Mark 5:4-13

Let's talk about this encounter.

The first thing that should be noted is that this is a spiritual encounter as much as physical. We in the Western world have resigned ourselves to the here and now physical part of our universe, and even as Christians we fail to recognize the spiritual forces that continue to wage war in and around us.

We have a man here imbued with supernatural strength, who cries out at night among tombs, and is probably naked (Luke 8:27). From the disciples' perspective, the whole scene sums up for them the terrible idea of going over to an evil part of the country. It's what happens when you enter inner-city LA or New Orleans during Mardi Gras; you go to a place that you perceive as evil and low-and-behold evil presents itself in its worst forms.

Notice that this demon knows who Jesus is. Notice that Jesus told the spirit(s) to come of the guy (which the spirits consider torture). Notice that Jesus told them to come out, and they didn't. Then they ask for permission to go elsewhere (pigs), Jesus gives them permission, and they leave. Notice how the pronouns switch from singular to plural (me, them). This guy is a walking bomb; nobody knows when he'll blow up!

And they go into the herd of PIGS - the sacrificial animal in that society which also happens to be the mascot for the Roman Legion! And I love the fact that the pigs end up in the lake/abyss.

But why does Jesus do this? What motivates Him to go to the OTHER (dark) side of the lake? Why does He challenge the evil forces present in Sin City, when He has plenty of demon possessed people in His synagogue and hometown?

Thoughts?

Mark 5:1-3

Right after the storm on the abyss/sea, what would a person expect except to be confronted by a demon, or in this case, a slew of demons. As soon as Jesus steps out of the boat along comes a crazy man who could not be bound even with chains. (I think the disciples' fear only compounded at this sight.) We will talk more about this spiritual encounter next time.

If you hold an NIV in your hands, you can see a footnote in verse 1 regarding the location of this event. Gerasenes, Gadarenes, and Gergesenes are all options. The city of Gadara lies over 5 miles away from the Sea of Galilee, though excavations have located a harbor for the area. It is on the southeastern side. Gerasa (present-day Jerash lies many miles away from the Sea of Galilee, but was a major city in the Decapolis. The geography points to Gergesa as the city in which this encounter took place. Located along the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Gergesa is really the only place in which a herd of pigs can rush down a steep bank into the water. I should note, however, that all of these cities represented the Gentile world to Jesus and His disciples. Though close geographically, the two cultures of Jews and Gentiles did not mix at all. The very fact that Jesus wanted to go over there was remarkable because that was where evil dwells in the minds of the disciples. Once again, no wonder they were so terrified!

I love how Jesus already begins to live out His words, "...And the gates of Hades will not prevail against it!" Jesus is on the move; He wants the world to know of His message!

How are we when it comes to going out into dark places? Do we live like Jesus - going to people that are far beyond our comfort zones?

Mark 4:35-41

Storms can be scary things. We have several examples of people who have been caught in a storm while at sea, and here is no exception. Several Old Testament parallels immediately present themselves: Jonah 1 and Psalm 107.

In these passages we see terror turned to praise, or fear of the elements turned into a fear of G-D. Notice that the sailors cry out for help, and when G-D calms the storm, all begin to worship.

In Mark, we immediately notice the fear of the storm within the disciples; and what do we see Jesus doing? Like Jonah, He is asleep.

Jesus gets up, calms the storm and then asks His disciples why they were so scared. OK, I must interject at this point. How many of you have been in a serious storm when out at sea? How comfortable were you with that? But for the disciples, not only do they fear the elements, they believe that the sea is the Abyss. This only compounds their fear. (We will explore this idea further in the very next story.)

So, be honest, would you not have been terrified?

And I find this almost amusing if it was not so sad: the disciples remained terrified AFTER the miracle of calming the wind and the waves. (Their response should have been praise.) Jesus has just acted like G-D in the story. I believe they are beginning to see who Jesus really is, and that is what terrifies them even more than the storm. Perhaps they begin to wonder if they are in the very Presence of G-D, and we all know how scary that was for anyone who encountered an angel or G-D Himself in the Bible. Somewhat like a storm.

Mark 4:33-34

So why does Jesus speak to people in parables? It's to help them understand His teaching. He spoke in agrarian terms to an agrarian society in order that they may hear and obey.

And He gave as much as people could understand.

That phrase bothers me a little, not because I question Jesus' teaching or judgment, but because I wonder how similar I am to the crowds. How much do I not receive from G-D because I do not understand or take the time to listen and obey. Do I "limit" G-D by my lack of faith, knowledge, or passion?

"Whoever has will be given more. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him" 4:25.

I want to be the former - one who has and wants MORE!!!

That does not mean life will be smooth sailing, however. We see what happens to the disciples right after this while they are on the sea....

Mark 4:30-32

The mustard seed - certainly not the smallest seed on earth, but one that resonates with the agrarian crowd. Powerful words, right? The Kingdom is like a grain of sand. Is that what you expect Jesus to say? It seems more appropriate to use much larger imagery: the Kingdom of G-D is like the kingdom of Solomon, the Roman Empire, or the United States of America. G-D's Kingdom is liken to that of world empires. Soldiers of Christ arise and put your armor on. Vote for the right people in office, speak out against political opponents, conquer the world through terror and warfare.

But G-D's Kingdom is much more organic in nature. It starts off as a tiny seed, and then grows into a plant than can provide much needed shade for birds. (It's interesting that in several of the prophets (Ezekiel and Daniel in particular) we see birds symbolize other nations.) And notice who gets the glory and who does the work; it's G-D. Just as we learned in the previous parable, G-D spreads His rule on His own terms, not ours. We can line up for battle at the ballot box, but it is G-D who grows His Kingdom.

So, are you growing your own kingdom or G-D's?

For an interesting parallel to this parable, look at Ezekiel 17:22-24.

Mark 4:26-29

Jesus moves from admonition to the Kingdom. The people who hear/do now receive from Jesus parables concerning the Kingdom. What is the Kingdom like? It is like wheat that grows and no one knows how. It's a mystery. The farmer waters it, but somehow G-D makes it grow.

The irony/twist in the parable is that Jesus has just expressed the need for His disciples to hear/do, and the parable He then tells relates to the fact that G-D alone makes the seed grow. G-D provides the action/growth, not the person.

So as you continue to prepare your soil (hear/obey), remember that G-D ultimately produces the crop and spreads His Kingdom. It's HIS Kingdom, and the forces of evil will not prevail against it.