Back to the Basics: The Salvation that Changes People
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Scripture Reading: Matthew 8:28-34
Passage: Mark 5:1-20
Intro: this year we have started every service with a prayer for the lost. Why? Because we know of the changing grace and salvation that comes from Jesus Christ. We know that he has changed us, so we must declare him to the world, so that they too can be changed.
That is the duty of the believer. To declare Jesus.
In today’s passage we are going to see how one person was changed by Jesus, and because of this he declared Christ to all who would listen.
Passage Context: Remember what has happened in Mark to this point. Mark has said that the point of his book is to show how Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Then Mark has walked the reader through the ministry of Christ, and has showed the the miracles and events in Jesus life that show he is the Messiah. Events such as his baptism, and miracles such as casting out demons and healing. Then in chapter four we see the parables that Jesus taught. Then after Jesus spent a long day of teaching in Capernaum in the Sea of Galilee, Jesus tells his disciples that they need to sail across the sea. Then that night as they were sailing, a giant storm blew in. Jesus was a sleep, but his disciples wake him ask him why he isn’t worried that they were going to die. Then Jesus calmed the storm and the wind was still. Jesus then chastised his disciples for lacking faith. And now we see the event that happened the day after Jesus calmed the storm. So we are seeing where Jesus and his disciples went.
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Passage explanation:
Main Point: The main point of this passage is to compare and contrast the reactions of those that have been changed by Jesus to those who have not.
Call to Action: This passage breaks down into five scenes that give five truths about the salvation that is found in Christ.
Scene 1: The untamed man Mark 5:1-5
Point 1: All unbelievers are in desperate need of Christ.
Explanation: This narrative story starts with telling the reader where Jesus and his disciples went. And what they found when they arrived. Look at verse 1. “Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of Gadarenes.” So now we see that Jesus and his disciples sailed to the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. Now the name of where the went varies throughout the accounts of this event. The book of Matthew says this event took place in the country of the Gergesenes. Mark says the country of Gadarenes. The book of Luke says the Gadarenes. Now there is an easy explanation for this. I have gone to several conventions, and other events and people have asked, where do you Pastor? And depending on who the person was who asked, and what I knew of them, my answers would varied. For example: if am talking to a person who has spent their entire life in the Athens area, I would say, First Baptist church Murchison. That guy would need no further explanation. But lets say I am talking to someone from Mississippi, who has never been to east Texas. I would say, First Baptist Church Murchison, in East Texas. Now compare that to someone who lived in Houston. I would say, FBC Murchison, it is just outside of Tyler Texas. And if I was talking to someone from Texarkana, I would say, “FBC Murchison, Just east of Athens, Tx. I would use different places to explain the same place. And this is what is happening in these accounts.
But all acounts use the word the other side of the Sea. From what I have seen, Capernaum, where Jesus was in chapter for is on the North side of the Sea of Galilee. We would say, it is on the North West side, and the land of the Gadarenes is south Eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.
But look at what happens when they arrived in the country of the Gadarenes in verse 2, “And when He (Jesus) had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.” So now we see that when Jesus and his disciples arrive look at what greets them. (Go to illustration and come back) but imagine this greeting.
In fact imagine your a disciples, you pull into where Jesus tells you, and you are not in a port city, or a population center, but instead you are at a graveyard. And then at his graveyard you are immediately (Mark’s favorite word) met with a crazed man. So again imagine you are someone like Andrew, an expierenced fishermen. You know the ports of the Sea, and Jesus keeps telling you to go to this location, and you keep thinking that Jesus is nuts. He has you pull the boat into a cemetery, and as you are pulling in and as you are getting close to shore you hear the echoes of a crazed man laughing, and screaming. And then as soon as you arrive you see this crazed man. Now look at verse 3 and see how this man is described. “A man with an unclean spirit. Who had his dwelling among the tombs;” So now we see that Mark describes this man, as someone who lived in the tombs. But then we see why, because he had an unclean spirit. Now we will see what that means later. But look at how else this man is described, “And no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces neither could anyone tame him.” So now we see that the man is described as “untamable.” Meaning that no one could control him. Think of this man has being uncontrollable. Like Tarzan. But even more wild. SO wild and so strong that when they did get him chained he bust through those shackels. So think of a man who is naked, If you like Lord of the Rings think of someone like Smegol. And this person has shackels on him, but they are broken.
