternity as being drastically changed because of the grace of 00:01:53.919 --> 00:02:00.859 God that extends far beyond country boundaries. It extends far beyond languages. It extends far beyond 00:02:00.859 --> 00:02:05.939 ethnicity. And then we get to verse 2. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, 00:02:05.939 --> 00:02:12.319 immediately there met him out of the tombs, a man with an unclean spirit. And this is the verse that 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:18.240 sets the scene for us. Now you got to think at this point, the disciples are beginning to learn, 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:25.800 if they haven't figured it out already, that life with Jesus is never boring. And it's not, is it? 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:35.180 When you have a life that is committed to following Christ, it is never boring. The day before this was just 00:02:35.180 --> 00:02:42.240 a completely exhausting day. And then they go through this storm that was just unbelievable and unforgettable. 00:02:42.540 --> 00:02:48.240 And they finally make it to the other side. No doubt the place where they dock the boat is probably 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:55.620 a little bit secluded from many people. And perhaps they're even thinking that they're going to have a 00:02:55.620 --> 00:03:04.200 moment to rest. But as soon as they dock the boat, a demoniac, unlike anyone that they had seen up to 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:08.259 this point in their ministry, probably unlike anyone that they would ever see again, 00:03:09.539 --> 00:03:17.619 sets out in an all-out sprint to come after their master teacher. But then we see that this man's 00:03:17.619 --> 00:03:23.139 condition parallels actually here the severity of the storm that they had just gone through. 00:03:24.039 --> 00:03:31.639 But just as Jesus calmed the storm on the sea, so would Jesus calm the storm that was raging in this 00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:38.379 man's soul. And it becomes an amazing thing for us to study. We quickly learn that Jesus not only has 00:03:38.379 --> 00:03:45.339 power over nature, but he also has power over the forces of evil. And so I think it will be helpful 00:03:45.339 --> 00:03:53.199 for us as we dissect this group of verses to look at it mainly through the lens of the characters that 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:58.299 are involved. Four of them is what I have gathered in. We're going to see the miracle working of Jesus 00:03:58.300 --> 00:04:03.700 interwoven throughout the whole thing. We're going to see the hopeless man. We're going to see the 00:04:03.700 --> 00:04:10.200 warring demons. We're going to see the wicked citizens. And then we're going to see our divine 00:04:10.200 --> 00:04:14.700 savior. Okay. I know you're not believing that we're going to get through all 20, but I promise we are. 00:04:14.760 --> 00:04:20.560 Okay. Here's the first one. If you're keeping notes, let's look at the hopeless man, the hopeless man. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:27.000 Mark here gives us a description of this man that comes after Jesus and his disciples. And the first 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:33.920 thing that he tells us in verse three is that he lived among the tombs. So he reveals to us in verse 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:41.079 two, that this man is possessed with an unclean spirit, but now he begins to divulge more of what 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:48.319 the actual severity of this man's condition was. Now, this isn't the first time that we've seen 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:54.600 an instance of Jesus being confronted with someone who was demon possessed. We've seen that actually 00:04:54.600 --> 00:05:00.600 several times in Mark's gospel already, but we've not seen anything like this. This is the first time 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:06.160 that we've seen such a severe case of demonic possession. And it's the first time that we've seen 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:13.000 one of these individuals that was actually living as an outcast from the community. So think back to 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:17.900 chapter one. You remember in the very first chapter, Jesus goes into the synagogue, probably in Capernaum, 00:05:18.020 --> 00:05:22.320 and he begins to preach and the people are overwhelmed by the authority and power of his teaching. 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:30.099 But then remember in the synagogue, all of a sudden in the midst of the service, in the midst of Jesus's 00:05:30.099 --> 00:05:35.279 teaching, a demon reveals himself to be possessing a man that is there. Well, that's a completely 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:43.399 different scenario than this. Both men possessed by demons, one of them living perfectly normal life, 00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:50.259 as it seems in the community. He's seated, some seems to be normally in the midst of the synagogue. 00:05:50.259 --> 00:05:56.539 No one seems to be wondering why he's there, or no one seems to be wondering or concerned about his 00:05:56.539 --> 00:06:02.339 presence there. But at some point during the message, the demon cannot help but reveal himself 00:06:02.339 --> 00:06:08.480 that he has taken over this man's life and Jesus cast him out. And I think that's mostly how we see 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:16.099 demonic power work. It's not always through the demoniac's experience. In fact, I think mostly 00:06:16.100 --> 00:06:24.660 it's not. We actually see the evil forces of this world working in a much more subtle way, much like 00:06:24.660 --> 00:06:29.740 we saw in chapter one. But this man's experience is not so much like the other demon-possessed people 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:36.360 we've seen. It's actually more like the leprous man that we see in chapter one. He's cut off from 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:44.420 the community. And then he says, Mark, that his first note is that he lived among the caves, 00:06:45.100 --> 00:06:51.600 the caves that were for burying the dead. And this becomes a powerful picture of the man's condition. 00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:58.699 He was like the living dead, much like the leprous man. Though he had breath in his lungs, 00:06:58.699 --> 00:07:05.219 he was at home among the dead rather than the living. Now remember that. We're going to come 00:07:05.219 --> 00:07:10.339 back to it here in just a moment. But look with me at the rest of verse three. No one could bind 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:16.240 him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:23.819 wrenched the chains apart and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 00:07:23.819 --> 00:07:30.259 And so Mark tells us he's possessed with an unclean spirit. He lives among the dead. He lives among the 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:37.379 tombs. It's very unnatural, a very unnatural way to live. And now we find out that not only could he not 00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:45.060 help himself, no one else could help him either. The people of the town seem to treat him like someone 00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:50.319 with a severe mental illness. And of course they would. Just like we would take someone in this 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:57.099 condition and try to restrain them in a straitjacket time and time again, the people of the town try to 00:07:57.099 --> 00:08:04.279 subdue the man and restrain the man with chains and shackles and fetters. Anything that they could do 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:11.480 to protect the man from himself and also to protect the community at large from the man's wild behavior. 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:17.639 I suppose that if they weren't actually concerned about the man's welfare, they at some point would 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:23.259 have just taken his life. But they didn't do that. Just time and time again, they continued to try to tie 00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:29.079 him up. They continued to chain him up. But every time this supernatural strength was afforded to him 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:34.480 through the power of the demons within him, and he broke the shackles, and he broke the chains, and he 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:43.539 continued on in this life. This life of destruction. Not only to himself, but also to the community. He 00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:48.799 couldn't help himself. No one else could help him either. Again, that's important. We're going to come 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:54.980 back to it in just a moment. Look at verse 5. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was 00:08:54.980 --> 00:09:05.599 always crying out and cutting himself with stones. It's the picture of a man who was utterly tormented 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:18.320 by the demons that possessed him. 24-7, he roams the graves. He runs the mountains. And in that time, 00:09:18.379 --> 00:09:27.879 he continues to cry out, to shriek. He grabs jagged rocks, and he cuts the flesh on his body, doing 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:35.080 anything that he can to free himself from the torment. Anything that he can to perhaps even take his own 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:44.500 life, but it was always to no avail. This type of self-mutilation, and nakedness, and unintelligible 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:54.600 language, and screaming is always, always, always tied to demonic power and influence in the scriptures. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:10:03.140 Always. And we look at instances like this, and we say, okay, maybe not every person that does things 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:09.039 like this is actually possessed by a demon, but they are certainly influenced by the demonic forces of 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:19.080 this world. Kent Hughes described the man this way. This poor, naked man was a mass of bleeding 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:29.919 lacerations, scabs, infections, and scar tissue, living in a delirium of pain and masochistic pleasure. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:34.519 And then Kent Hughes brings out this note, which I think is interesting to consider. 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:44.579 In his lucid moments, he surely realized how repulsive and unloved and unwelcome he was. Now imagine that. 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:52.199 Perhaps there were moments where the demons allowed him to have some lucid thoughts just long enough to 00:10:52.199 --> 00:10:59.319 torment him further about the reality of his own condition. When he's under their control, perhaps he 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:04.820 doesn't realize exactly how bad it is, but perhaps from time to time they would let him see exactly how 00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:12.780 bad it is, to see how unwelcome he was, to see how pathetic he was, how wretched he was. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:20.160 And we may be tempted to pity this man without feeling like we can actually relate to his plight, 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:29.439 but this man's life is a vivid illustration of the reality of the human condition. 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:42.100 This man's life is an extreme picture of you and me. We may not experience the extremes of demon 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:50.139 possession, but our sinful nature puts us in just as hopeless of a situation as this man's life. 00:11:50.139 --> 00:12:00.319 Without Christ, we're dead in our sins. In our sinful state, we are unknowingly influenced by and 00:12:00.319 --> 00:12:07.600 following Satan and his evil plan. Consider Ephesians 2. And you were dead in your trespasses 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:14.659 and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:22.879 power of the air and the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:31.219 lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of our body and the mind, and were by nature 00:12:31.219 --> 00:12:39.779 children of wrath like the rest of mankind. What's Paul getting at there? You may not be the demoniac 00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:46.819 with 2,000 demons, but your situation is just as hopeless. You're just as dead. You're just as dead. 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:49.659 You're just as helpless. 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:58.019 Like the man, we can't help ourselves. There's nothing you can do to fix your condition. 00:12:58.019 --> 00:13:01.340 No one else can help you either. 00:13:03.819 --> 00:13:09.259 No one can provide anything that's lasting and eternal for you. We're hopeless. 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:13.559 Our guilt torments us. 00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:18.299 We do everything we possibly can to free ourselves from that guilt. 00:13:18.299 --> 00:13:23.419 Even at our own expense, we will try to find some sort of relief. 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:28.139 We drown ourselves in substances that numb our pain. 00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:37.719 We attempt to ignore the demons in our life by filling and distracting our lives with entertainment 00:13:37.719 --> 00:13:43.319 or with other things, not bad things, just anything to get our mind off of our real condition. 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:45.920 But it never works. It never works. 00:13:47.920 --> 00:13:54.220 Feed our flesh with all kinds of immorality as we try to find some kind of satisfaction in this life, 00:13:54.300 --> 00:13:56.500 and we just can't find it. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.200 Other people try to help us, don't they? 00:14:00.420 --> 00:14:04.320 Just like other people tried to help this man, and they try to offer encouraging solutions 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:08.320 that may somehow bind our self-destructive behavior. 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:11.420 But nothing ever really truly works. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:13.100 The pain is still there. 00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:15.020 The guilt is still there. 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:18.340 The torment is still there, no matter what we do. 00:14:19.660 --> 00:14:24.500 We're at home among the dead more than the living. 00:14:26.140 --> 00:14:27.640 The man's situation is hopeless. 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:29.520 So is ours. 00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:31.860 That brings us to the next category here. 00:14:31.920 --> 00:14:33.220 That's the warring demons. 00:14:33.660 --> 00:14:34.540 The warring demons. 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:38.500 The man's condition is not only due to his sinful nature, 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:43.199 but there is a spiritual battle that's raging within him. 00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:50.419 The extreme nature of his behavior is due to spiritual forces at work in his body and in his soul. 00:14:50.959 --> 00:14:56.500 Many people balk at the idea of a spiritual world that we cannot see and comprehend. 00:14:57.299 --> 00:14:58.699 But the Bible is clear. 00:14:59.579 --> 00:15:01.480 Satan is very real. 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:09.000 He has an army of demons that are at work in the world to destroy everything that brings glory to God. 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:11.519 It's a spiritual war. 00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:15.000 And it's a war that is raging around us. 