And then we see what this man did day in and day out. Look at verse 5, “And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out cutting himself with stones.” So now I want you to see this man’s life. Day and night, he lived in the tombs crying out for help. And cutting himself.
Illustration: You have seen movies, where someone lands at the airport, and their is a limo driver, or a taxi driver, or someone else who is holding a sign that says that person’s name. Like Mr. Stone. This person would meet you at the airport and greet you, and then take you to your destination. Now that would be a good greeting.
Application: And this is who meets Jesus and his disciples. This was Jesus’ welcoming party.
Now before we go any further we need to realize something, do you remember the passage in Matthew we read? Matthew tells us that there were two demon possessed man. So what does that mean? Are these different events? No. Both tell the same event. So either Matthew or Mark got the story wrong. So there are mistakes in the Bible! The Bible isn’t inerrant because here is an error? Well, also no. Matthew and Mark are telling the same story, but they have different reasons in telling this story. Matthew tells this story to show the power of the Jewish Messiah, and there is an added emphasis on the pigs and uncleanness of this man, showing that the Messiah overcomes culture, and uncleanness.
But Mark’s emphasis is not on the culture, or on the historical telling of the event, no Mark’s emphasis is on the man himself. And his emphasis is in showing the desperation of the man. The reader should be appalled when reading of this man, how he is untamed, crazy, and sick.
And realize that Mark is making a point that the reader is the same as that man. That those who do not know Christ are unclean, dirty, sick and untamed. Mark is showing that the man is desperate for Christ, and he is parrelling this to man’s desperate need for Christ. Church just as desperate this man was for Christ, this is how desperate all unbelievers truly are. The truth is, that all unbelievers should read themselves as this man, as the unclean man. And once you realize your desperation and your need for the Messiah, you can take the next step.
Transition: Look at the next scene that Mark gives the reader; that the untamed man, worships Jesus.
Scene 2: The untamed man recognizes Jesus. Mark 5:6-7
Point 2: True salvation is more than mere recognition of Jesus.
Explanation: Look at what happens when the untamed man sees Jesus. Look at verse 6, “When he (the possessed man) saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.” Now picture in your mind what is happening. This man, sees Jesus’ boat coming from off shore, and he runs to the boat, and from afar he worshipped Jesus. Now I want you to see something, this is the man that is worshipping Jesus. Not the demons, but the man that is possessed.
Yes the demons know who Jesus is, but they do not worship him. This man clearly worshipped Jesus. See what he says in verse 7. “And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that you do not torment me.” I want you to realize something here, realize what the man says to Jesus, ‘What have I to do with You, Jesus Son of the Most High God.” First realize that the man recognized who Jesus is. He is the son of the Most High God. Now here is the interesting question, who is recognizing Jesus? The demons or the man? Verse 9 makes it clear that the demons are speaking. So the question becomes; is the man talking in verse 7 and then the demons take the conversation over? Honestly, I do not know. I don’t know if you can make that conclusion from the passage. But the Matthew passage uses the pronoun “they” for plural. But Mark uses the singular personal verb in implore. So is Mark making a differentiation? I am not sure because he also uses the singular personal verb in verse 8. So honestly I do not know. I think this is probably the man, but if you were to tell me it was the demons, I would say ok. But no matter who is actually in control, the man or the demons, we see that there is recognition of who Jesus is. And they asked Jesus what he has to do with them. And then look at what was said, “I implore you by God that You do not torment me.” So now we see that there is an appeal to God, that Jesus does not torment the man.
Illustration:
Application: Now I want you to realize something, knowing that Jesus is God son, is not enough to get you into heaven. The demons know who Jesus is. It takes true worship. True falling on your knees, in recognition of Jesus is. It takes complete surrender to the Father. So let me ask, have you completely surrendered your life to Christ? If not you can today.
Transition: But not only do we notice that the demon possessed man recognizes Jesus, but then we see what Jesus does for the man.
Part 3: The Jesus casts out the demons in the untamed man. Mark 5:8-13
Point 3: True Salvation from Christ brings true rescue.
Explanation: Look at what happens in verse 8. “For He (Jesus) said to him, ‘Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” So now we see that Jesus gives the demon a command. He commands the spirit to come out of the man.