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:19.360 And many times it's a war that is raging within us. 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:23.340 And so I want you to notice for just a moment, we won't spend a ton of time here, 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:30.240 but notice for just a moment what the Bible says as the attention is focused in on these demons. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.899 Look with me at verse 6. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:38.120 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:41.560 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:45.899 What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High? 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.460 I adjure you by God. 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:49.919 Do not torment me. 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:52.620 For Jesus was saying to him, 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:55.659 Come out of the man, you unclean spirit. 00:15:55.659 --> 00:16:01.079 So as the man began to shriek and to run toward Jesus, 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:04.579 Jesus rebuked the demons that had possessed him. 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:12.539 It's always interesting to see the reaction that the evil spirits have to the presence of Jesus. 00:16:14.219 --> 00:16:16.480 Though rebelling against Christ, 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:20.519 they are in full acknowledgement of the truth of Christ. 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:23.699 Notice what Mark just said. 00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:25.799 This man runs to Jesus. 00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:27.340 And what does he do when he gets to Jesus? 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:30.539 He falls on his face before him. 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:35.439 The word here is the word that we use for praise or worship. 00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:37.360 Proskuneo is the word. 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:39.579 It's a verb for praise and for worship. 00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:41.740 And clearly the demons aren't worshiping Jesus. 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:44.659 This is a recognition of inferiority. 00:16:44.659 --> 00:16:48.079 They know the truth of who this man is. 00:16:48.699 --> 00:16:51.019 And then they verbalize that by saying, 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.779 What have we to do with you? 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:55.059 What are you to have to do with us? 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:58.860 Jesus, Son of the Most High. 00:16:59.579 --> 00:17:01.699 They knew exactly who Jesus was. 00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:03.620 There was no denial of that. 00:17:03.719 --> 00:17:07.379 And there's no one else around for these demons to try to influence 00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:09.480 and to point in a weird direction. 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:15.579 This is the reaction of evil forces that know the truth of who Christ is. 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:18.120 And they cause this man to fall on his face. 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:20.860 And they say, What do you have to do with us? 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:24.640 Do not torment us, please. 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:26.160 They cried for mercy. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:30.860 Which is interesting because mercy is the thing that they lacked 00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:34.099 in giving to this poor man that they had just possessed. 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:37.440 They tormented him day and night. 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:40.360 And yet they run to Jesus and what is it that they asked for? 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.140 Mercy. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.740 Don't torment us. 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:45.519 Which tells us something else about their knowledge. 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:47.180 They know their fate. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:49.320 They know their fate. 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:54.559 I think it's Matthew's account adds in the statement that 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:56.759 not only did they say do not torment us, 00:17:56.820 --> 00:17:58.160 but they asked Jesus a question. 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:02.480 Are you here to torment us before the time, Matthew writes. 00:18:03.080 --> 00:18:04.059 Before what time? 00:18:04.840 --> 00:18:06.779 Before the time that they know is coming. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:10.440 When they will be cast into eternal hell. 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:16.480 The recognition of Jesus' deity led them to cry out for mercy. 00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:16.860 Why? 00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:21.920 Because they know that Jesus has power over them. 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:25.420 He is in control of their fate. 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:31.240 And it's another reminder that intellectual ascent is not what the Bible means 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:34.100 when it says that we need to have saving faith. 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:36.779 It doesn't just mean acknowledging what is true. 00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:39.560 Because the demons do that very thing. 00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:42.240 James tells us that in James chapter 2. 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:44.019 You believe that God is one? 00:18:44.560 --> 00:18:45.380 You do well. 00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:47.519 But even the demons believe. 00:18:48.060 --> 00:18:49.800 And they shudder, he says. 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:53.039 It's not a matter of intellectual ascent. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:58.720 It is surrender, repentance, and faith to follow Christ. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.740 Look at verse 9. 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:03.299 And Jesus asked him, what is your name? 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:09.799 And they replied through the man, my name is Legion, for we are many. 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:14.019 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:17.200 Legion is not a name. 00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:19.220 It's actually a military term. 00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:22.519 A legion is maybe you're familiar if you've studied the story much. 00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:25.919 A legion was the largest unit of soldiers in the Roman army. 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:34.399 It could have up to about 6,000 soldiers and horsemen and footmen together in this one unit. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:42.000 And when Jesus asked the man his name, the demons respond through him by saying that their name is Legion. 00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:49.860 And this statement is often used to describe how many demons possessed the man at once. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:56.640 And there is no doubt that there were many, many devils that were tormenting this man. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:02.480 But I don't think that the point here in this name is to insinuate how many there was. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:05.160 I think it was a declaration of war. 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:10.519 These demons were saying that they are an army. 00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:15.940 An army that is there to war against Christ and his work. 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:18.299 It's a declaration of war. 00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.819 And it's a fitting name. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:23.900 Because war is exactly what Satan is engaged in against God. 00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:36.259 But what exactly is the goal if we've already said that these demons understand their inferiority and they understand their defeat? 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.840 They know that victory is impossible. 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.920 So what's the point in fighting? 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:46.860 Well, their goal is to destroy the image of God. 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:50.019 The image of God in creation. 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:53.559 Especially the image of God in mankind. 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.819 All the way back to the garden. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.419 That was the point. 00:20:58.919 --> 00:21:02.919 It was never about winning a war because they know they'll lose. 00:21:04.699 --> 00:21:13.059 It's just about destroying everything that they can that points to God and his glory and his work. 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:16.039 Now think about what they had done to this man. 00:21:16.659 --> 00:21:18.460 He's not described as a man. 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:22.099 He's described as a ferocious animal. 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:34.179 They'd attempted to strip away every bit of humanity out of this man that was intended at creation to reflect the glory of God. 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:36.500 And that's exactly what sin does. 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:40.660 It mars the glory of the image of God in man. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:46.460 And that is the image that these evil spirits absolutely hate. 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:53.160 Though it's a war they know they will lose, they will continue to fight against God until he brings his final judgment. 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.339 That's just the reality. 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.980 Look at verse 11. 00:21:56.980 --> 00:22:04.519 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside and they begged him saying, send us to the pigs. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:06.940 Let us enter them. 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:14.140 Which is just another instance of them recognizing that their fate is totally in the control of Jesus the creator. 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:17.120 And so Jesus gave them permission. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:28.239 And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs and the herd numbering about 2,000 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:39.479 Now just as Jesus demonstrated his power over nature in calming the storm, he demonstrates his power over the demons by delivering this man from their control. 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:43.519 And he does it in a most unusual way. 00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:47.120 Jesus wasn't the one that pointed out the pigs. 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:47.860 It was the demons. 00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:50.079 They said there's some pigs over there. 00:22:50.360 --> 00:22:52.000 Mark tells us there's about 2,000. 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:53.680 Let us go into them. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.559 And Jesus gives them permission. 00:22:56.140 --> 00:23:01.220 And immediately the demons possess the pigs and they do what they always do. 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:03.700 They destroy what they inhabit. 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:06.180 The pigs run down the steep hill. 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:10.420 Well, they run themselves into the lake and they drowned. 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.360 Massive loss. 00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:15.640 To whoever it was that was controlling the herd. 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.880 Whoever it was that was responsible for this business. 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.600 Massive loss. 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:21.400 And there's a lot of questions about this. 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.840 Unusual questions to be honest with you. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:28.279 And maybe it's just because I'm not a big animal person. 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:36.819 But one philosopher actually used this as an example of why he refused to be a Christian. 00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:43.759 It wasn't that he wanted to focus in on Jesus' power in delivering the man. 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:48.960 It's that he couldn't bear to see Jesus allow such loss when it came to the lives of the pigs. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:59.000 To Jesus, the salvation of one person is more important than any amount of assets in this world. 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:08.440 Indeed, it was so important that he set aside his glory and he became a man in order to take on our sin. 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:14.440 The expelling of the demons into these pigs is symbolic, I think. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:16.940 I really do think that this is probably the reason it's there. 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:23.860 The pigs were unclean animals just like these fallen angels were unclean spirits. 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:32.299 And the pigs drowning in the lake is representative of the fact that the demons will one day be expelled into the lake of fire. 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:35.980 Revelation chapter 20 tells us this. 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:43.240 And the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were. 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:47.360 And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:50.860 Jesus mentions it in Matthew 25. 00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:54.819 We actually referenced this verse in our Good Friday service a couple of weeks ago. 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.860 Jesus was speaking about the coming judgment. 00:24:58.200 --> 00:25:02.180 Not necessarily the judgment of the evil spirits, but our judgment. 00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.860 The judgment of the unsaved. 00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:06.359 He says in Matthew 25, 00:25:06.659 --> 00:25:08.399 Then he will say to those on his left, 00:25:08.719 --> 00:25:10.979 Depart from me, you cursed, 00:25:11.719 --> 00:25:13.399 into eternal fire, 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:17.559 prepared for the devil and his angels. 00:25:18.719 --> 00:25:23.219 The fate of these demons is symbolized in what happens to these pigs. 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:28.539 They drowned in the lake just as the demons will one day find their fate, 00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:30.659 cast into the eternal lake of fire. 00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:37.779 But the warning that Jesus gives in Matthew 25 is that the fate that has been determined for the devil and his demons 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:44.680 and the devil and his angels is actually also the fate that is determined for those who will not follow Christ. 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:49.140 But Jesus has power over that. 00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:51.900 Because he's God. 00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:56.600 He had the power to deliver this man from the demons that possessed him. 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:59.019 And he has the power to defeat them in eternity. 00:25:59.340 --> 00:26:04.660 And he alone has the power to deliver you and me from their bondage as well. 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:06.480 Christ has the power. 00:26:07.340 --> 00:26:10.300 We can sit and be worried about the influence of the demons. 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:12.480 And we can be worried about the coming judgment. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:19.380 But there is grace and mercy in Jesus if we will but come to him and repent and believe. 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:23.480 So we see the hopeless man, the warring demons. 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:25.819 Thirdly, we see the wicked citizens. 00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:27.140 The wicked citizens. 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.240 Look with me at verse 14. 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:28.759 Can you believe it? 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:30.079 We're at verse 14 already. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:35.679 The herdsmen fled, told it in the city and in the country. 00:26:36.419 --> 00:26:39.059 And people came to see what it was that had happened. 00:26:39.179 --> 00:26:48.460 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had the legion, sitting there, clothed in his right mind. 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.480 And they were afraid. 00:26:51.919 --> 00:26:58.679 Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 00:26:58.680 --> 00:27:07.320 So these herdsmen, tending the pigs, were frightened by what had happened, just like we would be frightened by what had just happened. 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:10.200 They're probably worried they're going to lose their jobs. 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:12.799 If they were the business owners, they certainly had lost their business. 00:27:14.340 --> 00:27:21.759 But probably more than that, they're just afraid that all of a sudden this man had cast demons into their pigs and they had lost it all. 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:27.320 But the broadcasting of this event by these herdsmen doesn't seem to be one of excitement. 00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:29.919 It doesn't seem to be one of faith. 00:27:30.919 --> 00:27:33.899 It's fear and probably even a little bit of anger as well. 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:42.799 But the report that they gave caused enough of a stir that the people came from both the city and the country to see what it was that was going on. 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:45.559 To see this man that had done this thing. 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:56.480 And when they arrived, they found the man that they had so often tried to restrain behaving like a normal person. 00:27:58.440 --> 00:28:02.240 And this is the kind of change that only God can bring. 00:28:03.159 --> 00:28:04.119 Do you see it? 00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:06.259 Do you see why this is here for us? 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:10.179 Turn with me just quickly to 1 Corinthians 6. 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.700 Will you do that? 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:14.860 Maybe we'll just go to two places here and I think maybe it'll help us see this change. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.420 1 Corinthians 6. 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:21.380 And I want you to find with me verse 9. 00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:23.720 1 Corinthians 6. 00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:27.100 Verse 9. 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:30.799 Paul says, 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:50.099 That's an allusion to homosexuality. 00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:59.679 And then he says in verse 11, speaking to these believers, 00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:02.919 And such were some of you. 00:29:03.939 --> 00:29:05.659 But you are washed. 00:29:06.459 --> 00:29:07.779 You are sanctified. 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:14.459 You are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.859 What's Paul getting at there? 00:29:16.179 --> 00:29:17.359 All of these things. 00:29:17.439 --> 00:29:19.119 It's not an exhaustive list of sin. 00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:24.959 It's just a small example of what it takes to condemn us for all of eternity. 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:27.779 No sinner can inherit the kingdom of God. 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.599 And he says, 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:30.239 Such were some of you. 00:29:30.379 --> 00:29:32.359 Until Jesus came into the picture. 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:34.319 And now you are washed. 00:29:34.679 --> 00:29:36.039 Now you're sanctified. 00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:37.719 Now you're justified. 00:29:37.979 --> 00:29:39.339 Not because you took a bath. 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:43.219 But because Jesus in his grace has saved you. 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:45.159 And freed you from this bondage. 00:29:45.199 --> 00:29:46.699 And now when God sees you. 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:48.039 He doesn't see your sin. 00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:50.139 He sees the righteousness of Christ. 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:53.579 That's the change that is happening with this man. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:56.159 At one point he is possessed by these demons. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:58.399 Everything about his life is hopeless. 00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:00.519 But now everything has changed. 00:30:00.659 --> 00:30:02.740 That's not a change he could bring to himself. 00:30:02.899 --> 00:30:05.659 And it's not a change that anybody in the town could bring to him either. 00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:08.759 No amount of therapy could help this man. 00:30:09.060 --> 00:30:11.720 No amount of medication could help this man. 00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:13.820 He had only one hope. 00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:16.500 And that hope is Jesus Christ. 00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:18.920 And it's the same hope that we have. 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:21.180 Flip with me to Ephesians chapter 2. 00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:22.900 We read it just a few moments ago. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.880 The first couple of verses. 00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:25.200 But turn with me there. 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:28.000 And look at verse 4. 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.500 Actually let's start in verse 3. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.180 Ephesians chapter 2. 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:33.279 And verse 3. 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:38.799 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past. 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:40.740 In the lust of our flesh. 