But look at what happens, after Jesus gives the command, we see that he asks the demons a question, I think that if there is a switch, of who is talking it is here. Because now we see that Jesus asks him (the man) what is his name, but we see that the demons answer.
“And he (the demons, but through the mouth of the man)answered, saying “My name is Legion; for we are many.” So now we see how the many introduces himself to Jesus. He says that his name is legion. Legion means a large number. So the demon says that his name is legion, because there are so many demons that possess the man.
But then in verse 10 we see that the demons has plea for Jesus. Look at verse 10, “Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.” So now we see that the demon begs that Jesus does not cast them out of the country.
So now look at what happens in verse 11. “Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, ‘Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” So now we see that the demons begged Jesus that instead of casting them out of the country, that they be allowed to enter a heard of swine that were in area. Now remember, to the Jews swine were unclean. So a Jew wouldn’t even mess with swine, but here the demons ask if they can enter the swine.
And then in verse 13 we see Jesus response to the demons’ response. “And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand);” So now we see that Jesus gave the unclean spirits the chance to enter into 2000. But look at what happens to the swine immediately after the demons enter them, “and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
So now we see that After Jesus rescued the man, and the demons leave him to enter the pigs, the pigs run off the cliff into the sea. And the pigs drown.
Illustration:
Application: I want you to realize something church, when Jesus set the man free, he set him free. The demons left, enter the swine, and then drowned. The man was free from his bondage.
The same is true for you and me. When Christ rescues, he rescues. He sets you free. Free from sin, and free from who you were, you are now a new creation in Christ. Because when salvation comes to you from Christ, you are set free. Just as Jesus freed the man of 2000 demons, you can free you from your past, from your sins, from who you were and he can change you.
Transition: But after Jesus rescues the man from the demons, we see the reaction of the people of the area.
Scene 4: The unbelievers beg Jesus to leave. Mark 5:14-17
Point 4: True Salvation scares the unbeliever.
Explanation: Look at verse 14, “So those who fed the swine fled.” So now we are introduced to a new group of people. These are people of the mountain, who took care and who fed the 2000 swine. ANd this new group, sees their swine fall of the mountains and drown. But look at what else the people who fed the swine did, “and they told it in the city and in the country. ANd they went out ot se what it was that had happened.” SO we see that those who took care of the swine went and told everyone what had happened. And the people hear it and say, I want to see this my self, so they go to the mountain side to see it for themeselves, and look at what they find,
Look at verse 15, “Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.” So now the crowd goes to see what the pig farmers where talking about. And when they got to where the swine were kept, they see a familiar, yet not familiar site. They see the man who had been possessed. The man that many of them had probably known, and were scared of. But when they get to the countryside and the graveyard, they see Jesus. And then they see this man, who is sitting next to Jesus, in his clothes, in his right mind just listening to Jesus.
And look at how they reacted, “And they were afraid.” Now this is interesting to me, because they see the once crazy man in his right mind, and now they are scared.
And now look at verses 16 and 17. “And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who it had been demon- possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.” So now we see that he people who witnessed the event are telling the crowd of what happened, and they look at Jesus and they plead with him to leave.
Illustration:
Application: Look, when Jesus changes people, those that do not believe will be frightened. Infact people will be so frightened by the change that happened, that they will not want you or your savior near them. Because Jesus truly changes.
Transition: But after seeing the reaction of the people, we see the reaction of the man who was once possessed.
Scene 5: The untamed man proclaims Jesus Mark 5:14-17
Point 5: True Salvation makes the believer declare Christ.
Explanation: Look at verse 18, “And when He (Jesus) got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.” So now we see that the man who was freed begged Jesus let him go with him, and be one of Jesus’ disciples.
But look at how Jesus responded, “However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him,’ go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” SO now we see that Jesus says that he cannot go be his disciple, instead he must go to his home, and tell his friends what Jesus has done for him. And he is to tell his friends how Jesus has set him free.
And then we see the man’s response in verse 20, “And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.” So now we see that the man was a witness for Christ. He went and told all that would listen, all that Jesus had done for him. And the people marveled.
Illustration:
Application:Church this needs to be us. We need to go out and tell the world of how the loving savior changed your life. Go out into the world, tell others of how Jesus has changed you. And make the world marvel. Not at you, but at what your Lord has done.
Conclusion:
Church, Jesus changes people. But we must declare him. We must go out into this world and declare how Jesus has changed you.