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:43.279 Fulfilling the desires of our flesh. 00:30:43.560 --> 00:30:45.340 And the desires of our mind. 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:49.019 And were by nature the children of wrath. 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:52.900 This man's life is a picture of what it is to be the. 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:55.240 To have the nature of the children of wrath. 00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:56.240 Even as others. 00:30:56.379 --> 00:30:57.379 But look at verse 4. 00:30:58.759 --> 00:31:02.079 But God who is rich in mercy. 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:05.920 For his great love wherewith he loved us. 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:08.180 Even when we were dead. 00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:12.139 Has made us alive together with Christ. 00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:15.960 This man's life is no different than your life. 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:19.940 His condition is no different than your condition. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.420 And my condition. 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:24.860 He has the outward signs in extreme way. 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:28.160 But we are all hopelessly dead in our sins. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:33.600 Unless Jesus Christ does a miracle of grace in our hearts. 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.620 And in our lives. 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.640 We are hopeless. 00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:38.220 And that's exactly what he did for this man. 00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:41.660 Because only Jesus can change a person's heart. 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:43.960 Only Jesus can do this. 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:46.559 And when the people came out from the city and the country. 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.680 What did they find? 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:49.860 They found the man that was once naked. 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:50.980 Clothed. 00:31:51.100 --> 00:31:53.559 The man that once roamed 24-7. 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:55.819 Shrieking in the tombs and in the countryside. 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:58.940 Sitting in his right mind. 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:02.559 Worshipping and learning from Jesus. 00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:06.420 And this is the wonderful truth of the gospel. 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:11.880 God takes sinners who are wretched and filthy with sin. 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:13.480 And he forgives them. 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.980 And he cleans them up. 00:32:15.080 --> 00:32:17.120 And he gives them eternal life. 00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:20.480 Jesus came to save sinners. 00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:25.360 And this man's story is proof that he can save you too. 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:29.160 No one is beyond his reach. 00:32:31.860 --> 00:32:33.740 Our sins they are many. 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:36.960 His mercy is more. 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:42.100 But only he can do the change. 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:45.180 Only Jesus can do the change. 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:50.160 Well I told you that this was about the wicked citizens. 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.400 And we haven't talked about them yet. 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:53.100 But we had to see what they saw. 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:55.539 But now look with me at verse 17. 00:32:55.539 --> 00:33:02.399 And they began to beg Jesus to stay and teach them. 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.619 And work miracles among them. 00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:08.039 And help them to understand the life that he came to provide. 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.200 No. 00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:17.420 They began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:19.559 How tragic. 00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:27.019 You would think that the restoration of this man's life would have brought rejoicing. 00:33:28.179 --> 00:33:32.379 But instead the people begged that Jesus would leave them alone. 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:37.700 His presence had cost them greatly in worldly goods. 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.980 At least the herdsmen. 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:44.480 And maybe the overall economy was going to be hindered because of these pigs. 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:50.279 Maybe they would have difficulty providing food for some of the neighboring towns. 00:33:50.380 --> 00:33:50.799 I don't know. 00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:52.880 It was costly. 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:55.880 Following Jesus always is. 00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:59.279 His grace is free. 00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:01.480 But it will cost you your life. 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:09.440 They must have wondered what this man had ever done to merit the expenditure of 2,000 pigs. 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:11.420 And that's just the thing. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:12.659 He'd done nothing. 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:14.659 Nothing to deserve that. 00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:16.259 Nothing to deserve anything. 00:34:17.799 --> 00:34:20.339 It didn't matter to them what Jesus had done for the man. 00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:21.219 They just wanted him gone. 00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:28.119 They were only concerned about the demoniac insofar as he was a nuisance to them. 00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:32.679 There was some type of concern there. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:34.359 Because he was still alive. 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:36.039 He hadn't taken his life. 00:34:36.879 --> 00:34:37.879 Maybe they tried and couldn't. 00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:44.260 But so long as he was roaming the city and screaming and causing problems. 00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:47.140 They were concerned and they tried to shackle him. 00:34:47.200 --> 00:34:49.519 But as long as he was out in the hills and doing his thing there. 00:34:49.720 --> 00:34:51.320 It wasn't so much of a concern for them. 00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:55.180 But now Jesus was the nuisance to them. 00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:59.239 And they demanded that he leave. 00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:01.559 As it turns out. 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:07.879 It was actually the citizens of that region that were held in such bondage to the evil one. 00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:11.920 They weren't running naked in the tombs. 00:35:12.140 --> 00:35:13.380 Cutting themselves to death. 00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:17.099 But they did the thing that the demons wanted most of all. 00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:19.539 They rejected Jesus. 00:35:22.700 --> 00:35:25.640 And they didn't reject him because they were out of their minds. 00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:31.860 They rejected him fully knowing what he had done. 00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:35.700 Isn't that the case for most people? 00:35:38.700 --> 00:35:40.120 He was there to save them. 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:43.420 But they weren't interested in his salvation. 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:47.800 They actually liked their lives just as it was. 00:35:50.200 --> 00:35:52.780 How many people will we come across in our evangelism? 00:35:53.220 --> 00:35:54.140 How many of us today? 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:58.700 We're fine with Jesus so long as he doesn't become a nuisance. 00:35:58.699 --> 00:36:02.500 So long as he doesn't start messing my life up. 00:36:03.879 --> 00:36:06.000 So long as he's not asking too much of me. 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:10.299 So long as he's not turning things upside down. 00:36:11.119 --> 00:36:13.759 But as soon as Jesus starts to make things difficult. 00:36:14.319 --> 00:36:16.379 As soon as he starts asking for repentance. 00:36:17.059 --> 00:36:20.619 As soon as he starts asking for me to leave this world behind. 00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.799 Then he's just a nuisance. 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:25.559 And we're not so much concerned with having him around. 00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:45.179 We love our sin. 00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:47.659 Well finally we're finished. 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:50.019 Let's see the divine savior. 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:51.799 The divine savior. 00:36:51.919 --> 00:36:52.940 We've seen the hopeless man. 00:36:53.319 --> 00:36:54.619 The warring demons. 00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:56.299 The wicked citizens. 00:36:57.359 --> 00:36:59.879 And now we just fix our eyes on Jesus for a few moments. 00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:01.179 Verse 18. 00:37:03.179 --> 00:37:04.519 As he was getting into the boat. 00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:07.219 The man who had been possessed with the demons. 00:37:07.379 --> 00:37:09.759 Begged him that he might be with him. 00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:11.879 This verse opens tragically doesn't it? 00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:16.220 You see the tragedy in that first phrase? 00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:18.660 As Jesus was getting into the boat. 00:37:18.740 --> 00:37:19.500 That means he's leaving. 00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:20.940 Why? 00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:22.579 Because they asked him to. 00:37:25.140 --> 00:37:26.300 Like the parables. 00:37:27.099 --> 00:37:29.680 Jesus' miracles will either soften our hearts. 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:30.619 Or harden them. 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:33.900 I told you about that philosopher just a few moments ago. 00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:36.780 Some people will come to this miracle of Jesus. 00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:39.980 And they will see the wonderful grace of God on this man's life. 00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:41.940 And it will soften their heart to faith. 00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:44.300 Some people will come to the same miracle. 00:37:44.699 --> 00:37:46.219 Acknowledging all the same things. 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:48.820 And it's not the transformation of the man that they see. 00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:50.400 It's the cost to the people. 00:37:50.599 --> 00:37:52.480 It's the pigs who lost their lives. 00:37:52.619 --> 00:37:54.699 And that hardens their heart deeper. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:57.800 And when we harden our hearts. 00:37:57.840 --> 00:37:59.579 Eventually we ask Jesus to leave. 00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:00.840 And the more we ask Jesus to leave. 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:02.039 Eventually he's going to. 00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:03.699 Eventually he's going to. 00:38:03.699 --> 00:38:07.000 But what a contrast there is. 00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:09.179 Between the people and this man. 00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:13.480 They were begging Jesus to leave. 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:16.099 But the man was begging Jesus to go with him. 00:38:17.299 --> 00:38:19.059 Isn't this what salvation does? 00:38:21.159 --> 00:38:23.579 When Jesus truly impacts our hearts. 00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:25.719 It never leaves us wanting the same things. 00:38:25.839 --> 00:38:27.000 That we had always wanted before. 00:38:27.179 --> 00:38:28.639 It leaves us wanting him. 00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:30.399 Desiring him. 00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:32.239 Wanting to be with him. 00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:34.179 Wanting to go with him. 00:38:34.219 --> 00:38:35.859 And that's exactly what it did for this man. 00:38:36.099 --> 00:38:37.000 Look at verse 19. 00:38:37.579 --> 00:38:39.399 And he did not permit him. 00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:41.099 Jesus said no. 00:38:41.359 --> 00:38:41.779 Why? 00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:45.899 He said go home to your friends. 00:38:46.059 --> 00:38:48.839 And tell them how much the Lord has done for you. 00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:51.059 And how he has had mercy on you. 00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:53.439 And he went away and began to proclaim. 00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:54.639 In the Decapolis. 00:38:54.739 --> 00:38:56.379 How much Jesus had done for him. 00:38:57.199 --> 00:38:58.219 And everyone marveled. 00:38:58.739 --> 00:39:00.419 It's almost shocking to read that verse. 00:39:00.420 --> 00:39:04.300 You mean this man is begging to go with Jesus. 00:39:04.300 --> 00:39:06.920 To be a part of his discipleship band. 00:39:07.220 --> 00:39:08.920 And Jesus said no. 00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:09.800 Yeah. 00:39:11.539 --> 00:39:13.579 It wasn't because he didn't want him around. 00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:17.880 Jesus had a different task for the man to fulfill. 00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:20.420 And just as a side note. 00:39:21.240 --> 00:39:25.920 Don't be discouraged when God's plan for you is different than the plan you have for yourself. 00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:28.019 Don't be discouraged. 00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:32.539 Willingly embrace whatever task he gives you. 00:39:32.820 --> 00:39:34.180 And glorify him in it. 00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:36.980 This man just wanted to be with Jesus. 00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:38.360 But Jesus said no. 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:39.200 I want you to stay. 00:39:40.119 --> 00:39:41.340 Go to your friends. 00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:45.079 Tell them what the Lord has done for you today. 00:39:45.200 --> 00:39:47.340 And that's exactly what the man did. 00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:48.619 He went all over the region. 00:39:48.619 --> 00:39:50.980 The Decapolis was a grouping. 00:39:51.299 --> 00:39:52.839 A informal grouping. 00:39:52.839 --> 00:39:56.119 Of ten Roman city states. 00:39:56.719 --> 00:39:58.940 The closest one to this area was Hippos. 00:39:59.019 --> 00:40:00.039 It probably started there. 00:40:00.119 --> 00:40:03.480 But perhaps he went to the other ten cities as well. 00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:04.480 Either way. 00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:06.019 He went all over the place. 00:40:06.259 --> 00:40:08.779 Sharing the news of what the Lord had done. 00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:11.759 But there's a bigger point to be made here. 00:40:11.819 --> 00:40:13.519 A more important point to be made here even. 00:40:14.339 --> 00:40:15.699 Than the man's evangelism. 00:40:15.699 --> 00:40:18.639 Now the whole point of this account. 00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:20.819 Is to proclaim that Jesus is God. 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:22.699 And we must accept him as much. 00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:24.960 Well look at how Mark does that for us here. 00:40:26.259 --> 00:40:27.719 In these last two verses. 00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:30.559 Jesus told the man to do what? 00:40:31.439 --> 00:40:35.379 Go and tell what the Lord has done for you today. 00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:36.239 That's the word. 00:40:36.339 --> 00:40:36.679 Lord. 00:40:36.879 --> 00:40:37.319 Yahweh. 00:40:37.659 --> 00:40:40.599 Go tell what Yahweh has done for you today. 00:40:40.739 --> 00:40:43.119 And the mercy that he has put on you today. 00:40:43.219 --> 00:40:44.879 But what was it that the man said? 00:40:45.699 --> 00:40:47.659 He went around and what was his message? 00:40:48.599 --> 00:40:51.379 Listen to what Jesus has done for me today. 00:40:52.799 --> 00:40:54.500 You say you're making too much of that. 00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:55.379 And I don't think I am. 00:40:56.659 --> 00:40:58.119 It's just another clue. 00:40:58.859 --> 00:41:00.679 Jesus is not just from God. 00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:02.039 He is God. 00:41:02.319 --> 00:41:03.879 He is the Lord. 00:41:05.559 --> 00:41:07.960 Because of that he has the power over nature. 00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:11.059 And he has the power over these demonic forces. 00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:13.119 That want to destroy us. 00:41:13.359 --> 00:41:14.659 And the image of God in us. 00:41:14.659 --> 00:41:17.699 And I've said it many times. 00:41:17.779 --> 00:41:22.019 Our condition is no less severe than the man that was tormented by this legion. 00:41:24.339 --> 00:41:26.739 We may not struggle in the same way as he struggled. 00:41:26.879 --> 00:41:28.639 But we are just as hopelessly lost. 00:41:28.639 --> 00:41:33.980 And on top of that there is a spiritual battle raging. 00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:40.980 And it's raging in order that we might stay in our hopeless state. 00:41:40.980 --> 00:41:51.179 But the point of this narrative is not to tell us what a wonderful thing Jesus did for this man so long ago. 00:41:51.179 --> 00:41:55.399 But it is to proclaim that Jesus can deliver us. 00:41:56.359 --> 00:41:59.159 Indeed for many if not all of us. 00:41:59.579 --> 00:42:01.139 He has delivered us. 00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:05.699 We may not always consider our condition to be as extreme as this man. 00:42:05.779 --> 00:42:10.000 But as we study the Bible we actually begin to see it is very much the same. 00:42:11.319 --> 00:42:13.299 And only Jesus can make the difference. 00:42:17.059 --> 00:42:19.219 Will you be the one that wants to go with Jesus? 00:42:19.219 --> 00:42:24.599 Or will you be numbered with the ones that just want Jesus to go? 00:42:24.719 --> 00:42:27.419 That's ultimately the question that we have to ask. 00:42:28.199 --> 00:42:29.539 Can I close it this way? 00:42:31.619 --> 00:42:38.779 Everything in this story is categorically unclean as far as the Old Testament law is concerned. 00:42:39.719 --> 00:42:41.059 Think about this for just a moment. 00:42:41.059 --> 00:42:45.039 This is unclean spirits. 00:42:45.159 --> 00:42:46.460 It's specifically what they're called. 00:42:46.699 --> 00:42:48.039 They're unclean spirits. 00:42:48.460 --> 00:42:51.000 They is an unclean man. 00:42:51.299 --> 00:42:53.659 Now I'm talking ceremonially. 00:42:54.279 --> 00:42:55.619 Categorically unclean. 00:42:56.139 --> 00:42:59.659 Let's pretend for just a moment that we know his ethnicity. 00:42:59.840 --> 00:43:00.920 And let's say that he's a Jew. 00:43:01.199 --> 00:43:01.460 Okay. 00:43:01.639 --> 00:43:06.719 That means that he's not merely unclean because his ethnicity is actually unclean. 00:43:06.719 --> 00:43:08.539 Because he's running amongst the tombs. 00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:13.380 Which is something that being amongst the dead actually made you ceremonially unclean. 00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:14.219 He's naked. 00:43:14.440 --> 00:43:16.900 That is another thing that makes him unclean in this moment. 00:43:17.059 --> 00:43:18.559 He's mutilating his flesh. 00:43:18.639 --> 00:43:23.599 That's another thing that the Old Testament says that made you ceremonially unclean. 00:43:23.659 --> 00:43:25.360 You would be cut off. 00:43:25.480 --> 00:43:26.159 He's unclean. 00:43:26.259 --> 00:43:29.099 He's an unclean man possessed with unclean spirits. 00:43:29.679 --> 00:43:31.920 He's in an unclean Gentile region. 00:43:32.659 --> 00:43:37.719 There's nothing about this story that is fitting or clean or good. 00:43:37.719 --> 00:43:39.119 It's an unclean area. 00:43:39.539 --> 00:43:41.459 What are these demons cast into? 00:43:42.319 --> 00:43:43.299 Unclean pigs. 00:43:43.839 --> 00:43:48.099 As far as the Old Testament was concerned, they couldn't have anything to do with pigs. 00:43:48.619 --> 00:43:49.779 Certainly couldn't eat them. 00:43:50.539 --> 00:43:51.539 Couldn't touch them. 00:43:51.699 --> 00:43:52.779 Couldn't have anything to do with them. 00:43:52.899 --> 00:43:53.019 Okay. 00:43:53.159 --> 00:43:54.839 Everything in this story is unclean. 00:43:55.019 --> 00:43:55.699 Now think about this. 00:43:55.699 --> 00:44:04.699 Jesus did not go across the sea to this area and meet this man by chance. 00:44:06.519 --> 00:44:08.939 This didn't just happen to come about. 00:44:08.939 --> 00:44:09.659 Okay. 00:44:09.659 --> 00:44:13.539 He intentionally went there. 00:44:13.799 --> 00:44:19.799 He intentionally went there for the purpose of saving this man. 00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:23.819 And that is what he has done for every single one of us. 00:44:24.579 --> 00:44:34.420 The clean one entered our wicked, unclean world to bear our sin and reconcile us to God. 00:44:34.420 --> 00:44:37.400 God, everything about us is unclean. 00:44:38.599 --> 00:44:39.480 It's sinful. 00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:48.180 And in the Bible, in these categories of clean and unclean, you don't move from being unclean to clean by taking a bath. 00:44:48.300 --> 00:44:51.420 You move from unclean to clean by making a sacrifice. 00:44:52.340 --> 00:44:53.740 That's what the people had to do. 00:44:53.940 --> 00:44:55.099 They touched a dead body. 00:44:55.280 --> 00:44:56.720 They wait a certain amount of days. 00:44:56.860 --> 00:44:57.960 They make a sacrifice. 00:44:58.619 --> 00:45:00.780 They do something stupid against the law. 00:45:00.780 --> 00:45:02.060 They don't take a bath. 00:45:02.240 --> 00:45:04.340 They go and they make a sacrifice. 00:45:04.760 --> 00:45:06.540 Cleanliness requires a sacrifice. 00:45:07.000 --> 00:45:09.780 And Jesus is that perfect sacrifice. 00:45:10.660 --> 00:45:21.320 The clean one, the perfect one comes into our unclean world in order that he might redeem an unclean people and make them righteous. 00:45:21.320 --> 00:45:31.900 And anyone, anyone who will follow him will be washed clean. 00:45:32.720 --> 00:45:36.519 The question is, will you follow him? 00:45:37.580 --> 00:45:41.080 Will you turn and follow him? 00:45:42.100 --> 00:45:45.740 Not simply acknowledge who he is. 00:45:46.140 --> 00:45:47.460 Even the demons do that. 00:45:47.460 --> 00:45:53.920 But to turn away from the sinful life that you've lived, recognize your hopeless state. 00:45:54.980 --> 00:45:58.980 Cry out to God for mercy through Christ Jesus. 00:45:59.619 --> 00:46:03.740 And Jesus says, all who come to me, I will never cast away. 00:46:04.559 --> 00:46:05.039 Never. 00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:05.139 Never. 00:46:05.139 --> 00:46:05.179 Never.